Cloudspots 



Cloudspots differ very widely. There are some which 

 present the appearance of a mass of brilliant points; 

 others which look like an ink-smudge, which, forcibly 

 struck, has scattered sputtering lines in all directions; 

 still others take the form of a firework rocket. 



Many scientists, studying these spots, have come to 

 the conclusion that the cosmos is still incomplete, and 

 they see in these irregular shining masses the germs of 

 future planets. But as not one cloudspot ever presents 

 anything like an organised system, as these masses pass 

 -across the solar disc in the middle of the planetary or- 

 bits, and as some of their forms, as for instance the form 

 of a discharged rocket, are the forms of bodies tending 

 to decomposition, we have evidence in this that if such 

 masses have any constructive function to fulfil, if they 

 are factors in the completion of the Cosmos, it is only 

 .as a product for consumption by which the life of the 

 planet worlds may be supplied. 



Properly speaking every comet is at the same time a 

 cloudspot, its figure and appearance depending upon its 

 proximity to the planets. Imagine for a moment the sur- 

 face of some natural reservoirs, - - say a lake, a river 

 and a mountain stream. What should we see if we 

 threw a handful of dry dust on to the surface of each 

 of these? 



In the case of the lake the dust will take the shape of 

 a flat round cake, with the centre slightly raised; in the 

 case of the calm river, it will take an oval form, with 

 the broader and thicker end in front as it drifts ; in the 



