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moon's arms； in that terrestrial phenomenon when the earth； by
reflecting the crescent's light； and that of the sun； makes the
dark part visible。 The temperature at Cassandra's surface is but
little above the cold of space； and no water exists in the liquid
state； it being as much a solid as aluminum or glass。 There are
rivers and lakes； but these consist of liquefied hydrogen and
other gases； the heavier liquid collected in deep Places； and the
lighter； with less than half the specific gravity of ether；
floating upon it without mixing； as oil on water。 When the
heavier penetrates to a sufficient depth； the interior being
still warm； it is converted into gas and driven back to the
surface； only to be recondensed on reaching the upper air。 Thus
it may happen that two rains composed of separate liquids may
fall together。 There being but little of any other atmosphere；
much of it consists of what you might call the vapour of
hydrogen； and many of the well…known gases and liquids on earth
exist only as liquids and solids； so that； were there mortal
inhabitants on Cassandra； they might build their houses of blocks
of oxygen or chlorine； as you do of limestone or marble； and use
ice that never melts； in place of glass； for transparence。 They
would also use mercury for bullets in their rifles； just as
inhabitants of the intra…Vulcan planets at the other extreme
might； if their bodies consisted of asbestos； or were in any
other way non…combustibly constituted； bathe in tin； lead； or
even zinc； which ordinarily exist in the liquid state； as water
and mercury do on the earth。
〃Though Cassandra's atmosphere； such as it is； is mostly clear；
for the evaporation from the rivers and icy mediterraneans is
slight； the brightness of even the highest noon is less than an
earthly twilight； and the stars never cease to shine。 The dark
base of the rocky cliffs is washed by the frigid tide； but there
is scarcely a sound； for the pebbles cannot be moved by the
weightless waves； and an occasional murmur is all that is heard。
Great rocks of ice reflect the light of the grey moons； and never
a leaf falls or a bird sings。 With the exception of the mournful
ripples； the planet is silent as the grave。 The animal and plant
kingdoms do not exist； only the mineral and spiritual worlds。 I
say spiritual； because there are souls upon it； but it is the
home of the condemned in hell。 Here dwell the transgressors who
died unrepentant； and those who were not saved by faith。 This is
the one instance in which I do not enjoy my developed sight； for
I sometimes glance in their direction； and the vision that meets
me； as my eyes focus； distresses my soul。 Their senses are like
an imperfect mirror； magnifying all that is bad in one another；
and distorting anything still partially good when that exists。
All those things that might at least distract them are hollow；
their misery being the inevitable result of the condition of mind
to which they became accustomed on earth and which brought them
to Cassandra。 But let us turn to something brighter。
〃Though the solar system may seem complex； the sun is but a star
among the millions in the Milky Way； and； compared with the
planetary systems of Sirius； the stars of the Southern Cross； and
the motions of the nebula； it is simplicity itself。 Compared
with the splendour of Sirius； with its diameter of twelve million
miles； the sun； measuring but eight hundred and forty thousand；
becomes insignificant； and this giant's system includes groups
and clusters of planets； many with three times the mass of
Jupiter； five and six together； each a different colour；
revolving about a common centre； while they swing about their
primary。 Their numerous moons have satellites encircling them；
with orbits in some cases at right angles to the plane of the
ecliptic； so that they shine perpendicularly on what correspond
to the arctic and antarctic regions； while their axes are so
inclined that the satellites turn a complete somersault at each
revolution； producing glistening effects of ice and snow at the
poles。 Some of the moons are at a red or white heat； and so
prevent the chill of night on the planets； while they shine with
more than reflected light。 In addition to the five or six large
planets in each group； which； however； are many millions of miles
apart； there is in some clusters a small planet that swings
backward and forward across the common centre； like a pendulum；
but in nearly a straight line； and while this multiplicity of
motion goes on； the whole aggregation sweeps majestically around
Sirius； its mighty sun。 Our little solar system contains； as we
know； about one thousand planets； satellites； and asteroids large
enough to be dignified by the name of heavenly bodies。 Vast
numbers of the stars have a hundred and even a thousand times the
mass of our sun； and their systems being relatively as complex as
oursin some cases even more sothey contain a hundred thousand
or a million individual bodies。
〃Over sixty million bright or incandescent stars were visible to
the terrestrial telescopes a hundred years ago； the average size
of which far exceeds our sun。 To the magnificent telescopes of
to…day they are literally countless； and the number can be
indefinitely extended as your optical resources grow。 Yet the
number of stars you see is utterly insignificant compared with
the cold and dark ones you cannot see； but concerning which you
are constantly learning more； by observing their effect on the
bright ones； both by perturbing them and by obscuring their rays。
Occasionally； as you know； a star of the twelfth or fifteenth
magnitude； or one that has been invisible； flares up for several
months to the fourth or fifth； through a collision with some dark
giant； and then returns to what it was in the beginning； a
gaseous； filmy nebula。 These innumerable hosts of dark monsters；
though dead； are centres of systems； like most of the stars you
can see。
〃A slight consideration of these figures will show that；
notwithstanding the number of souls the Creator has given life on
earth； each one might in fact have a system to himself； and that；
however long the little globe may remain； as it were； a mint； in
which souls are tried by fire and moulded； and receive their
final stamp； they will always have room to circulate； and will be
prized according to the impress their faces or hearts must show。
But Sirius itself is moving many times faster than the swiftest
cannon ball； carrying its system with it； and I see you asking；
'To what does all this motion tend？' I will show you。 Many
quadrillions of miles away； so far that your most powerful
telescopes have not yet caught a glimmer； rests in its serene
grandeur a star that we call Cosmos； because it is the centre of
this universe。 Its diameter is as great as the diameter of
Cassandra's orbit； and notwithstanding its terrific heat； its
specific gravity； on account of the irresistible pressure at and
near the centre； is as great as that of the planet Mercury。 This
holds all that your eyes or mine can see； and the so…called
motions of the starsfor we know that Sirius； among others； is
recedingis but the difference in the rate at which the
different systems and constellations swing around Cosmos； though
in doing so they often revolve about other systems or swing round
common centres； so that many are satellites of satellites many
times repeated。 The orbits of some are circular； and of others
elliptical； as those of comets； and some revolve about each
other； or； as we have seen； about a common point while they
perform their celestial journey。 A star； therefore； recedes or
advances； as Jupiter and Venus with relation to the earth。 The
planet in the smaller orbit moves faster than that in the larger；
so that the intervening distances wax and wane； though all are
going in the same general direction。 In the case of the members
of the solar system； astronomical record can tell when even a
most distant known planet has been in opposition or conjunction；
but the earth has scarcely been habitable since the sun was last
in its present position in its orbit around Cosmos。 The curve
that our system follows is of such radius that it would require
the most precise observations for centuries to show that it was
not a straight line。
〃We call this the universe because it is all that the clearest
eyes or telescopes have been able to see； but it is only a
subdivisionin fact； but a system on a vaster scale than that of
the sun or of Sirius。 Far beyond this visible universe； my
intuition tells me； are other systems more gigantic than this；
and entirely different in many respects。 Even the effects of
gravitation are modified by the changed condition； for these
systems are spread out flat； like the rings of this planet； and
the ether of space is luminous instead of black； as here。 These
systems are but in a later stage of development than ours； and in
the course of evolution our visible universe will be changed in
the same way； as I can explain。
〃In incalculable ages； the forward motion of the planets and
their satellites will be checked by