PROCEEDINGS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION. 615 



by the unequal heating of the atmosphere ; all steam power pro- 

 duced l>v fuel, or animal power requiring food, both fuel and food 

 produced by the developing power of the magical sunbeam in 

 producing vegetation. Can we, then, w^onder that there were 

 nations who worshipped this great celestial luminary, as the source 

 of all life, and that the day dedicated to the chief of the old seven 

 planets, from which our Sunday is derived, was already a sacred 

 day among the pagan nations, when Christianity was tirst estaldish- 

 ed in Southern Europe and Western Asia ? 



The Dr. described the latest discoveries with the spectroscope, 

 which settles the matter beyond any doubt, that the sun is in a fluid 

 condition, not alone, but at such a high temperature that sub- 

 stances solid on our earth's crust, are there present in the state of 

 vapor ; that the sun, in fact, is surrounded by an atmosphere con- 

 sisting not of nitrogen or oxygen like our earth, but so hot that 

 it consists of the vayors of zinc, sodium, potassium, not alone, 

 but of chromium, barium, nickel, copper, and even iron vapors in 

 large quantities. Also, that the light specific gravity of the sun's 

 mass corresponds strikingly with that of the liquids into which 

 we are able, by means of great pressure, to condense almost all 

 gaseous substances, with onl^' a few exceptions ; so that it is highly 

 probable that the interior of the sun consists of liquified gas, kept 

 in that state by the enormous pressure of an atmosphere of 

 immense mass and weight. 



The Dr. finally reviewed the geonomic theory, explained at the 

 last meeting by Prof. Grimes, mentioning several instances to 

 prove that it is not supported by the well known mechanical laws, 

 nor by the geological data : after w^hich the Association adjourned. 



Amekic.vn Institute Polytechnic Association, 



Bee. 20, 186b\ 



Professor Samuel D. Tillman, Chairman ; Mr. Thomas D. Stet- 

 son, Secretary. 



The chairman opened the proceedings with the following scien- 

 tific summary : 



Persistence of Rays. 

 An experiment Ijy Abbe Laborde seems to show that waves in 

 the sunbeam, of higher velocity, producing the perception of blue, 

 make a stronger impression than waves of low velocity. A ro- 



