• SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 39 



upon several topics in the geological line, which was participated in by 

 Prof. W. L. Watts, Dr. Stephen Bowers, who is connected with the State 

 Geological Survey, Mr. Wm. H. Knight, and other members present. 



G. Major Tabkr, Secretary. 



Astronomica.1 Notes. 



Much interest is being manifested just now in a theory recently uttered 

 by Dr. Alfred Russell Wallace, of England, as follows : 



"First, that the earth, or solar system, is the physical center of the 

 stellar universe. 



" Second, that the supreme end and purpose of this vast universe was 

 the production and development of the living soul in the perishable body 

 of man." 



The following are some of the comments of astronomers relative to 

 this theory : 



BY DIRECTOR W. W. CAMPBELL OF LICK OBSERVATORY. 



Lick Observatory, March 2. — T have not yet seen Dr. Wallace's 

 article, but in regard to that subject I can say that while we know that our 

 solar system is not near the edge of the stellar universe, yet the chances 

 are that we are a considerable distance from the center of the stellar system 

 The subject is a5suredly thus far one open to a degree of conjecture. In 

 fact, we might be a very great distance from the center, although we are 

 somewhere near the plane of the Milky Way. But we have no evidence that 

 we are the physical center, and the chances are that it is somewhere else. 



As to his suggestions that the supreme end and purpose of this vast 

 universe was the production and development of the living soul in the 

 perishable body of man, th^t, it seems to me, is more a question for a phil- 

 osopher than an astronomer. But we do not for a moment believe that the 

 earth is the only body on which intelligent life may exist. 



BY WILLIAM H. KNIGHT, PRESIDENT OF THE LOS ANGELES ACADEMY OF 



SCIENCES. 



Los Angeles, March 2. — No one can assert that the earth is precisely 

 in the center of a cluster of suns, nor that this cluster is located centrally 

 and precisely in the plane of the Milky Way. But if we were so situated I 

 fail to see that there would be any significance in that fact that would have 

 the slightest bearing on the question of human development. 



There was a time when it was the popular belief that the earth was the 

 center of and most important feature in the universe ; that the sun and 

 planets and innumerable stars were simply ordained for the convenience of 

 man. It is nearly a century since these views were entertained by any but 

 the illiterate. 



BY PROFESSOR A. O. LEUSCHNER OF THE STUDENTS' OBSERVATORY, UNI- 

 VERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. 



Berkeley, March 2. — From the reading of the article in today's 

 Examiner I can only say that Dr. Wallace has not proved anything. He 



