it falls
upon, they are unable "to discuss of the effect of motions wholly
surpassing in velocity .... enormously exceeding even the inconceivable
velocity of many meteors;" (c) confessedly--they "have no means of
learning whence that part of the light comes which gives the continuous
spectrum".... hence no means of determining how great a depth of the
solar substance is concerned in sending out that light. This light "may
come from the surface layers only;" and, "it may be but a shell" ....
(truly!); and finally, (d) they have yet to learn "how far combustion,
properly so-called, can take place within the sun's mass;" and "whether
these processes, which we (they) recognize as combustion, are the only
processes of combustion which can actually take place there."
Therefore, Mr. Proctor for one comes to the happy and prudent idea after
all "that what had been supposed the most marked characteristic of
incandescent solid and liquid bodies, is thus shown to be a possible
characteristic of the light of the glowing gas." Thus, the whole basis
of their reasoning having been shaken (by Frankland's objection), they,
the astronomers, may yet arrive at accepting the occult theory, viz.,
that they have to look to the 6th state of matter, for divulging to them
the true nature of their photospheres, chromospheres, appendages,
prominences, projections and horns. Indeed, when one finds one of the
authorities of the age in physical science--Professor Tyndall--saying
that "no earthly substance with which we are acquainted, no
substance which the fall of meteors has landed on the earth--would
be at all competent to maintain the sun's combustion;" and
again:--".... multiplying all our powers by millions of millions, we do
not reach the sun's expenditure. And still, notwithstanding this
enormous drain in the lapse of human history, we are unable to detect a
diminution of his store ...."--after reading this, to see the men of
science still maintaining their theory of "a hot globe cooling," one may
be excused for feeling surprised at such inconsistency. Verily is that
great physicist right in viewing the sun itself as "a speck in infinite
extension--a mere drop in the Universal sea;" and saying that, "to
Nature nothing can be added; from Nature nothing can be taken away; the
sum of her energy is constant, and the utmost man can do in the pursuit
of physical truth, or in the applications of physical knowledge, is to
shift the constit