16 Discovery of Laws of Nature 



We must think also of the complexity of move- 

 ments — the earth rotating on its axis and the sun 

 doing the same ; the earth revolving in its orbit ; and 

 the whole solar system moving, at the rate of about 

 twelve miles a second, towards a point in the sky in 

 the direction of the bright star Vega, the "apex of 

 the sun's way." We must also think of the enormous 

 liberation of sub-atomic energies continually going 

 on in sun and star. 



From finite experiences we cannot make a tran- 

 scendent inference, but we see some point in the say- 

 ing, "The undevout astronomer is mad." We cannot 

 but be impressed by Newton's quiet declaration: 

 "This most beautiful System of the Sun, planets, and 

 comets could only proceed from the counsel and 

 dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being." 



§8. Three General Impressions. 



Three large thoughts rise in the mind. The first is 

 of man's masterfulness, who weighs and measures the 

 heavenly bodies, who analyzes their chemical com- 

 position and unravels their complex movements, who 

 predicts the return of the comet, who even deciphers 

 the life-histories of systems. What masterfulness — 



When science reaches forth her arms 

 To feel from world to world and charms 

 Her secret from the latest moon ! 



The second thought is expressed by the mathe- 

 matician Poincare {The Foundations of Science, 

 1913, p. £89) : "Think how diminished humanity 



