8o New Theories of ike Great Forces. 



old theories which will fall, will be that fig- 

 ment of the imagination the Nebular Hy- 

 pothesis^ How strangely, and how strongly, 

 has that hypothesis maintained its ground, 

 even after nebulous masses have been resolved 

 into clusters of stars. If gravity be the result 

 of retro-acting forces, there could be no ele- 

 ment of attraction in the flimsy gaseous 

 particles whereby they might be drawn to- 

 gether. If gravity be the result of retro- 

 acting forces, then must those forces have 

 their existence somewhere. But where could 

 there be found in flimsy gases any such spe- 

 cial centres of force any nuclei from which 

 attraction might proceed in its work of form- 

 ing the spheres ? A starting-point is lack- 

 ing. 



If these theories be true, the sun is formed 

 like unto the earth, and is cool, non-luminous, 

 and habitable. Incandescence not being the 

 condition of the sun or its surroundings ; 

 exhausted worlds, worn out asteroids, and 

 stray comets and meteors are not required 

 to keep up external fires. 



If, therefore, incandescence be not a condi- 

 tion of the sun's surroundings, then surely 



14 Appendix, p. *. <j ^ 



