Results of the New Theories, 8 1 



there may be no glowing metallic vapors, no 

 hydrogen, no iron, no sodium, no magnesium, 

 no oxygen ; those constituents of the sun en- 

 velope, so graphically described by the spec- 

 troscopists of the present day. 



The origin of celestial spectroscopy was 

 as vague and unphilosophical as was that of 

 the nebular hypothesis. FRAUENHOFER and 

 KIRCHHOFF imagined certain things, and 

 straightway a great theory sprang into exist- 



ence. 15 



Verily the " Scientific use of the Imagina- 

 tion " too often leads men into the grossest 

 errors. 



If these theories be true, we may hereafter 

 ignore all undulatory processes. Time may 

 no longer be estimated in noting the trans- 

 mission of light and heat, since, like gravity, 

 each acts instantaneously. If the most dis- 

 tant fixed star which is visible could be an- 

 nihilated to-night, its light would be seen no 

 more forever. 



If these theories be true, the recent mar- 

 vels of the age, the telephone, phonograph, 

 and their fast-multiplying brood find a satis- 

 factory and philosophical explanation. 



16 Appendix, p. 106. 

 4* 



