49 



Let us glance now at the manner in which the inter 

 change of vital cosmic principles is carried out. All the 

 planets move round the sun, but not in one simple line 

 of direction; they acquire three motions: one forward in 

 space together with the sun itself, a second round the 

 sun, a third round their own axis. 



Moving round their own axes the planets leave behind 

 them in their course a long ribbon of oxygen which is 

 rapidly born by hydrogen gas to the sun, so that the 

 planets present themselves from this point of view as reels 

 of oxygen, perpetually unwinding their treasure for the 

 sun's use, whilst the sun in its turn, rotating, furnishes 

 its worlds with heat. 



The relation of the oxygen produced and furnished by 

 each planet to the amonnt of solar heat, maintaining each 

 globe in its own orbit, is the reason ot the cosmic spheres, 

 called, in the language of astronomy, the law of cosmic 

 gravitation. 



I have already remarked that the brightness of the sun 

 is its perfection, while the quantity of oxygen distilled 

 by a planet is equally a mark of development. The factors 

 determining the perfection of the sun appear to be: a) its 

 absolute size; b) the flood of planetary oxygen; c) the 

 supply of comets drifting through space; while the per- 

 fection of the planets is determined by a) the .radiant 

 energy of the sun; b) the supply of cosmic matter, and 

 c) the development of heat and energy on the planets 

 themselves. According to these three things the vital 

 share of a planet in the cosmic scheme is dependent upon 

 its out put of oxygen-hydrogen. 



On analysing our solar system by means of astrono- 

 mical observations we find the fullest confirmation of this 

 theory. Such observations show that the larger planets 

 are those farthest from the sun, the smallest those which 

 revolve in the smallest orbits. At the same time the 

 remoter planets have more satellites and rotate more 

 swiftly. (Sec. Table of the Solar System). 



