THE EVER-WIDENING WORLD OF STARS. 55 



a class are external systems, we may accept as highly 

 probable the conclusion that some of the spiral or whirl- 

 pool nebulae really lie far beyond the confines of our 

 system. For we see in these objects the very picture 

 of what the new views show our sidereal system to be. 

 There are the spiral whorls corresponding to the double 

 ring of the Milky Way ; there, are faint outlying 

 streamers corresponding to the phantom star-streams 

 traced by Sir John Herschel; there also, are bright 

 single stars and miniature clusters, nay, there also, may 

 even be recognised large knots or lobes of clustering stars, 

 forming no inapt analogue of the Magellanic clouds. 



Eraser's Magazine for July 1869. 



MOVEMENTS IN THE STAR-DEPTHS. 



AMONG the many striking contrasts between the seeming 

 and the real suggested by the study of astronomy, there 

 is none more startling than the contrast which exists 

 between the apparent repose of the heavens and what is 

 really taking place among the star-depths. On a calm 

 clear night 



When all the winds are laid, 

 And every height comes out, and jutting peak 

 And valley, and the immeasurable heavens 

 Break open to their highest 



the stars seem set as emblems of eternal fixity and rest. 

 As such they have been regarded in all ages by the poet ; 

 nor has science, so far as it has been directed to the 



