128 



THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



al analysis, and the very latest research, 

 must appeal to the reader through every 

 line. In fact, wherever the spirit of inquiry 

 inducing mathematical precision is found to 

 supplant the imports of theory submitted on 

 authority, this work will doubtless find a 

 place ; while, as registering unerringly the 

 progressive steps taken to elucidate ascer- 

 tainable knowledge regarding our great 

 luminary, the scientific explorer can tread no 

 safer ground than that prepared by the 

 author. 



In the opening chapters the principal 

 features attaching to our solar system are 

 submitted in detail, and it is shown that the 

 sun in numerous senses becomes a center, 

 apart from the geometrical position he occu- 

 pies amid our own planetary system. For 

 the fundamental elements of calculation 

 needed to determine the true character of 

 the sun we are indebted to the varying po- 

 sitions of the planets and the measurements 

 they afford. Remotest antiquity, and the 

 doctrines it taught concerning the solar sys- 

 tem, are then treated at length, and contrast- 

 ed with the advances made down to our 

 own time. A problem of the utmost im- 

 portance in all astronomical deductions the 

 actual distance of the sun is treated of 

 amply in the second chapter, where its lead- 

 ing characteristic is pointed out as involving 

 the indirect method of computation. This 

 distance becomes an abiding element in any 

 conclusions to be drawn regarding the mag- 

 nitude and nature of the solar spots, be- 

 sides furnishing data for all prominences 

 projected during a solar explosion, or as 

 limiting the measure of the solar corona 

 when expressed in miles. 



The famous transits of Venus which, 

 by the way, afforded formerly the most 

 trustworthy method of obtaining scales of 

 the solar system are commented upon at 

 length in Chapter III, though, as the au- 

 thor points out, they now possess for as- 

 tronomers but a historical interest. In 

 connecting the sun's distance with the laws 

 governing the velocity of light, a beautiful 

 series of reasonings ensue, until we are in- 

 troduced to the methods of measurement de- 

 termining the sun's mass. Eclipses, and the 

 story of the sun's spots, are magnificently 

 illustrated and told with an ease and beauty 

 only betimes found associated with a rare 



romance. Our seasons, past and present, 

 fall next into line for their due share of 

 philosophical comment and mathematical 

 calculation ; while " the sun as a star " as- 

 sumes the unexpected garb of a diminishing 

 speck of light in fathomless space, to be 

 finally lost to the finite eye. In the closing 

 chapter, the movements of the solar system, 

 contemplated as a unit in space, are account- 

 ed by the author " one of the most daring 

 exploits ever performed by astronomers," 

 and brings this transcendent Story of the 

 Sun to a close. 



Factors that here and there throughout 

 the volume break the intensity of interest 

 excited in the reader are only momentarily 

 dwelt upon as associated with special ques- 

 tions, which again, in their turn, rivet the 

 attention. In a word, the scope of the writ- 

 er's inquiry, like the boundlessness of his 

 subject, becomes in the perusal a flood of 

 light. In this we are lost by the hour, and 

 our waking moments only seem to recall 

 those breathless flights in childhood's won- 

 derland, but, with this one and wide distinc- 

 tion, that our fancies only then revelled, 

 where now, we feast on fact. 



SPEECHES AND ADDRESSES OF WILLIAM Mc- 

 KINLEY. FROM HIS ELECTION TO CONGRESS 

 TO THE PRESENT TIME. Xew York: D. 

 Appleton & Co. Pp. 664. With Por- 

 traits. Price, $2. 



GOVERNOR McKiNLEY is a politician of 

 whom his most zealous opponents speak with 

 general unqualified respect. They recognize 

 his earnestness and sincerity, even though 

 they may believe his views to be mistaken 

 and mischievous. The present volume con- 

 tains sixty-five of his speeches and address- 

 es, selected from several hundred delivered 

 in all parts of the country, by Mr. Joseph 

 P. Smith, Librarian of the Ohio State Li- 

 brary, and revised by Mr. McKinley. At- 

 tention is invited by the editor to the care 

 and ability with which Governor McKinley 

 has discussed the tariff. All his more im- 

 portant speeches are collected and presented 

 here, and probably embrace the most and 

 strongest that can be said in favor of the 

 doctrine of high protection. Besides, there 

 are speeches on Gerrymandering, the Suf- 

 frage, and the Elections Bill, Labor, Pen- 

 sions, the Public Schools, Civil-service Re- 



