The sun is, as we say, the storehouse of
our little cosmos, self-generating its vital fluid, and ever receiving a
much as it gives out. Were the astronomers to be asked--what definite
and positive fact exists at the root of their solar theory--what
knowledge they have of solar combustion and atmosphere--they might,
perchance, feel embarrassed when confronted with all their present
theories. For it is sufficient to make a resume of what the solar
physicists do not know, to gain conviction that they are as far as ever
from a definite knowledge of the constitution and ultimate nature of the
heavenly bodies. We may, perhaps, be permitted to enumerate:--
Beginning with, as Mr. Proctor wisely calls it, "the wildest assumption
possible," that there is, in accordance with the law of analogy, some
general resemblance between the materials in, and the processes at work
upon, the sun, and those materials with which terrestrial chemistry and
physics are familiar, what is that sum of results achieved by
spectroscopic and other analyses of the surface and the inner
constitution of the sun, which warrants any one in establishing the
axiom of the sun's combustion and gradual extinction? They have no
means, as they themselves daily confess, of experimenting upon, hence of
determining, the sun's physical condition; for (a) they are ignorant of
the atmospheric limits; (b) even though it were proved that matter,
such as they know of, is continuously falling upon the sun, being
ignorant of its real velocity and the nature of the material it falls
upon, they are unable "to discuss of the effect of motions wholly
surpassing in velocity .
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