The Mena weekly star., 1912-04-25
Our Earth's Fiery Ordeal.

There are always prophets of
evil who seem to take pleasure in
telling the inhabitants OF the earth
the terrible calamities that are to
befall them.
We accept the Bible account Of
the destruction of nearly the entire
population of the globe in the
Noachian deluge, and we are mind
full of the sacred prediction that
our world is next to be tried by fire,
but no countenance should be ac-
corded to the prophecies so often
banded about in the semi-scien-
tiiic publications that the sun, the
great central source of light and
heat to the vast system of planets
and other heavenly bodies that re-
volve around it is mere physical
fire which is consuming its sub
stance, and in due course will be
utterly burned out and left a cold
and black cinder with lot of froz-
en- worlds, of which ours will be
one, wandering around in utter
darkness, with every living crea-
ture of every sort frozen corpse.
According to the astronomers
who teach such pessimistic
science, this fate might have over
come us long ago but for the liberal
supply of comets that have been
| plunging into the sun and keeping
its fires going. But these prophets
| of evil look for a time when all
the comets and other celestial rub
bish will have been burned and not
another scuttle full of such fuel
will be available, and then will
come the final extinguishment.
Since the discovery of radium,
that remarkable material that
gives off warmth and light spon-
taneously, the chemists have TAX
en- courage and now believe that
the sun is an enormous chunk Of
radium. But they are obliged 10
own that ii will family become ex-
hausted, and that although it may
last long time, it will at last be-
come exhausted and go out in
darkness and cold.
But let not the scientists lose
hope for their grand celestial lu-
minary and this terrestrial globe on
which its inhabitants are born, and
live in the midst of trouble, and
die, for there is every scientific
reason to believe that they are all
right. Anybody who knows any
thing about electricity as revealed
by modern science is entirely con-
fident that our grand solar system
is titanic generator of light, heat
and power. The sun revolves on
its axis and around it circle nu-
merous planets and planetoids of
the system, each revolving upon its
own axis, while around the chief
Of them circle their own moons.
The entire system is an exact but
more elaborate counterpart OF our
great electric generators that light
our cities, move our street cars and
propel much of our machinery,
even lending their heat to cook our
food and smelt our metals. Anyone
who will study a modern generator
will see that ii is simply a system
of revolving mechanism, generating
not by friction, but by induction, or
bringing in proximity, but not in
contact Of electrodes or electrically
and magnetically endowed metals.
That our solar system and all the
celestial solar and planetary combi-
nations are electric generators can
no longer be doubted. There is no
friction, no wearing or consuming
of the parts, no exhaustion of its
capacity, and no condition that can
shorten its eternal existence.
When the time shall come when
the inhabitants Of our earth are to
suffer their baptism OF fire, tenn
peratures of unusual intensity will
doubtless be generated. the prophe-
sled conilagration will occur with all
/ its tremendous solemniiy, but the
earth will survive as it did the eff
feels Of the deluge, and will be fit
ted for The abode Of a purified race
Ief human beings.
We need therefore entertain no
anxiety for the final fate OF our
earth. II is only for ourselves that
we need give serious thought.New
Orleans picayune.