s as unexpected as that every tiny
seed should show peculiar markings and colors under the microscope.

[Illustration: Fig. 65.--View of Saturn and his Rings.]

There are certain things that are easy to determine, such as size,
density, periodic time, velocity, etc.; but other things are exceedingly
difficult to determine. It requires long sight to read when the
book is held [Page 168] 800,000,000 miles away. Only very few, if
more than two, opportunities have been found to determine the time
of Saturn's rotation. On the evening of December 7th, 1870,
Professor Hall observed a brilliant white spot suddenly show itself
on the body of this planet. It was as if an eruption of white hot
matter burst up from the interior. It spread eastward, and remained
bright till January, when it faded. No such opportunity for getting
a basis on which to found a calculation of the time of the rotation
of Saturn has occurred since Sir William Herschel's observations;
and, very singularly, the two times deduced wonderfully
coincide--that of Herschel being 10h. 16m., that of Mr. Hall being
10h. 14m.

[Page 169]
The density of Saturn is less than that of water, and its velocity
of rotation so great that centrifugal force antagonizes gravitation
to such an extent that bodies weigh on it about the same as on the
earth. All the fine fancies of the habitability of this vaporous
world, all the calculations of the number of people that could
live on the square miles of the planet and its enormous rings,
are only fancy. Nothing could live there with more brains than a
fish, at most. It is a world in formative processes. We cannot hear
the voice of the Creator there, but we can see matter responsive
to the voice, and moulded by his word.

_Rings of Saturn._

The eye and mind of man have worked out a problem of marvellous
difficulty in finding a true solution of the strange appearance
of the rings. Galileo has the immortal honor of first having seen
something peculiar about this planet. He wrote to the Duke of Tuscany,
"When I view Saturn it seems _tricorps_. The central body seems the
largest. The two others, situated, the one on the east, and the
other on the west, seem to touch it. They are like two supporters,
who help old Saturn on his way, and always remain at his side."
Looking a few years later, the rings having turned from view, he
said, "It is possible that some demon mocked me;" and he refused
to look any more.

Huyghens, in March