The Comet World. 



In the preceding diagram we saw the solar system 

 presented perpendicularly to the orbits of the planets 

 revolving round their sun; let us now turn this system 

 and look at it from the side, bearing in mind that each 

 planet presents as it were a reel of oxygen-hydrogen. 

 We know, from astronomical and common observation, 

 that the planets between the sun and the earth are 

 visible to N. E. and N. W. while the external planets 

 are seen to ihe S. E., S., and S. W. ; thus the orbit of 

 each planet is laid out in the form of a line in such a 

 way that the perpendiculars produced, from the sides of 

 these lines towards the sun present cones so arranged 

 that the cone of each separate planet lies within the 

 cone formed by its neighbour nearer to the sun. (see 

 Fig. 2). 



This picture brings to mind a sort of net -or web the 

 rings of which i. e. the planetary orbits become 

 more frequent as they appro.ach the centre. 



What, we ask, is the meaning of this arrangement? 



On further acquaintance with the movements of the 

 comets and cloudspots we find that the direction of such 

 as fall into our solar system passes straight towards the 

 centre of the planetary cone. 



All the comets and cloud-masses are composed of 

 cosmic elements, borne, like shoals of little fish, through 

 cosmic space, and, as these elements and groups of ele- 

 ments are but loosely united, they easily yield to the 

 influence of larger bodies which meet them in their 

 course. 



