Solar Heat And Light

Iir a commimication to the Buffalo Sunday Courier on "Light and Heat," Dr. Kenry llaymond Rogers says that Science at the present time admits oí four different explanations of the production of sun-light and sun-heat, viz. : (1) Combustión oí cosmical substances falling into the sun; (2) arrest of motion of such cosmical substances; (3) contraction of the solar mass; (4) diasociation of compound bodies in sun's substance. Ho holds that the first hypothesis, that of "combustión" is virtually given up by scientists oq account of its insuperable difficulties. ïhe f uel problem fs too intricatc for the finite mind. The second, the so-called mechanical hypothesis, is held in greatest favor by scientists to-day, as best accounting for the phnnomena, oras being least vulnerable to objeotions. This hypothesis presupposes the presence m spaee of an incalculable supply of poncferous massos all roving loosefy and by chance until, falling unuer the influence of the sun, they are drawn thereto with such momentum that the cönoussion givesrise to inconeeivable light and haat. But Dr. Kogers believes Uiat such existence of ponderable matter, away from the influences of gravity, moving about in the universe, and assurued to follovr the attraction of the searest stellar tem, can hardly be credited by philosophic ïninds. The supposition that old, useless worlds, comets, nieteors, etc., are attracted to the sun to be utilized for the production of its light and heat is contrary to every principio of reason and sound pliilosophy. The inevitable enlargement of the sun's dimensions, which would oecur from the aecretions resulting from this ruethod, would also prove fatal to this hypothesis. Au exaet knowledge of the sun for centurias has not in the slightest degrce disclosed a change of radius in the earth's orbit - a necessary cousequence of any change ia the sijn's bulk. The third hypothesis, "the contraction of the solar mass," implying a progressive dimunition of that body, nnds the same objections which lie against its progressive avigmentation. The fourth, " the dissociation of compound bodies in the sun's substauce," depends upon the process of combustión, and is, therefore, open to the objoction already mentioned, Each of the foregoing hypotheses stands in direct oppositien to the inexorable law of conservation of force. According to the deerye of that law, whatever is roceivcd by tlie earth froni the sua, an equivalent for the same must again be ruturned from the earth to the sun to the uttermost fraction. No hypothesis based on any other foundation can stand. Dr. Rogcrs' theory of the cause of solar light is a magnetic one. He believes that the sun and earth are gigantic fountains of magnetic influence, continually acting and reacting upon each other, and that this view gives to the phenomena of light and heat, their clearest and fullest interpretations. ■ - --- ■ TnE populution of Greoee, 1,547.894 n 1870, has no risen to 1,679,775. In 1838 it was 865,000. The population of Athens and the Pirêeus have largely increased of late years. The valualion of one hundred and fifty-cight cities and towns in Massachusetts for 1879 is $299,835,608, as compared with $306.482,367 lost year. The Kansas Farmer says that a million of dollars would not pay for the loss in butter and niilk in bad management and lack of proper dairy conveuiences in the State of Kansas alone, in a single year. The tin paper usod for covering chocolate and other esculents has been found to contain eighty-tivo per cont. of lead. üatter JfüDDiNG.- One qiiart milk, gix eggs, eight tablespoonfuls flour and a little salt; Dako a half hour.