74 



magnifying power lias revealed to us the fact that they are 

 masses of stars. What movements are taking place in these far 

 off systems we know not. AVhat are marslialling the atoms of 

 this star-mist, concentrating it here into Ijurning points, dissi- 

 pating it there into filaments of light ; that we know not. But 

 this we see, that not even in sun or planet, star or system of 

 stars, is there anything permanent or abiding. Nebulae are no 

 longer visible now that once were a^jparent, some have been seen 

 to increase in brightness and finally disappear. The radiant 

 points in their centres, once clear enough, are now not to be 

 found. Rest there is none. The universe is instinct with 

 energj', with life to the farthest limits of human vision. The 

 atoms of the luminous cloud condense into stars, stars fall into 

 streams, and star-streams form into systems. Suns gather and 

 are again dispersed. Out of. the nuns of old worlds new ones 

 are built up, as the decaying leaves of autumn minister to the 

 flowers of spring. Perchance, also, one day we shall learn that 

 the same law guides the spiral of the nebula and the tendril of 

 the A-ine — 



" One Ood, one law, one element, 

 And one far-oflF divine event 

 To Mhich the whole creation moves." 



At half-i)ast nine o'clock, Mr. "\V. Jago, the Science ^Master 

 at the Brighton School of Ail and Science, gave a lecture, illus- 

 trated with interesting experiments, on 



" Paradoxical Flajies." 



The selection of the title of this address (said Mr. Jago) cost 

 me much less trouble than the finding of something to say after 

 the title was selected. One consolation, however, remains — that 

 with such a " paradoxical " introduction you will not expect a very 

 consecutive and orthodox lecture. Plunging at once into the 

 subject, I would refer to some of the abnormal sources of flame 

 known ; and one of these which seems the most contradictory is 

 that which results from tha action of water on certain substances. 



