a nucleus around which extended, through a
great space, a mass of attenuated planetary matter. The nucleus once
formed the matter adjacent would precipitate itself by gravitation
upon the surface of the incipient world. The precipitation would
proceed as heat was given off into space. It was virtually a process
of condensation; but the result appeared like growth.

To the senses a planet would seem to be forming itself by accretion;
and so, indeed, in one sense it was; for the mass constantly
increased. As the nucleus sped on in the prescribed pathway, it drew
to itself the surrounding matter, leaving behind it an open channel.
The orbit was thus cleared of the matter, which was at first merely
nebular, and afterward both nebular and fragmentary. The growth at the
first was rapid. With each revolution a larger band of space was swept
clear of its material. With each passage of the forming globe the
matter from the adjacent spaces would rush down upon its surface, and
as the mass of the planet increased the process would be stimulated;
for gravitation is proportional to the mass. At length a great tubular
space would be formed, having the orbit of the earth for its centre,
and in this space the matter was all swept up. The tube enlarged with
each revolution, until an open way was cut through the nebular disc,
and then from the one side toward Venus and from the other side toward
Mars the space widened and widened, until the globe took approximately
by growth its present mass of matter. The nebulous material was drawn
out of the inter-planetary space where it was floating, and the shower
of star dust on the surface of the earth became thinner and less
frequent. In some parts of the orbit bands or patches of this material
existed, and the earth in passing through such hands drew down upon
itself the flying fragments of such matter as it continues to do to
the present day. What are meteoric displays but the residue of the
primordial showers by which the world was formed?

All this work, according to the New Astronomy, took place while our
globe was still in a superheated condition. The mass of it had not yet
settled into permanent form. The water had not yet become water; it
was steam. The metals had not yet become metals; they were rather the
vapor of metals. At length they were the liquids of metals, and at
last the solids. So, also, the rocks were transformed from the
vaporous through the liquid into the solid form--all