The Portland daily press., 1897-01-01

by the "nebular hypothesis, - they argue
that the same elements should be found
in the composition Of s-both; and so the
believers in this hypothesis, with strict
faith in their own victions, are ever
on the lookout for the missing elements
Of the earth. In all probability, with
the unfiinching perseverance, of these
men of science, these elements will event
ually, probably at no far future time, be
found. Scarcely any doubt, they assert
can be entertained as to the truth OF tne
hypothesis that the Snn and all its plan
cts were originally in one nebuious mass;
and with the lapse of countless ages tne
greater mass contracted from its sur
rounding vapors and with the final sepa-
ration there resulted, ultimately, the sys-
tenn of the sun and planets But the
question might here arise in the MINDS
Of those who are not spectroscop1sts-su
pose the Same clements were FOUND III
the earth that wore contained in the sun,
how about the other planets and their
spectra? It is answered that as all the
planets, the earth included, shine by the
reflected light of the sun, they necessa-
rily can show no spectra of their own,
and, therefore no further test by this
method is possible.
Coming snow to the fourth class OF
stars, it is found that they are for the
most part of reddish color, ana are
very few in number The lines OF these
spectra indicate carbon in great quanti,
ties, Thess stars are all very faint, ana
for that reason of very difficult nature
to study. In addition to the four well,
defined groups, there are some that Will
not fit well into any scheme: these are
few, and, of course, foil OF interest,"
| though only to the specialist.
| Having dispo7ed of the stars In tbelf
respective ciasses, there comes into view
another phase of stellar phenomena
which cannot but be of intense interest.
And that Is. whether these myriads OF
distant worlds, among which, we must
not forget, our fown sun is numbered,
are growing cooler or warmer. In othel
| words, whether they are sin state o.
progress-of deondenee; whether the diH
erent orbs that we behold MT night CLEAN
| ing from their realms of infinite space
are each EpassinR through tho various
stages OF evolution, or whether each
| class is the exemplitioation OF particu'
| lar and distinct type. The general pc
| lief, which has been aided and partially
confirmed bv observation, gives assur'
ance of the former theory. Prof Lock
yer advocates the view that they were al
originally swarms of small bodies, or
meteors, anu eventually eompacting ano
growing hotter arrive Mt last at climax
| in the Sirion stars of the first sand hot
| test orfler-a class which marks not onil
! the commencement of d fall in tempera
turs, but tho conclusion uf a rise. Pass
ing through this stage, the period o.
docadence begins, followed by stages
somewhat similar to those of growth
but in the reverse order, and then, "last
| scene of all that ends this strange, event
ful story dark, cold body, incapa biz
of giving light or heat to other worlds
| or.eyen OF sustaining life upon Its owr
surface. The logical conclusion deducet
is that star must have its birth, it'
period of growth. full vigor, degenera
tion and finally death.
| If this theory is true, there must b.
many of those dark, necessarily invisible
bodies whirllng through space, and thai
suchsdark stars actually exist has heer
proved by the discovery of visible bodies
whirling in orbits about an invisible
centre OF. charlottesville great dead stai
of the theory-that still holds its invisi.
BILE and relentless sway over system OF
living worlds.