The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1901-05-03

tigation and study, not only in con-
nection with the future influence
upon The earth of these changes. but
in reading i'm the light OF this new
knowledge the events ut the past
which SO perpleNed the scientists of
by-gone centuries.
So much rs has already been said
has been based upon the testimony
OF some OF the most learned a5troa-
omers of America, who have given
the whole subject OF the movement
Of thu poles their most careful and
deliberate consideration. Strangely
enough every word that they have said
comes as confirmation of a theory
announced quarter Of a century ago
by Mr.. William Andrews, OF Cumber-
land, Maryland, in his book called
"The Diuturnal Theory OF the Earth"
although it was only couple OF
years ago that the book was publish
ed by his executors, after having re-
mained in manuscript so m my years
after the death Of its author MIR.
Andrews was not strictly speaking
scientific man, or, at least, he had
not received the collegiate training
which is generally considered indis-
pensable for the astronomer and
geologist. He possessed, however,
chat which il far more rare and valu-
able, Il mind Of great strength of rsa-
soning and observation, which en-
abled him to form ulate, without the
aid Of such observations and caicu'
lations as led Prof. Chandler TO ms
conclusions, a tHeory identical with
that Of the New Haven philosopher,
aud also to explain his conclusions
in so clear q manner and support
them with so strong arguments that
few readers OF his book can fail to be
convinced Of their correctness.
1t will, OF course, be understood
that in speaking Of the poles chang
ing their positions it is meant that
the position of the earth in relation
to the fixed stars underSoes gradual
change, in the course of which the
Polar regions and the tropics alter
nately present themselves under Ger
tain portions of the heavens which
are unchanging in their position.
lake for example the Polar Star. We
know that Mt present what we regard
as the northern end OF the earth >
axis is not directly under Polaris,
but degree and a quarter from it.
We are ais, told that fire thousand
| years ago the Polar Star was Dra-
conis, and that twelve Thousand years
later it will be Lyrae, showing that
the position OF the globe, relative to
the heavens, is constantly changing
Mr.. Andrews asserts that this change
takes place in spiral, the North
Pole moving away from under Polari
in a southwesterly direction and the
South Pole in northwesterly one
until in the course Of long ages what
is now our equator will be under that
star. In confirmation of his theory
Mr.. Andrews cites all that has beer
asserted heretofore concerning gla
cial periods, md the effect on thu
earth of the movement Of the glaciers
| and tho ctot~.~f -I--.- ~. ULOpfCaI re
mains Of both fauna and flora in Arc
tic regions; thus furnishing the mos
plausible explanation OF these phe
nomena that has yet been given. o
course such circumstance as tht
gradual movement of the globe, 81
chat it's axis would be shifted from
their present positions to the neigh
| ooAhooo VI Cho cludCor, WOulu lueVlC-
ably result in change in the shap,
Of the crust Of the earth ITSELF tn,
rising OF the fattened portions arounc
the poles, accompanied by chang,
in the elevation of the continents anc
the sea level, and the overfowing o
portions of the earth which are nov
dry land. 1t is Mr.. Andrews theory
that, since the creation Of the world
this has already occurred severa
times, thus forming the various per.
iods into which the geologlst has di
yided the earth's existence. What
ever may be the defects Of this "diu.
turnal theory" Of Mr. Andrevs, these
recent discoveries look very like 6
confirmation Of part Of it, and
moreover, the map which accom- pa.
nies Prof. Gamblers discovery is al
most Identical with that illustrative
OF his theory in Mr.. Andrews's book