From The Press. while a Bude light shines full upon the other LIGHT travels down to us all the way from the Sun. So we are told. But being of a sceptical and rather heterodoxical turn of mind, we venture to dispute received opinions on this point. Of course, in a certain sense we fully admit that light travels all the way from the solar orb-else we should not see the sun. But this much must be said even of the remotest of the fixed stars which is visible to us by the help of Lord Rosse's huge telescope. We speak of the Daylight,-which now floods the clear autnmn skies; and we ask if all that mass of Whence, then, comes the light of the light rays down to us through the abyss of earth? We answer,-Mediately from the vacancy which separates our planet from Sun, immediately from the Earth itself. the sun? We venture to think that, instead There is a flux and reflux, an interaction, of of travelling nearly a hundred millions of influence between the sun and the earth; miles, the immediate source and fountain of and this action manifests itself, among other our daylight exists perhaps not more than ways, by vibrations in the ether-sphere fifty or a hundred miles from the surface of which surrounds our planet, producing the earth. Our atmosphere, we presume it light. There is a certain cosmical influence, is admitted, consists of Air and Ether-the former being recessary to the propagation of Sound, the latter being the special medium of Light. Going beyond this, we hold that the ether is not only the medium for the transmission, but also a cause, and the immediate source to us, of our daylight. The air, composed of gases, comparatively heavy, is densest at the surface of the earth; the ether is purest and probably densest in the higher region, forming the outermost envelope of our planet, It is this etherial envelope which, vibrating to the electric influence of the sun, produces the floods of light which make day on the surface of the earth. If this be not true, consider what we are called upon to believe. According to the received opinion, which maintains that all the light of this world comes raying through space from the sun, the entire region of space inclosed within the orbit of the earth must be full of light as brilliant as our noonday radiance. Nay, much more so: for, if the rays of light travel from the sun in the manner commonly believed, increasing rapidly as the distance from the sun diminishes, then the whole region of space through which the inferior planets Venus and Mercury move ought to be a-blaze with dazzling light. But such, as any one may see, is not the case. If we stand behind a huge pillar which we may call electric, which passes between the sun and earth,-but that influence is not light. It does not become Light till it acts upon the etherial envelope of the earth, no more than the same influence becomes Heat till it has reached the lower and gaseous portion of our atmosphere. As we rise in a balloon, or ascend the highest mountains, the light is as brilliant as ever, or more so; but heat diminishes, because the atmosphere, the gaseous element without which heat cannot be developed, is growing thinner. The same principle applies to the generation of light. Both light and heat are different phenomena produced by the same cosmical influence acting upon different media. Air is the fuel without which the cosmical influence may be present (as in the upper region of the sky), yet there is no heat. Ether is the luminiferous medium, without which (as in the insterstellar spaces) the cosmical influence may pass and repass, yet there is no light. The ether, then, which surrounds the earth is actually a photosphere-a sea of purest matter, whose vibrations send down upon us the Daylight, and, mingling with the atmosphere below, produce the warmth of the sunshine. As the vibrations are produced by the action of the sun, it is the portion of the ether-sphere next the sun which necessarily vibrates most; and thus Daylight goes round the Earth's side ever following the sun,-as we | proceed from the sun all the way out to the see it does, but not for the reason commonly planets, and that it is generated in an etherbelieved. We repeat: an influence comes sphere which surrounds each of them; still from the sun (or, more strctly, is inter- the light is not truly theirs,-it is caused by changed between the sun and earth), but the action of the sun." We have granted that influence is not Light save where it that, in a certain sense. We have said that passes through earth's ether-sphere,—and is it is mainly due to an influence proceeding not Heat till, in addition, it passes through from the sun : but we did so with a qualificathe gaseous atmosphere. tion. We have said that, strictly speaking, it is due not wholly to the influence of the sun, but rather to a mutual interaction between sun and planet. Owing to the immense size of the Sun, his part in the mutual action is 355,000 times greater than that of the Earth: nevertheless the Earth has her influence too, small though it be. And when we come to the larger planets, such as Jupiter and Saturn, the difference, though still enormous, is lessened. What, then, we maintain is, that the Sun owes his apparent (not real) monopoly of generating light, heat, and electricity not (speaking roughly) to any peculiarity in the constitution of his orb, but simply to his superior size. We maintain that each of the planets as truly (though, from inferior size, more feebly) generates light, heat, and electricity as the sun itself. The volume, or apparent size, of the sun is about five hundred and fifty, and its mass, or actual attractive power, fully seven hundred and fifty times greater than those of all the planets put together. Is not this sufficient to explain the difference? Take a magnet of the largest size-then take another six hundred times less, and sever it into a dozen pieces, and place those pieces at varying distances around the large one: what will be the result? Will not the action of the large magnet upon the others be so overpowering that, to appearance, it will be the sole force in action? Will it not so control the motions of the others that they will seem to have no power of their own? And yet they have identically the same kind of power as the large magnet, only lesser in degree. Even such, we maintain, is the relation between the sun and the planets. Each member of our solar system We say the same of all the planets. Ay, and of both sun and planets. Astronomers have begun to speculate very busily, about the photosphere of the sun, and the idea has been hesitatingly thrown out that possibly, underneath all that flaming envelope, people may live and a world exist something like our own. We entertain no doubt about it. We are sorry to see some great names recently indulging in very opposite hypotheses; some of them denying that there is a photosphere around the sun at all,-others giving out that the sun must be a molten liquid mass, or perhaps of substance little more compact than a comet. For our own part, we entertain no doubt that ere long all such ideas will be relegated to the limbo of antiquated and ignoble vanities. We go further. We maintain that EVERY PLANET IS LUMINOUS. Also that, speaking roughly, they are luminous in proportion to their size; or, more correctly, in proportion to their mass, and power of attraction. Upon our principle that all matter rays off electricity and light, does not the sun's mere immensity of bulk account for his apparent monopoly of power and light? He is reckoned nearly 1,400,000 times larger than the earth,―certainly he is 355,000 times heavier: if then the Earth and Sun give out light each simply in proportion to its mass, the light of the former compared to that of the latter must be fainter than a rushlight held up in the blaze of the sunshine. Everything is comparative. There is light even at night for animals whose eyes are more absorbent of light than ours; and the stars shine all the day long, although we cannot see them for the far superior blaze of the sun. Even so the planets have each a phos-alike has a power of generating light, heat, phorescence of their own, although so feeble that hitherto no note has been taken of it. II. But it may be said "Even granting what you say-even granting that light does not and electricity. Each planet, too, acts upon its neighbors (by attraction, etc.) just as the sun does; and they all together act upon the sun. The sun, in fact, could not maintain its brightness without them, any more than they could have light and heat without ever, if correct, not only prove the falsity of the sun. this position, but tend to establish the very opposite. Thus : Thus we see that the sun is not the sole source of Force in our plenetary system, and only appears to be so from its superior size. So that the current notion among men of science (which we lately heard elaborately expounded before a learned society) that the sun, being the sole fountain of Force, is yearly exhausting himself, and that in future ages the supply of heat, etc., to the planets will become so greatly diminished, that they will be reduced to the forlorn condition of men shivering and trying to warm themselves at a dying fire-is all moonshine. The life of our planetary system does not all proceed from the sun, but is the result of a mutual action between each and all. The planets give, in proportion as they receive. If the sun gives out the most Force, he also (by all the planets and comets approaching him by turns) receives the most. According to the current theory, if there were one planet less in our system, it would be better for the others, seeing that the sun's force would not be so soon exhausted. According to our view, the result would be a diminution in the Life-power of the whole system. III. The most casual observer must be struck with the fact, that the smaller planets are nearest to the sun, and that the large ones and those attended by satellites are the most remote. Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, are near the sun; Jupiter is nearly three and a half times more distant than Mars; and Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are respectively about six, thirteen, and twenty-one times more distant than this outmost of the smaller planets. Now, if, as we maintain, the light and heat of each planet are not dependent merely upon its distance from the sun, but also upon its own size, it follows that the larger size of the outer planets will in an approximate degree counterbalance their greater distance from the Central Orb. If the current theory were true, the light and heat of the sun must be so diminished before they reach Jupiter as to be only onetwenty-fifth of what they are here; so that the inhabitants of that magnificent planet would experience darkness and cold like that of an Arctic night. If, on the other hand, the view which we propose be the true one, then Jupiter, though fully five times Earth's distance from the sun, being three hundred and forty times greater in mass than the Earth, will compensate the diminished influence of the sun by its own great power of evolving light and heat. So, also, in lesser degree with Saturn and Neptune, large as it is, may be attended by rings and satellites which as yet we have failed to discover, but which will aid in compensating his great distance from the central orb. But these views of ours, if correct, throw important light on a question which lately was keenly discussed, and which certainly is a very interesting one. We mean the question as to the plurality of worlds. A book has been written by a man of mark, titled "Are there more Worlds than One ?" who has answered that question in the negative. According to the writer, Earth holds the supreme place in the planetary system. Possibly there may be more planets than The Sun exists simply to make Earth com- have yet been discovered,-yet it seems as fortable, and the planets around us are so many grand and curious orbs created for our inspection and contemplation. The grand argument by which this theory is supported is the received belief that, since light and heat proceed from the sun in a ratio which diminishes as the square of the distance, the inferior planets, Venus and Mercury, must be so hot that water would boil and some metals be in a state of fusion; whereas the superior or outer planets-Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune-must be so cold that human life, or any kind of life existing on our planet, SUN M. V. E. M. J. S. U. N. could not maintain itself. Our views, how-In such a case, the whole stipulating power if the present grand autocracy of the sun could not co-exist if there were many more than we know of. Nor let it be supposed that the Sun, comparatively stable as he is, is free from those variations of condition which the planets undergo. The planets are ever varying their positions relatively to the sun, and thereby influence his condition. For example, if all the planets were to be (as they have been and will be again) at the same time in one line, thus : of the planets would play only upon one side of the sun, and the other side would probably be as much in darkness as Earth is at night. Indeed, as each planet would then intercept the influences of those further off -just as the moon cuts off from us the action of the sun-would not the great Sun himself suffer in a modified degree the effects of an eclipse ? IV. with ease her solid surface of hill and dale, sea-like plains, and yawning craters: but can we see the actual surface of the other planets? We may perhaps get glimpses of the solid body of Mars: but in regard to almost all the other planets, all that we really discern is their shining photospheres. Hence we mistake their bulk. We take them for larger than they really are. Hence, also, we necessarily miscalculate their density. Some of the planets, we are told, are only one-half One word in addition. Good reader! or even one-eighth of the density of the you see the moonlight shining all around Earth, and that the Sun himself is composed you in these clear frosty nights with silvery of substance only one-fourth as solid and as brightness and savans tell you that this is full of cosmical power as the Earth. We caused by the sun's rays (those rays which do not believe this. Doubtless there may we are told pass all the way hither from be variety in the constitution of the orbs of the sun, though we can't see them!) being our solar system: but not to the startling reflected by the surface of the moon. Do extent at present believed. Which are the you believe it? And if so, what do you planets said to resemble our own in density ? think the moon is made of since its surface The smallest and nearest to us: in other is so exquisite a reflector? Polished steel? words those where the illusory effect of the -or quick-silvered glass? Earth is to the photosphere can lead us astray. Which are Moon what the Moon is to the Earth, only the planets said to be much lighter than much larger and brighter. Well, then, ours? The large and remote ones, which choose the very clearest, brightest, and most their magnificent photospheres make to abdazzling day in the whole year, and look pear of much greater bulk than they really about you on the illuminated surface of our are. The greater the mass of sun or planet, globe: does it shine as the moon shines? the more distant will be the photosphere Or ascend a mountain, the higher the better, from the actual surface of the orb. Of and look down upon the valleys and woods which phenomenon the Sun himself is the ard fields below you. Do they dazzle you most striking example: his vast photosphere, as the moon does? Do not rather the or brilliant crown of light, expanding far greens and browns of the land and the blue beyond his solid nucleus, and leading asof the sea come up to you faint and pale in tronomers to imagine his real diameter hue, and in no respect whatever resembling greater and his density less than they actua splendid blaze of pure white light? In- ally are. stead of the faint hues which you see being able to penetrate two hundred and forty thousand miles through space to the moon, you feel that another mile further up, or the sightest possible haze, would obscure them altogether. How, then, does this dull earth of ours shine and sparkle radiantly like the moon or our sister planets? Is it by the light which is reflected from our ploughed fields and grassy hills-from our vast dark forests or sandy deserts? By no means. When we look at the moon in these brilliant nights, it is not light reflected from its solid surface that we see,-but from its etherial surface, vibrating and sparkling under the far-reaching cosmical influence of the sun. V. Let us end with a query. In our article on Comets (Sept. 14),* we pointed out that Newton's system requires to be supplemented, and that a law of repulsion holds as prominent a place in the ongoings of the universe as does the law of Attraction. We showed that not only comets, but all the planets, are alternately attracted and repelled by the sun-moving, in obedience to this doublefaced principle of the universe, in orbits of various degrees of ellipticity. Is there not, then, some fact connected with this double or polar action which determines the obliquity of the earth's axis to the plane *Living Age No. 209. Page 207 of the last volume. of her orbit, and the inclination at one time from the sun, and the South pole once more becomes nearest to the solar orb. We see, then, that whenever the Earth reaches that part of her course which is most distant from the sun, the North pole begins to fall away from the sun, and the South pole to be gradually attracted towards it; and that when the earth has attained its greatest proximity to the solar orb, the South pole in turn begins to fall away. Do not these phenomena suggest facts in the constitution of our planet, and in its relations to the sun, which hitherto have escaped observation? Demonstrably, is there not some marked difference between the (we shall call it magnetic) condition of the two poles? And is it not solely to the operation of this hitherto unnoticed polar principle, or doublefaced law, of alternate Attraction and Repulsion that we ought to ascribe the variations of the seasons, which are produced by the poles inclining each in turn towards the Sun ? R. of the North pole at another of the South towards the great central orb of our system? During one half of Earth's course round the sun, we see the North pole incline to the sun, and in the other half the South pole, with the periods of the vernal and autumnal equinex as transition-points, where the one pole begins to be repelled and the other attracted. On the 21st of September the south pole begins to incline towards the sun, and reaches its maximum of inclination towards the sun on 21st December; but thereupon, as the Earth reaches her perihelion, or nearest point to the sun, the South pole begins to be repelled. On the 21st of March the two poles are equidistant. Thereafter the North pole is nearest to the sun, and attains its maximum of inclination on 21st of June, immediately before Earth's aphelion, thereafter falling away, till at the autumnal equinox the poles are again equidistant per Austria shows a universal and uniform care and excellence, on its own basis, which England may envy, but does not imitate.-Correspondent of the Press, Vienna, 31 Oct. Ir may startle Englishmen, but I most positively and confidently say that England cannot match Upper Austria, I will not say for two hundred miles, but even for twenty. England, doubtless, has the first agriculture in the world; no other land grows as much produce comparatively with the powers of its soil; her cattle of every kind are absolutely unrivalled; and she has parks and country-houses which I in vain THE Expedição Scientifica, despatched by looked for here. But Upper Austria exhibits the Brazil Government to the northern province what England does not-a care of cultivation, of Ceará, has returned to Rio de Janeiro, after an excellence of condition in farmhouse, farm- having devoted two years to exploration and yards, and cottages-a uniformity which, as far making collections. The appointed historian as I am aware, has no rival. The whole region and ethnographer of the expedition, Senhor looks as if it were a model farm, and the houses Gonçalves Dias, has not returned to Rio. Well and buildings seem as if they were just fresh used to the equatorial climate of the Amazon out of the carpenter's and painter's hands. I district, he has preferred to stay and continue looked very keenly on both sides of the way, his researches, especially on the Indians of those and I could not discover a single thatch which countries -a task for which he is thoroughly required repair, or a single piece of wood which prepared, as he has proved by his work "Dicrequired repainting, or a single head of land not cionario da Lingua Tupy," (Leipzig, 1858). carefully tilled to its extreme margin, or a sin- The head of the Expedition, and at the same gle farmhouse that was not in perfect order. time its zoologist and botanist, Prof. Freire That is a sight which Upper Austria may safely Allemao, has been fortunate enough to bring challenge England to display. We know very safely home all his collected materials; the natwell that it is impossible to go about England ural philosopher and geologist of the party, S. without seeing hovels in decay, cottages crying Schüch de Capanema, however, had the mortiout for repairs, farmyards overflowing with fication to find his meteorological, hypsometrical slovenliness, fields presenting a disgraceful con- and geological notes, together with a great trast to the skill and intelligence which its neigh- many photographic sketches, lost on their transbors prove the country to possess. This is the port by water from Granja to Fortaleza. The remarkable point. Taken as a whole, English result of the Expedition will soon be made pubagriculture stands on a much higher level than lie to the literary and scientific world.-thethe Austrian; but, also taken as a whole, Up-'næum. |