556 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 
Here a solar sphere was called into existence, there a nebula, there a mass of 
diffused matter, destined to become condensed into nebulae and suns. We can 
not well reach any other conclusion from the facts, if we accept the theory that 
the process of stellar evolution is an irreversible one, and that the universe is 
moving steadily onward towards a condition of eternal stagnation. 
And yet, if a logical examination is made of this hypothesis of original heter- 
ogeneity, it can scarcely be sustained, since it requires a method of creation that is 
so improbable as to be barely conceivable. It tells us that some of the solar orbs' 
were called into existence in a mature or nearly mature stage, others were born 
immature, and others left to evolve from their germinal condition. This would 
be to affirm that stellar creation was here direct, here partly indirect, and here 
completely indirect. It would be synonymous with the affirmation that both 
direct creation and evolution are true of the animal world, some species being 
called into existence by a direct creative fiat, others created in embryo and left to 
attain maturity by development, and others evolved by natural processes from in 
organic nature. Whatever theory of animal development be accepted it will cer- 
tainly be no such double hypothesis as this. Nor can we safely affirm any such 
double process of stellar development or origin. 
The only direct evidence we possess of the method of stellar development is 
that displayed to us in the geological history of the earth. We are fully satisfied 
that the earth has developed from a far less mature condition to its present state. 
And the facts in favor of the nebular hypothesis are less positive proof of an 
evolution from a nebulous mass to the present conditions of the solar spheres. 
The testimony of the stellar masses of space adds to the strength of this evidence, 
and points to nebulous masses yet seemingly in their primitive stage, while we 
are to some extent justified in imagining others which have in comparatively 
recent times begun their condensation. 
From these various reasons we can scarcely avoid the belief that evolution 
from diffused matter has been the history of every sphere of space, and that the 
great range of conditions between the embryo and the mature stages now exist- 
ing are positive evidence that the present condition of the universe does not 
represent that of the original creation. The evidence of the spheres is strongly 
in favor of an evolution of them all from a primitive germinal stage, and of some 
reversing principle which will, and has frequendy in the past, overcome the tend- 
ency to temperature equilibrium and stagnation, and reduced mature spheres to 
their primitive stage of diffused matter. 
If we can imagine a period in which all the material of the present universe 
was spread through space in a diffused condition of partial or complete homoge- 
neity, there seems but one conclusion. Spheral evolution, under the influence of 
gravitation, must have everywhere at once begun. All the matter capable ol 
condensing would have gathered into nebulae, leaving the remaining matter in a 
state of excessive rarity. These nebulae would have become spheres, and finally 
only spheres of various degrees of condensation, with intervening rare matter, 
