The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-04
SIR ROBERT BAIL
ON | FIER,.Y MIST. :
Distinguished Astronomer Lectures
on This Subject.
TELLS OF NEBUL0Us WORLDS.
Address Before the Students of Richmond
College aud Visitors Closely Followed.
Sir robert Knighted for His Astro-
ncmicsl Discoveries.

Richmond College students last night
listened to the most eminent astronomer
in the world on the general subject OF
astronomy. This was Sir Robert Ball, OF
Cambridge = whose researches IN the
science TO which he has devoted his hrs
have added vastly to the human sum OF
knowledge IS to the planetary systems
which surround us. His name ranks
highest on the roll of fame among those
modern gentlemenTof whom he is repre-
sentative his reward. in addition to fame
being the knighthood bestowed upon him
by the British Crown.
The lecture hall Of the college was
packed 70 the doors with students and
invited guests Standing in the rear were
scores Of those who were unable to Sc
cure seats. while the stairs leading up to
the next floor were crowded. The faculty
of the college was out in force, ana
among the invited guests were several
distinguished scholars OF the city and
State This lecture was the first of a
series of three to be delivered here under
the Thomas Endowment Fund.
THE FIERY MIST.
Sir Roberts subject last night was the
"Fiery Mist" On the previous night Mr.
Garrett P. Serviss. another eminent as
trononer, had gone into this subject IN
a lecture at the Academy of Music, but
Sir Robert touched upon { different field
Of the same subject. showing a great
number of illustrative photographs and
explaining them in the course Of his
lecture. BY the Fiery Mist" Sir Robert
referred to the vast nebular conforma-
tons discernible through the telescope,
which are gradually, science says, evolv-
ing into new solar systems.
What proof have astronomers of the
nebular theory? is frequently asked" sale
Sir. Robert. "Of course, We can't show
them to any one. but neither could OAR
win show the original pair Of monkeys
from which we are descended"
Thence Sir Robert went at some Length
into the formation of the solar system
of which we are a part. giving by means
of diagrams an object lesson of the sun
BY a mathematical calculation he showed
that so rapid is the contraction OF the
sun that within the next forty thousand
years it will lose four thousand miles
Naively. he added, that If any Of the
present generation is alive at that time
however he will not suffer. as with the
sun decreased in size something like foul
thousand miles, 1t would still be quite
a nice little sun.
SUNS CONTRACTION.
Once the sun was million miles II
diameter he declared, but being gas
eous body, it has contracted to its pres
ent size 1t will burn for some little time
to come yet. The world on which we I'VE
he. says, is not the creation of the few
thousand years which history almost GOV
ers. but is millions and millions of year:
old. and the proof of its once great hea
is shown. by the intense heat raging II
the interior. Entirely outside the n11u
ence of the sum- he declared therInome
ter dropped for more than annie stralgh
down into the earth showed rapid IN
crease in temperature.
DUMB-BELL NEEULA.
Sir Robert showed a superb photograpi
of one Of, the most noted of all neou4ou
forma tons, the dumb-bell neoula. On IN
screen this showed size of somethln'
more than a yard long. In order to civ
some idea of the vastness of the lorna
ton. he declared that If to every perso
on eartf-man, woman and chlld-ther'
should be given a portion Of this lorna
ton as large as the entire American
Hemisphere, it would, in the aggregate
cover relatively no more space than IN
tin of the wand which he used to pom
out the various points Of the photographs
He also showed many beautiful photo
c-raphs OF what are known as spiral neo
uIa. These, SO far as scientists nave pee
able to conjecture, are vast Whlrlln
formations of gaseous matter, contain
ing. as proven by the spectroscope, tn
exact materials which go to make up IN
world. These are gradually contractln
and viii, a few million years from tn
present day, contract into new solar sys
TENS.
Throughout the lecture the closest al
tention was paid by the students and Wis
jtors. and many of the photographs OF Tn
celestial phenomena provoked applause .
their sheer beauty. Tonight Sir Robel
will deliver a lecture on Other Worlo
Than Ours" and tomorrow night tn
last Of the series will be delivered, tn
subject being '.Tinle and Tide.
Sir Robert is stopping at Murphy:
There his name appears modestly as Rot
ert Ball. He is sturdy and hearty; olss
tirctly English in appearance and tall
His face is rudy with the glow OF healt
and he impresses one as a man VINO ca
get all the enjoyment that is in life Il
him, despite the time he devotes TO u
study OF his lifetime.
Republicans to Caucus.
There will be caucus of the Republl