28 THE YEAH. 



So striking, indeed, is the winter, that very many 

 nations have began their year about the winter solstice, 

 and have then performed those religious rites which, 

 according to the degree of his enlightenment, are 

 among the first acts of man, when the very rudiments 

 of civilization break in upon him. The other seasons 

 have their varied feelings ; but winter is the season of 

 intellect, the proper time for the study of that which 

 is not perishable. Destruction has then done its ut- 

 most ; and there is the hope that all which is left will 

 revive again, and that the coming changes will each 

 bring more beauty than its precursor. The other sea- 

 sons have their charms, but they are more in detail; 

 and therefore they can be hinted at with more perspi- 

 cuity in another place. 



But there is one other consideration that deserves 

 notice before we come to the great instruments with 

 which the solar influence works in producing the 

 phenomena of the year ; and that is the unequal rate 

 at which the angular difference changes at different 

 seasons. Those who are not conversant with the 

 geometry of the solar system, can easily understand 

 this by taking two hoops and crossing them one within 

 the other, so that the crossings be equally distant both 

 ways, and the angle that they make with each other 

 where they cross, about one-fourth of a right angle. 

 Then if one examine the halves of the hoops (which in 

 that case will be the same on both sides of the crossings) 

 it will be found that the angle which they make with 

 each other will be greatest just at the points where 

 they cross, that it will diminish gradually both ways 



