THE EXTENT OF THE 

 UNIVERSE 



WE cannot expect that the wisest men of our 

 remotest posterity, who can base their conclusions 

 upon thousands of years of accurate observation, 

 will reach a decision on this subject without some measure 

 of reserve. Such being the case, it might appear the dictate 

 of wisdom to leave its consideration to some future age, 

 when it may be taken up with better means of information 

 than we now possess. But the question is one which will 

 refuse to be postponed so long as the propensity to think of 

 the possibilities of creation is characteristic of our race. The 

 issue is not whether we shall ignore the question altogether, 

 like Eve in the presence of Raphael ; but whether in studying 

 it we shall confine our speculations within the limits set 

 by sound scientific reasoning. Essaying to do this, I invite 

 the reader's attention to what science may suggest, admit- 

 ting in advance that the sphere of exact knowledge is small 

 compared with the possibilities of creation, and that outside 

 this sphere we can state only more or less probable con- 

 clusions. 



The reader who desires to approach this subject in the 

 most receptive spirit should begin his study by betaking him- 

 self on a clear, moonless evening, when he has no earthly 

 concern to disturb the serenity of his thoughts, to some point 

 where he can lie on his back on bench or roof, and scan 

 the whole vault of heaven at one view. He can do this 

 with the greatest pleasure and profit in late summer or 

 autumn winter would do equally well were it possible for 

 the mind to rise so far above bodily conditions that the 



Copyright, 1906, by HARPE* & BROTHERS. 

 325 



