Year: 1876




Companions.


Prof. Proctor, in one of his lectures,
said The geologists regards the his
tory of the earth, the turning of its
crust, as showing probably the way in
which changes take place in planets
other than this. The different classes
of scientists tend to aid the astronomer
in determining facts regarding other
worlds. The subject of neighboring
worlds is one full of scientific interest,
but the mere knowledge of facts, such as
the size of an orbit, its various dinen-
sions, and its distance from this world,
are not of scientific interest. What is
wanted is conception of the scheme
that is working throughout the entire
universe and we are very likely to find,
with the widening circle of our knowl-
edge, still greater circle of discovery
before us. The lecturer said that in this
lecture he wished to bring before his
audience new theory-the theory that
there are other worlds than this, not
only inhabited by other creatures but
creatures as capable as the dwellers upon
this world. That is a theory, he con-
tinued, which has found much favor, the
theory of many worlds. So far as the
support of life is concerned, there may
be the same misconception on our part as
there has been in other things. ALI
worlds have one stage in their existence
when they are fitted for the abode of
life, and at that time it is probable that
life makes its appearance upon them,
passes to higher and higher forms of
development, until it reaches its cul-
mination, and then gradually fades out,
the condition of that planet no longer
rendering it fit to be the abode of life.
Then comes the death, but at some re-
mote period that planet may serve, some
other purpose. 1t may fall upon the
earth in the form of meteor, be vapor
lied, and serve many other purposes
which are not known, in the economy of
the earth. The time may come when
the earth will die-when it will no longer
re able to support life. A time may
come when the earth will come in con-
tact with the sun, and thus increase the
supply of heat to the whole system,
though there may be no absolute end to
the work of planet. But to the sup
port of life there must be a limited
period, and it is not only limited, but is
very short. It is like ripple upon the
sea of time, representing the whole life of
that orl.as distinct orb of its kind.
And still less that sea itself is only O
ripple in the ocean of infinite time. We
may go through history and we see that
there was an indefinite time proceeding
the time when life appeared upon the
earth, and in the future we see a similar
time coming after the history of life on
the earth.


In 1877 Mars will be brightest, and at
that time the size Of the solar system can
be determined much more accurately
than by the last transit of Venus. What
is desired is to know the size of a planet,
for when that is discovered the size of
the whole solar system can be readily
ascertained. Sa,urn he did not believe
was inhabited, and supported this belief
by showing that because of the position
of the planets rings, in summer, when
heat was not needed, there would be a
superabundance of it, and in winter,
when it was needed, there would be a
plentiful lack. The rings of Saturn did
not move north or south but remained
always at the equator, inclining very
little to the north or south.