The Grenada gazette., 1889-01-31
GRENADA MISS, THURSDAY JANUARY 81, 1889.


in which the changes are effected in q
few hours, some such explanation
seems absolutely necessary. But the
weakness of this theory is that. while
accounting fairly well for variation in
stars of short period, it fails altogether
with those whose changes are slower
and more prolonged. However plaus-
ible it may seem that temporary
decrease of light of few
hours duration might be caused by
the sweeping of Il dark body across
the face of Il star, it is evident that
when the change in brightness is so
gradual as to extend to weeks, months,
and even years, the explanation breaks
down, without at least assuming mo-
tions in distant heavenly bodies as
sluggish as those in our own vicinity
are rapid. Nor, in addition to this,
must we overlook the high improba-
bility of the Prone of revolution OF
these attendant dark bodies coinciding
in so many instances with our line Of
vision. Thus, though the satellite
theory has at the first blush an air of
plausibility, it must be regarded as ut
terly inadequate to explain any save q
small portion of the phenomena.
Another theory has been advanced,
accounting for variability by the pres
ence of dark areas on the surface Of
these distant luminaries, the alternate
npparition OF .he dark and bright por-
tions as the body rotates on its axis
causing an alternate diminution and
increase Of splendor. The same OBJ
lection applies to this explanation as
to the last, for in the case Of star
which has been gradually fading dur
ing many generations, it is plain that
we must suppose rate Of rotation al
together at variance with ascertained
facts, nothing being more surely estab-
lished than that The motions of the
celestial bodies are rapid almost
beyond conception. Nevertheless,
in slightly modified form this
llttoI ID NV " ltilohl Soillt bC-
gree of probability. The star nearest
us, and about which We have the full
est Information, namely. our own sun,
is nearly always marked with greater
or less number of dark portions, called
spots, which have regular maxima and
minima, with periods differently csti-
mated by different observers, but gen
orally believed to be about eleven
years. These spots must in some way
influence the amount of light and heat
emitted by the sun, though the differ
ence is to US imperceptible; and were
they very muuh increased, it seems
unquestionable that our sun would APP
pear to the inhabitants OF q neigh
| boring system as n variable star with
! r. l--:.,.l ns .,lavr,' nf nI,r ,.no~, Thr
only objection to this theory is that we
| require to explain the explanations
To say that the change OF light Is
caused by the presence or absence OF
dark areas recurring at stated inter-
walls is simply stating the problem in
different terms. What is the cause Of
the dark regions, and why should they
recur at stated intervals? Why should
some stars be xempt from them. and
others condemned to their periodic
eruption? Must the first be regarded
as in the full flush OF life and yigor,
while the latter are moving down to
decrepitudc and decay? What are We
to make of those stars that have been
slowly fading since the first astrOno-
mer5 recorded their observations. or
what of those whose change OF brill
fancy is accompanied by Il change OF
color? These questions raise diff
ficulties with which the theory
is unable to cope and which
with our present knowledge we can
not explain. Meantime, astronomers
continue to rocorl observations 10
heap p, 'ituIar o. particular, IN the
hope thu Hhan Ii" mass has become
sutfici.nl' sr&c ,0me great law will
loom vn-.. .rr Tie%. md """aro
the lab g.. turtles, II we we're
allowed .. y0~es3 an opinion, we
should pru>,.~. otherwise. Probably
the discovery will be made in an en-
tirely different manner-porhaps IN
the dingy laboratory of the chemist OF
the physicist, Some new fact as to the
shiver or clash of atoms, some unob'
served peculiarity in the behavior oI
light or heat, will flash suddenly into
view. and in moment reveal the great
law which underlies and governs these
strange phe nomeua. Chambers Jour-