A HISTORY OF SCIENCE 



relations of the molecules of carbon compounds in 

 particular, and other compounds are under investiga- 

 tion. But these results, wonderful though they seem 

 when the intricacy of the subject is considered, are, 

 after all, only tentative. It is demonstrated that 

 some molecules have their atoms arranged in perfectly 

 definite and unalterable schemes, but just how these 

 systems are to be mechanically pictured whether as 

 miniature planetary systems or what not remains 

 for the investigators of the future to determine. 



It appears, then, that whichever way one turns in 

 the realm of the atom and molecule, one finds it a land 

 of mysteries. In no field of science have more startling 

 discoveries been made in the past century than here; 

 yet nowhere else do there seem to lie wider realms yet 

 unfathomed. 



LIFE PROBLEMS 



In the life history of at least one of the myriad star 

 systems there has come a time when, on the surface of 

 one of the minor members of the group, atoms of mat- 

 ter have been aggregated into such associations as to 

 constitute what is called living matter. A question 

 that at once suggests itself to any one who conceives 

 even vaguely the relative uniformity of conditions 

 in the different star groups is as to whether other 

 worlds than ours have also their complement of living 

 forms. The question has interested speculative science 

 more perhaps in our generation than ever before, but 

 it can hardly be said that much progress has been made 

 towards a definite answer. At first blush the demon- 

 stration that all the worlds known to us are composed 



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