HERSCHEL THE DISCOVERER. 17 



glowing atmosphere, and reflecting much of 

 the light intercepted by them. The spots were 

 believed to be openings in these atmospheres, 

 caused by the action of winds, the umbra or 

 dark portion of the spot thus representing the 

 globe of the Sun, which Herschel believed to 

 be " richly stored with inhabitants." This theory 

 held its ground for many years. Newton, it is 

 true, believed the Sun to be gaseous, but he 

 propounded no hypothesis of its constitution. 

 Herschel's theory, on the other hand, was 

 fully developed, plausible, and attractive. It 

 was held by eminent men of science until 

 1860, when the revelations of the spectroscope 

 showed it to be quite untenable. The theory 

 was supported for many years by Sir John 

 Herschel, who, however, abandoned it in 1864. 

 Herschel made several attempts to ascertain 

 whether any connection existed between the 

 state of the Sun and the condition of the 

 Earth. In 1801 he was inclined to believe 

 that " some temporary defect of vegetation " 

 resulted from the absence of sun-spots, which, 

 he thought, "may lead us to expect a copious 

 emission of heat, and, therefore, mild seasons." 

 Herschel believed, in fact, that food became 

 dear at the times of spot-minima. It may be 

 remarked that Herschel never noted the spot- 

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