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M。 Canuin venaticorum； and many othersbegan to revolve about
the greatest central body of gas。 As the separate masses cooled；
they shrank； and their surfaces or extreme edges； which at first
were contiguous； began to recede； which recession is still going
on with some rapidity on the part of the sun； for we may be sure
its diameter diminishes as its density increases。 According to
either theory； as I see it； the major planets； on account of
their distance from the central mass； have had longer separate
existences than the minor； and are therefore more advanced than
they would be had all been formed at the same time。
〃This theory explains the practical uniformity in the chemical
composition of all members of this system by assuming that they
were all once a part of the same body； and you may say brothers
and sisters of the sun； instead of its offspring。 It also makes
size the only factor determining temperature and density； but of
course modified by age； since otherwise Jupiter would have a far
less developed crust than that with which we find it。 I have
always considered the period from the molten condition to that
with a crust as comparatively short； which stands to reason； for
radiation has then no check； and the period from the formation of
the crust； which acts as a blanket； to the death of a planet； as
very long。 I have not found this view clearly set forth in any
of the books I have read； but it seems to me the simplest and
most natural explanation。 Now； granted that the solar system was
once a nebula； on which I think every one will agreethe same
forces that changed it into a system of sun and planets must be
at work on fifty…one M。 Canum venaticorum； Andromeda； and ninety…
nine M。 Virginis； and must inevitably change them to suns； each
with doubtless a system of planets。
〃If； then； the condition of a nebula or star depends simply on
its size； it is reasonable to suppose that Andromeda； Sirius； and
all the vast bodies we see； were created at the same time as our
system； which involves the necessity of one general and
simultaneous creation day。 But as Sirius； with its diameter of
twelve million miles； must be larger than some of the nebulae
will be when equally condensed； we must suppose rather that
nebulae are forming and coming into the condition of bright and
dead stars； much as apples or pears on a fruit tree are
constantly growing and developing； so that the Mosaic description
of the creation would probably apply in point of time only to our
system； or perhaps to our globe； though the rest will doubtless
pass through precisely the same stages。 This； I think； I will
publish； on our return； as the Cortlandt astronomical doctrine；
as the most rational I have seen devised； and one that I think we
may safely believe； until； perhaps； through increased knowledge；
it can be disproved。〃
After they crossed a line of hills that ran at right angles to
their course they found the country more rolling。 All streams
and water…courses flowed in their direction； while their aneroid
showed them that they were gradually descending。 When they were
moving along near the surface of the ground； a delicious and
refined perfume exhaled by the blue and white flowers； that had
been growing smaller as they journeyed northward； frequently
reached their nostrils。 To Cortlandt and Bearwarden it was
merely the scent of a flower； but to Ayrault it recalled mental
pictures of Sylvia wearing violets and lilies that he had given
her。 He knew that the greatest telescopes on earth could not
reveal the Callisto moving about in Jupiter's sunshine； as even a
point of light； at that distance； and； notwithstanding
Cortlandt's learning and Bearwarden's joviality； he felt at times
extremely lonely。
They swept along steadily for fifty hours； having bright sunny
days and beautifully moonlit nights。 They passed over finely
rounded hills and valleys and well… watered plains。 As they
approached the ocean and its level the temperature rose； and
there was more moisture in the air。 The plants and flowers also
increased in size； again resembling somewhat the large species
they had seen near the equator。
〃This would be the place to live；〃 said Bearwarden； looking at
iron mountains； silver； copper； and lead formations； primeval
forests； rich prairies； and regions evidently underlaid with coal
and petroleum； not to mention huge beds of aluminum clay； and
other natural resources； that made his materialistic mouth water。
〃It would be joy and delight to develop industries here； with no
snow avalanches to clog your railroads； or icy blizzards to
paralyze work； nor weather that blights you with sun…strokes and
fevers。 On our return to the earth we must organize a company to
run regular interplanetary lines。 We could start on this globe
all that is best on our own。 Think what boundless possibilities
may be before the human race on this planet； which on account of
its vast size will be in its prime when our insignificant earth
is cold and dead and no longer capable of supporting life！ Think
also of the indescribable blessing to the congested communities
of Europe and America； to find an unlimited outlet here！ Mars is
already past its prime； and Venus scarcely habitable； but in
Jupiter we have a new promised land； compared with which our
earth is a pygmy； or but little more than microscopic。〃
〃I see；〃 said Ayrault； 〃that the possibilities here have no
limit； but I do not see how you can compare it to the promised
land； since； till we undertook this journey； no one had even
thought of Jupiter as a habitable place。〃
〃I trace the Divine promise；〃 replied Bearwarden； 〃in what you
described to us on earth as man's innate longing and desire to
rise； and in the fact that the Almighty has given the race
unbounded expansiveness in very limited space。 This would look
to me as the return of man to the garden of Eden through
intellectual development； for here every man can sit under his
own vine and fig…tree。〃
〃It seems to me；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃that no paradise or heaven
described in anything but the Bible compares with this。
According to Virgil's description； the joys on the banks of his
river Lethe must have been most sad and dreary； the general
idleness and monotony apparently being broken only by wrestling
matches between the children； while the rest strolled about with
laurel wreaths or rested in the shade。 The pilot Palinurus； who
had been drowned by falling overboard while asleep； but who
before that had presumably done his duty； did not seem especially
happy； while the harsh； resentful disposition evidently remained
unsoftened； for Dido became like a cliff of Marpesian marble when
AEneas asked to be forgiven； though he had doubtless considered
himself in duty bound to leave her； having been twice commanded
to do so by Mercury； the messenger of Jove。 She； like the rest；
seems to have had no occupation； while the consciences of few
appear to have been sufficiently clear to enable them to enjoy
unbroken rest。〃
〃The idleness in the spirit…land of all profane writers；〃 added
Bearwarden； 〃has often surprised me too。 Though I have always
recommended a certain amount of recreation for my staffin fact；
more than I have generally had myselfan excess of it becomes a
bore。 I think that all real progress comes through thorough
work。 Why should we assume that progress ceases at death？ I
believe in the verse that says； 'We learn here on earth those
things the knowledge of which is perfected in heaven。'〃
〃According to that；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃you will some day be
setting the axis of heaven right； for in order to do work there
must be work to be donea necessary corollary to which is that
heaven is still imperfect。〃
〃No；〃 said Bearwarden； bristling up at the way Cortlandt
sometimes received his speeches； 〃it means simply that its
development； though perfect so far as it goes； may not be
finished； and that we may be the means； as on earth； of helping
it along。〃
〃The conditions constituting heaven；〃 said Ayrault； 〃may be as
fixed as the laws of Nature； though the products of those
conditions might； it seems to me； still be forming and subject to
modification thereby。 The reductio ad absurdu would of course
apply if we supposed the work of creation absolutely finished。〃
CHAPTER XIII。
NORTH…POLAR DISCOVERIES。
Two days later； on the western horizon； they beheld the ocean。
Many of the streams whose sources they had seen when they crossed
the divide from the lake basin； and whose courses they had
followed； were now rivers a mile wide； with the tide ebbing and
rising within them many hundreds of miles from their mouths。
When they reached the shore line they found the waves breaking；
as on earth； upon the sands； but with this difference： they had
before noted the smallness of the undulations compared with the
strength of the wind； the result of the water's weight。 These
waves now reminded them of the behaviour of mercury； or of melted
lead when stirred on earth； by the rapidity with which the crests
dropped。 Though the wind was b