CHAPTER II 

 THE EARTH'S SHAPE 



WE have compared the earth to a golf ball, and 

 as it spins through space, impelled by a force 

 millions of times greater than the strongest 

 driver ever imparted to the best-made "Haskell," its 

 flight and general appearance are not unlike those of the 

 rubber-cored ball. The earth, for one thing, is not 

 smooth ; it has roughnesses and corrugations all over its 

 surface, similar to those of a golf ball, though much less 

 regular, and it spins as it flies. But let us now consider 

 the differences. Suppose the golf ball had a spot of 

 water clinging to it as water clings to a greasy spot. 

 Where would the water lie ? The first answer that 

 occurs to one is that the water would be shaken off the 

 ball in the course of its flight ; and that is, indeed, very 

 likely. But suppose the water were very sticky, or were 

 very much attracted by the golf ball (which is another 

 way of stating the same supposition), where would it lie 

 then ? To that we can only say that there does not 

 seem any very evident reason why it should lie on one 

 part of the flying golf ball more than on any other if 

 the golf ball were perfectly round. 



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