Solar ti)i(l J'hi nctm-i/ Eroluiimi. 



69 



tent of the universe. Are there an infinite number of 

 worlds, extending beyond our ;itniost vision ? We cannot 

 know. All the objects within the reach of the most power- 

 ful telescopes belong to our universe. It is possible that 

 other universes exist beyond, which we are unable to per- 

 ceive because of the absence of a luminiferous ether, con- 

 necting them with our range of vision. It is an interest- 

 ing question whether our universe is still young and grow- 

 ing, or whether it is now on its downward course, tending 

 to decay and death. Kespecting this question it may be 

 said that we tind within the range of vision very few dead 



Fiji', l.'i. Spiral nebula in Canes A'enatici. 



stars, while the number of nebuhx' in j)rocess of forming 

 into stars is very great. We may therefore assume that 

 the universe is still in a youthful condition and has not 

 ])assed the noon of its existence. The spectroscope assures 

 us that those stars which shine Avith a red light are the old- 

 est, and the nearest extinction. Of these there are com- 

 paratively few. 



We have l)rought the history of a ])lanet from the period 

 of its primal evolution out of the liery mist, to its extinc- 

 tion. Is this all ? AVill there be no resurrection of dead 

 worlds ? When a ])lanet like the moon has parted with its 

 heat it will still continue to rotate on its axis and to re- 



