The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-06-25
THE EARTH AND THE MOON.

Three astronomers in so many ar
ticles published in the New Aork
Journal some weeks ago, informed
the public that the earth ana moon
were fast approaching each o'ner'
and some time in the future, the
exact time not being given, there
would be a collision, the like oil
which had never before occurred ana
which might destroy both BODIES.
So graphic was the description OF
the collision, and so vivid the imagl-
nation OF the artist, that a represen-
tation of it was drawn and large
cut printed In the Journal. 1t repre-
sented the two bodies coming TO-
pether with such force that the moon
had sunk itself to nearly oneiourth
of its diameter in the earth, land irag'
ments, both large and small, were ny
ing in all directions, the inhabitants
were frenzy with fear and the end o.
all things earthly appeared to have
come. 1t was the talk among
all classes and at all gatherings, and
the credulous were very much alarm
ed. Now, right in the nick OF time
comes another noted astronomer
who tells us that there Is not WORD
OF truth in the collision theory, but
that, on the contrary, the moon IL
receding from the earth, and IL IL
consoling to know thatit is not al
tended with any evil consequences
so far as the astronomer can discern
In speaking Of the relations OF the
moon and earth Sir Robert Hal
says:
Our satellite now revolves at q dis
lance OF 24O, 900 miles, but there was
time when that distance WAS no mors
than 200 900 miles There was q time
millions OF wears ago. no doubt, wher
the moon was but 100, 900 miles away
and as we look further and further bach
we ace the moon ever drawing closer anc
closer TO the earth, until at last we dis
Germ the critical period In earth-moor
history when our globe was spinhist
round 10 the period OF about i've or 81,
hours. The moon, instead OF revolving
where we now find 1t, was then actuaiiy
closer to the earth; earlier still II was, IL
TACT touching our globe, and the moor
and the earth were revolving each arounC
the other like foot ball and 'enhi'
ball actually fastened together.
The receding theory is no doubt
adduced from the belief that the
bodies were at one time touching
each other, and are now nearly
a quarter OF million OF miles apart
We see in the extract what the inter
walls OF separation have been, at one
time touching, then one hundred
thousand miles apart, then two hun
dred thousand and now two forty
So il seems that the longer time roll'
ON the further we are from the pre-
dicted collision.
But some one may raise aquestior
Of veracity between the Journal as
tronomers and DR.. Hall, there being
three against one. II 80, let US leave
IL to time. We are sure time will tell
DIR. Hall has another theory about
the moon, which is new to the mos'
of us, and would be really interest
ing il it was susceptible OF proof, but
as it Is not we will have to takeit iol
what it is worth now and wait fol
further developments. He takes
another peep into the past, and says
We know that the earth was, at thai
early period when the earth and moor
were touching each other, y q soft moiter
mass OF matter, spinning round rapid
ily. The speed seems to have been sc
great that a rupture took place, q por
ton Of the molten matter broke away
from the parent globe, and the rag
ments coalesced into small globe
That the moon was thue born OF oui
earth unaccourte ted millions OF years age
Is the lesson which mathematics declares
IL learns from the murmur OF the tides.
The conclusion we would draw
from this is that IL the moon were
born OF the earth, it would be a very
naughty offspring that would return
TODD violence toits mother, and that
wecannot accept the collision theory.