AChallengetotheJOHNSHOPKINSUniversity
ONEHUNDREDPROOFSTHATTHEEARTHISNOTAGLOBE.
DedicatedtoRICHARDA.PROCTOR,Esq."TheGreatestAstronomeroftheAge."
ByWM.CARPENTER,RefereeforJohnHampden,Esq.,intheCelebratedScientificWager,in1870;Authorof'CommonSense'onAstronomy,(London,1866;)Proctor'sPlanetEarth;Wallace'sWonderfulWater;TheDelusionoftheDay,&c.,&c.
"UPRIGHT,DOWNRIGHT,STRAIGHTFORWARD."
BALTIMORE:PrintedandPublishedbytheAuthor,No.71ChewStreet1885.
TWENTY-FIVECENTS.FiveCopies,PostagePaid,forOneDollar.5thEdition:6thThousand.
INTRODUCTION.
"Parallax,"theFounderoftheZeteticPhilosophy,isdead;anditnowbecomesthedutyofthose,especially,whoknewhimpersonallyandwholaboredwithhiminthecauseofTruthagainstError,tobegin,anew,theworkwhichisleftintheirhands.Dr.SamuelB.Rowbothamfinishedhisearthlylabours,inEngland,thecountryofhisbirth,December23,1884,attheageof89.Hewas,certainly,oneofthemostgiftedofmen:andthoughhislaboursasapubliclecturerwereconfinedwithinthelimitsoftheBritishIslandshispublishedworkisknownallovertheworldandisdestinedtoliveandberepublishedwhenbooksonthenowpopularsystemofphilosophywillbeconsideredinnootherlightthanasbundlesofwastepaper.Forseveralyearsdid"Parallax"spreadaknowledgeofthefactswhichformthebasisofhissystemwithouttheslightestrecognitionfromthenewspaperpressuntil,inJanuary,1849,thepeoplewereinformedbythe"WiltsIndependent"thatlectureshadbeendeliveredby"agentlemanadoptingthenameof'Parallax,'toprovemodernastronomyunreasonableandcontradictory,"that"greatskill"wasshownbythelecturer,andthatheprovedhimselftobe"thoroughlyacquaintedwiththesubjectinallitsbearings."Suchwasthebeginning--theendwillnotbesoeasilydescribed.TheTruthwillalwaysfindadvocates--menwhocarenotasnapoftheirfingersforthemereopinionoftheworld,whateverformitmaytake,whilsttheyknowthattheyarethemastersofthesituationandthatReasonisKing!In1867,"Parallax"wasdescribedas"aparagonofcourtesy,goodtemper,andmasterlyskillindebate."Theauthorofthefollowinghastily-gotten-uppagesisproudofhavingspentmanyapleasanthourinthecompanyofSamuelBirleyRowbotham.
Acompletesketchofthe"ZeteticPhilosophy"isimpossibleinasmallpamphlet;andmanythingsnecessarilyremainunsaidwhich,perhaps,shouldhavebeentouchedupon,butwhichwouldtosomeextenthaveinterferedwiththeplanlaiddown--thebringingtogether,inaconciseform,"OneHundredProofsthattheEarthisnotaGlobe."Muchmaybegathered,indirectly,fromtheargumentsinthesepages,astotherealnatureoftheEarthonwhichweliveandoftheheavenlybodieswhichwerecreatedFORUS.Thereaderisrequestedtobepatientinthismatterandnotexpectawholefloodoflighttoburstinuponhimatonce,throughthedensecloudsofoppositionandprejudicewhichhangallaround.Oldideashavetobegottenridof,bysomepeople,beforetheycanentertainthenew;andthiswillespeciallybethecaseinthematteroftheSun,aboutwhichwearetaught,byMr.Proctor,asfollows:"TheglobeoftheSunissomuchlargerthanthatoftheEarththatnolessthan1,250,000globesaslargeastheEarthwouldbewantedtomakeuptogetheraglobeaslargeastheSun."Whereas,weknowthat,asitisdemonstratedthattheSunmovesroundovertheEarth,itssizeisproportionatelyless.WecantheneasilyunderstandthatDayandNight,andtheSeasonsarebroughtaboutbyhisdailycircuitsroundinacourseconcentricwiththeNorth,diminishingintheirextenttotheendofJune,andincreasinguntiltheendofDecember,theequatorialregionbeingtheareacoveredbytheSun'smeanmotion.If,then,thesepagesservebuttoarousethespiritofenquiry,theauthorwillbesatisfied.Therighthandoffellowshipinthisgoodworkisextended,inturn,toMr.J.Lindgren,90SouthFirstStreet,Brooklyn,E.D.,N.Y.,Mr.M.C.Flanders,lecturer,Kendall,OrleansCounty,N.Y.,andtoMr.JohnHampden,editorof"Parallax"(anewjournal),CosmosHouse,Balham,Surrey,England.
ONEHUNDREDPROOFS
IfmanusesthesenseswhichGodhasgivenhim,hegainsknowledge;ifheusesthemnot,heremainsignorant.Mr.R.A.Proctor,whohasbeencalled"thegreatestastronomeroftheage,"says:"TheEarthonwhichweliveandmoveseemstobeflat."Now,hedoesnotmeanthatitseemstobeflattothemanwhoshutshiseyesinthefaceofnature,or,whoisnotinthefullpossessionofhissenses:no,buttotheaverage,commonsense,wide-awake,thinkingman.Hecontinues:"thatis,thoughtherearehillsandvalleysonitssurface,yetitseemstoextendonallsidesinoneandthesamegenerallevel."Again,hesays:"Thereseemsnothingtopreventusfromtravellingasfaraswepleaseinanydirectiontowardsthecircleallroundus,calledthehorizon,wheretheskyseemstomeettheleveloftheEarth.""TheleveloftheEarth!"Mr.Proctorknowsrightwellwhatheistalkingabout,forthebookfromwhichwetakehiswords,"LessonsinElementaryAstronomy,"waswritten,hetellsus,"toguardthebeginneragainstthecaptiousobjectionswhichhavefromtimetotimebeenurgedagainstacceptedastronomicaltheories."Thethingswhicharetobedefended,then,arethese"acceptedastronomicaltheories!"Itisnottruththatistobedefendedagainsttheassaultsoferror--Oh,no:simply"theories,"rightorwrong,becausetheyhavebeen"accepted!"Accepted!Why,theyhavebeenacceptedbecauseitwasnotthoughttobeworthwhiletolookatthem.SirJohnHerschelsays:"Weshalltakeforgranted,fromtheoutset,theCopernicansystemoftheworld."Hedidnotcarewhetheritwastherightsystemorawrongone,orhewouldnothavedonethat:hewouldhavelookedintoit.But,forsooth,thetheoriesareaccepted,and,ofcourse,themenwhohaveacceptedthemarethemenwhowillnaturallydefendthemiftheycan.So,RichardA.Proctortrieshishand;andweshallseehowitfailshim.Hisbookwaspublishedwithoutanydatetoitatall.Butthereisinternalevidencewhichwillfixthatmattercloselyenough.Wereadofthecarryingoutoftheexperimentsofthecelebratedscientist,AlfredR.Wallace,toprovethe"convexity"ofthesurfaceofstandingwater,whichexperimentswereconductedinMarch,1870,forthepurposeofwinningFiveHundredPoundsfromJohnHampden,Esq.,ofSwindon,England,whohadwageredthatsumupontheconvictionthatthesaidsurfaceisalwaysalevelone.Mr.Proctorsays:"Theexperimentwaslatelytriedinaveryamusingway."Inorabouttheyear1870,then,Mr.Proctorwrotehisbook;and,insteadofbeingignorantofthedetailsoftheexperiment,heknewallaboutthem.Andwhetherthe"amusing"partofthebusinesswasthefactthatMr.Wallacewrongfullyclaimedthefive-hundredpoundsandgotit,orthatMr.Hampdenwasthevictimofthefalseclaim,itishardtosay.The"way"inwhichtheexperimentwascarriedoutis,toallintentsandpurposes,justthewayinwhichMr.Proctorstatesthatit"canbetried."Hesays,however,thatthedistanceinvolvedintheexperiment"shouldbethreeorfourmiles."Now,Mr.Wallacetookupsixmilesinhisexperiment,andwasunabletoprovethatthereisany"curvature,"thoughheclaimedthemoneyandgotit;surelyitwouldbe"amusing"foranyonetoexpecttobeabletoshowthe"curvatureoftheearth"inthreeorfourmiles,asMr.Proctorsuggests!Nay,itisridiculous.But"thegreatestastronomeroftheage"saysthethingcanbedone!Andhegivesadiagram:"ShowinghowtheroundnessoftheEarthcanbeprovedbymeansofthreeboatsonalargesheetofwater."(Threeorfourmiles.)But,thoughtheacceptedastronomicaltheoriesbescatteredtothewinds,wechargeMr.Proctoreitherthathehasnevermadetheexperimentwiththethreeboats,or,that,ifhehas,theexperimentdidNOTprovewhathesaysitwill.Acceptedtheories,indeed!Aretheytobebolsteredupwithabsurdityandfalsehood?Why,ifitwerepossibletoshowthetwoendsofafour-milestretchofwatertobeonalevel,withthecentreportionofthatwaterbulgedup,thesurfaceoftheEarthwouldbeaseriesoffour-milecurves!
ButMr.Proctorsays:"Wecansetthreeboatsinalineonthewater,asatA,B,andC,(Fig.7).Then,ifequalmastsareplacedintheseboats,andweplaceatelescope,asshown,sothatwhenwelookthroughitweseethetopsofthemastsofAandC,wefindthetopofthemastBisabovethelineofsight."Now,hereisthepoint:Mr.ProctoreitherknowsorheoughttoknowthatweshallNOTfindanythingofthesort!Ifhehasevertriedtheexperiment,heknowsthatthethreemastswillrangeinastraightline,justascommonsensetellsustheywill.Ifhehasnottriedtheexperiment,heshouldhavetriedit,orhavepaidattentiontothedetailsofexperimentsbythosewhohavetriedsimilaronesascoreoftimesandagain.Mr.Proctormaytakeeitherhornofthedilemmahepleases:heisjustaswrongasamancanbe,eitherway.Hementionsnonames,buthesays:"Apersonhadwrittenabook,inwhichhesaidthathehadtriedsuchanexperimentastheabove,andhadfoundthatthesurfaceofthewaterwasnotcurved."Thatpersonwas"Parallax,"thefounderoftheZeteticPhilosophy.Hecontinues:"Anotherpersonseemstohavebelievedthefirst,andbecamesocertainthattheEarthisflatastowageralargesumofmoneythatifthreeboatswereplacedasinFig.7,themiddleonewouldnotbeabovethelinejoiningthetwoothers."ThatpersonwasJohnHampden.And,saysMr.Proctor,"Unfortunatelyforhim,someonewhohadmoresenseagreedtotakehiswager,and,ofcourse,wonhismoney."Now,the"someonewhohadmoresense"wasMr.Wallace.And,saysProctor,incontinuation:"He[Hampden?]wasratherangry;anditisastrangethingthathewasnotangrywithhimselfforbeingsofoolish,orwiththepersonwhosaidhehadtriedtheexperiment(andsoledhimastray),butwiththepersonwhohadwonhismoney!"Here,then,weseethatMr.Proctorknowsbetterthantosaythattheexperimentsconductedby"Parallax"werethingsoftheimaginationonly,orthatawrongaccounthadbeengivenofthem;anditwouldbewellifheknewbetterthantotrytomakehisreadersbelievethateitheroneortheotherofthesethingsisthefact:But,thereistheOldBedfordCanalnow;andtherearetenthousandplaceswheretheexperimentmaybetried!Who,then,arethe"foolish"people:thosewho"believe"therecordofexperimentsmadebysearchersafterTruth,orthosewhoshuttheireyestothem,throwadoubtupontherecord,chargetheconductorsoftheexperimentswithdishonesty,neverconductsimilarexperimentsthemselves,anddeclaretheresultofsuchexperimentstobesoandso,whenthedeclarationcanbeprovedtobefalsebyanyman,withatelescope,intwenty-fourhours?
Mr.Proctor:--ThesphericityoftheEarthCANNOTbeprovedinthewayinwhichyoutellusit"can"be!WetellyoutotakebackyourwordsandremodelthemonthebasisofTruth.Suchcarelessmisrepresentationsoffactsareadisgracetoscience--theyarethedisgraceoftheoreticalscienceto-day!Mr.Blackie,inhisworkon"SelfCulture,"says:"Allflimsy,shallow,andsuperficialwork,infact,isalie,ofwhichamanoughttobeashamed."
ThattheEarthisanextendedplane,stretchedoutinalldirectionsawayfromthecentralNorth,overwhichhangs,forever,theNorthStar,isafactwhichallthefalsehoodsthatcanbebroughttobearuponitwiththeirdeadweightwillneveroverthrow:itisGod'sTruththefaceofwhich,however,manhasthepowertosmirchalloverwithhisuncleanhands.Mr.Proctorsays:"Welearnfromastronomythatalltheseideas,naturalthoughtheyseem,aremistaken."Man'snaturalideasandconclusionsandexperimentalresultsare,then,tobeoverthrownby--what!By"astronomy?"Byathingwithoutasoul--ameretheoreticalabstraction,theoutcomeofthedreamer?Never!Thegreatestastronomeroftheageisnottheman,even,whocansomuchasattempttomanagethebusiness."Wefind,"saysMr.Proctor,"thattheEarthisnotflat,butaglobe;notfixed,butinveryrapidmotion;notmuchlargerthanthemoon,andfarsmallerthantheSunandthegreaternumberofthestars."
First,then,Mr.Proctor,tellusHOWyoufindthattheEarthisnotflat,butaglobe!Itdoesnotmatterthat"wefind"itsoputdowninthatconglomerationofsuppositionswhichyouseektodefend:thequestionis,Whatistheevidenceofit?--wherecanitbeobtained?"TheEarthonwhichweliveandmoveseemstobeflat,"youtellus:where,then,isthemistake?IftheEarthseemtobewhatitisnot,howarewetotrustoursenses?Andifitissaidthatwecannotdoso,arewetobelieveit,andconsenttobeputdownlowerthanthebrutes?No,sir:wechallengeyou,aswehavedonemanytimesbefore,toproducetheslightestevidenceoftheEarth'srotundity,fromtheworldoffactsaroundyou.Youhavegiventousthestatementwehavequoted,andwehavetherighttodemandaproof;andifthisisnotforthcoming,wehavebeforeusthedutyofdenouncingtheabsurddogmaasworsethananabsurdity--asaFRAUD--andasafraudthatfliesinthefaceofdivinerevelation!Well,then,Mr.Proctor,indemandingaproofoftheEarth'srotundity(orthefrankadmissionofyourerrors),wearetemptedtotauntyouaswetellyouthatitisutterlyoutofyourpowertoproduceone;andwetellyouthatyoudonotdareeventoliftupyourfingertopointustotheso-calledproofsintheschool-booksoftheday,foryouknowthemeasureofabsurdityofwhichtheyarecomposed,andhowdisgracefulitistoallowthemtoremainasfalseguidesoftheyouthfulmind!
Mr.Proctor:wechargeyouthat,whilstyouteachthetheoryoftheEarth'srotundityandmobility,youKNOWthatitisaplane;andhereisthegroundofthecharge.Inpage7,inyourbook,yougiveadiagramofthe"surfaceonwhichwelive,"andthe"supposedglobe"--thesupposed"hollowglobe"--oftheheavens,archedoverthesaidsurface.Now,Mr.Proctor,youpicturethesurfaceonwhichweliveinexactaccordancewithyourverbaldescription.Andwhatisthatdescription?Weshallscarcelybebelievedwhenwesaythatwegiveitjustasitstands:"Thelevelofthesurfaceonwhichwelive."And,thattheremaybenomistakeaboutthemeaningoftheword"level,"weremindyouthatyourdiagramprovesthatthelevelthatyoumeanisthelevelofthemechanic,aplanesurface,andnotthe"level"oftheastronomer,whichisaconvexsurface!Inshort,yourdescriptionoftheEarthisexactlywhatyousayit"seemstobe,"and,yet,whatyousayitisnot:theveryaimofyourbookbeingtosayso!Andwecallthistheprostitutionoftheprintingpress.Anditisalltheevidencethatisnecessarytobringthechargehometoyou,sincethewordsandthediagramareinpage7ofyourownbook.Youknow,then,thatEarthisaPlane--andsodowe.
Nowfortheevidenceofthisgrandfact,thatotherpeoplemayknowitaswellasyou:remembering,fromfirsttolast,thatyouhavenotdaredtobringforwardasingleitemfromthemassofevidencewhichistobefoundinthe"ZeteticPhilosophy,"by"Parallax,"aworktheinfluenceofwhichitwastheavowedobjectofyourownbooktocrush!--exceptthatofthethreeboats,anexperimentwhichyouhavenevertried,andtheresultofwhichhasneverbeenknown,byanyonewhohastriedit,tobeasyousayitis!
1. THEAERONAUTSEESFORHIMSELF.
TheaeronautcanseeforhimselfthatEarthisaPlane.Theappearancepresentedtohim,evenatthehighestelevationhehaseverattained,isthatofaconcavesurface--thisbeingexactlywhatistobeexpectedofasurfacethatistrulylevel,sinceitisthenatureoflevelsurfacestoappeartorisetoalevelwiththeeyeoftheobserver.ThisisoculardemonstrationandproofthatEarthisnotaglobe.
2. STANDINGWATERLEVEL
Wheneverexperimentshavebeentriedonthesurfaceofstandingwater,thissurfacehasalwaysbeenfoundtobelevel.IftheEarthwereaglobe,thesurfaceofallstandingwaterwouldbeconvex.ThisisanexperimentalproofthatEarthisnotaglobe,
3. SURVEYORS'"ALLOWANCE."
Surveyors'operationsintheconstructionofrailroads,tunnels,orcanalsareconductedwithouttheslightest"allowance"beingmadefor"curvature,"althoughitistaughtthatthisso-calledallowanceisabsolutelynecessary!ThisisacuttingproofthatEarthisnotaglobe.
4. FLOWOFRIVERS--THENILE
Thereareriversthatflowforhundredsofmilestowardstheleveloftheseawithoutfallingmorethanafewfeet--notably,theNile,which,inathousandmiles,fallsbutafoot.AlevelexpanseofthisextentisquiteincompatiblewiththeideaoftheEarth's"convexity."Itis,therefore,areasonableproofthatEarthisnotaglobe.
5. LIGHTHOUSES--CAPEHATTERAS
Thelightswhichareexhibitedinlighthousesareseenbynavigatorsatdistancesatwhich,accordingtothescaleofthesupposed"curvature"givenbyastronomers,theyoughttobemanyhundredsoffeet,insomecases,downbelowthelineofsight!Forinstance:thelightatCapeHatterasisseenatsuchadistance(40miles)that,accordingtotheory,itoughttobenine-hundredfeethigherabovetheleveloftheseathanitabsolutelyis,inordertobevisible!Thisisaconclusiveproofthatthereisno"curvature,"onthesurfaceofthesea--"thelevelofthesea,"--ridiculousthoughitistobeunderthenecessityofprovingitatall:butitis,nevertheless,aconclusiveproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
6. THESEA-SHORE.--"COMINGUP
Ifwestandonthesandsofthesea-shoreandwatchashipapproachus,weshallfindthatshewillapparently"rise"--totheextentofherownheight,nothingmore.Ifwestanduponaneminence,thesamelawoperatesstill;anditisbutthelawofperspective,whichcausesobjects,astheyapproachus,toappeartoincreaseinsizeuntilweseethem,closetous,thesizetheyareinfact.Thatthereisnoother"rise"thantheonespokenofisplainfromthefactthat,nomatterhowhighweascendabovethelevelofthesea,thehorizonrisesonandstillonaswerise,sothatitisalwaysonalevelwiththeeye,thoughitbetwo-hundredmilesaway,asseenbyMr.J.Glaisher,ofEngland,fromMr.Coxwell'sballoon.Sothatashipfivemilesawaymaybeimaginedtobe"comingup"theimaginarydownwardcurveoftheEarth'ssurface,butifwemerelyascendahillsuchasFederalHill,Baltimore,wemayseetwenty-fivemilesaway,onalevelwiththeeye--thatis,twentymilesleveldistancebeyondtheshipthatwevainlyimaginedtobe"roundingthecurve,"and"comingup!"ThisisaplainproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
7. ATRIPDOWNCHESAPEAKEBAY
IfwetakeatripdowntheChesapeakeBay,intheday-time,wemayseeforourselvestheutterfallacyoftheideathatwhenavesselappears"hulldown,"asitiscalled,itisbecausethehullis"behindthewater:"for,vesselshavebeenseen,andmayoftenbeseenagain,presentingtheappearancespokenof,andaway--faraway--beyondthosevessels,and,atthesamemoment,thelevelshoreline,withitsaccompanyingcomplementoftalltrees,toweringup,inperspective,overtheheadsofthe"hull-down"ships!Since,then,theideawillnotstanditsgroundwhenthefactsriseupagainstit,anditisapieceofthepopulartheory,thetheoryisacontemptiblepieceofbusiness,andwemayeasilywringfromitaproofthatEarthisnotaglobe.
8. THEMODELGLOBEUSELESS
IftheEarthwereaglobe,asmallmodelglobewouldbetheverybest--becausethetruest--thingforthenavigatortotaketoseawithhim.Butsuchathingasthatisnotknown:withsuchatoyasaguide,themarinerwouldwreckhisship,ofacertainty!ThisisaproofthatEarthisnotaglobe.
9. THESAILOR'SLEVELCHARTS
Asmarinerstaketoseawiththemchartsconstructedasthoughtheseawerealevelsurface,howeverthesechartsmayerrastothetrueformofthislevelsurfacetakenasawhole,itisclear,astheyfindthemanswertheirpurposetolerablywell--andonlytolerablywell,formanyshipsarewreckedowingtotheerrorofwhichwespeak--thatthesurfaceoftheseaisasitistakentobe,whetherthecaptainoftheship"supposes"theEarthtobeaglobeoranythingelse.Thus,then,wedraw,fromthecommonsystemof"planesailing,"apracticalproofthatEarthisnotaglobe.
10. THEMARINERS'COMPASS
Thatthemariners'compasspointsnorthandsouthatthesametimeisafactasindisputableasthattwoandtwomakesfour;butthatthiswouldbeimpossibleifthethingwereplacedonaglobewith"north"and"south"atthecentreofoppositehemispheresisafactthatdoesnotfigureintheschool-books,thoughveryeasilyseen:anditrequiresnolengthytrainofreasoningtobringoutofitapointedproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
11. THESOUTHERNCIRCUMFERENCE
Asthemariners'compasspointsnorthandsouthatonetime,andastheNorth,towhichitisattracted,isthatpartoftheEarthsituatewheretheNorthStarisinthezenith,itfollowsthatthereisnosouth"point"or"pole"butthat,whilethecentreisNorth,avastcircumferencemustbeSouthinitswholeextent.ThisisaproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
12. CIRCUMNAVIGATIONOFTHEEARTH
Aswehaveseenthatthereis,really,nosouthpoint(orpole)butaninfinityofpointsforming,together,avastcircumference--theboundaryoftheknownworld,withitsbattlementsoficebergswhichbiddefiancetoman'sonwardcourseinasoutherlydirection--sotherecanbenoeastorwest"points,"justasthereisno"yesterday,"andno"to-morrow."Infact,asthereisonepointthatisfixed(theNorth),itisimpossibleforanyotherpointtobefixedlikewise.Eastandwestare,therefore,merelydirectionsatrightangleswithanorthandsouthline:andasthesouthpointofthecompassshiftsroundtoallpartsofthecircularboundary,(asitmaybecarriedroundthecentralNorth),sothedirectionseastandwest,crossingthisline,continued,formacircle,atanylatitude.Awesterlycircumnavigation,therefore,isagoingroundwiththeNorthStarcontinuallyontherighthand,andaneasterlycircumnavigationisperformedonlywhenthereverseconditionofthingsismaintained,theNorthStarbeingonthelefthandasthejourneyismade.Thesefacts,takentogether,formabeautifulproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
13. MERIDIANSARESTRAIGHTLINES.
Asthemariners'compasspointsnorthandsouthatoneandthesametime,andameridianisanorthandsouthline,itfollowsthatmeridianscanbenootherthanstraightlines.But,sinceallmeridiansonaglobearesemicircles,itisanincontrovertibleproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
14. PARALLELSOFLATITUDE--CIRCLES
"Parallelsoflatitude"only--ofallimaginarylinesonthesurfaceoftheEarth--arecircles,whichincrease,progressively,fromthenortherncentretothesoutherncircumference.Themariner'scourseinthedirectionofanyoneoftheseconcentriccirclesishislongitude,thedegreesofwhichINCREASEtosuchanextentbeyondtheequator(goingsouthwards)thathundredsofvesselshavebeenwreckedbecauseofthefalseideacreatedbytheuntruthfulnessofthechartsandtheglobulartheorytogether,causingthesailortobecontinuallygettingoutofhisreckoning.WithamapoftheEarthinitstrueformalldifficultyisdoneawaywith,andshipsmaybeconductedanywherewithperfectsafety.This,then,isaveryimportantpracticalproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
15. SAILINGDOWNANDUNDERNEATH
Theideathat,insteadofsailinghorizontallyroundtheEarth,shipsaretakendownonesideofaglobe,thenunderneath,andarebroughtupontheothersidetogethomeagain,is,exceptasameredream,impossibleandabsurd!And,sincethereareneitherimpossibilitiesnorabsurditiesinthesimplematterofcircumnavigation,itstands,withoutargument,aproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
16. DISTANCEROUNDTHESOUTH
IftheEarthwereaglobe,thedistancerounditssurfaceat,say,45"degrees"southlatitude,couldnotpossiblybeanygreaterthanitisatthesamelatitudenorth;but,sinceitisfoundbynavigatorstobetwicethedistance--tosaytheleastofit--or,doublethedistanceitoughttobeaccordingtotheglobulartheory,itisaproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
17LEVELNESSREQUIREDBYMAN
Humanbeingsrequireasurfaceonwhichtolivethat,initsgeneralcharacter,shallbeLEVEL;andsincetheOmniscientCreatormusthavebeenperfectlyacquaintedwiththerequirementsofHiscreatures,itfollowsthat,beinganAll-wiseCreator,Hehasmetthemthoroughly.ThisisatheologicalproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
18.THE"LEVEL"OFTHEASTRONOMERS
Thebestpossessionsofmanarehissenses;and,whenheusesthemall,hewillnotbedeceivedinhissurveyofnature.Itisonlywhensomeonefacultyorotherisneglectedorabusedthatheisdeluded.Everymaninfullcommandofhissensesknowsthatalevelsurfaceisaflatorhorizontalone;butastronomerstellusthatthetruelevelisthecurvedsurfaceofaglobe!Theyknowthatmanrequiresalevelsurfaceonwhichtolive,sotheygivehimoneinnamewhichisnotoneinfact!Sincethisisthebestthatastronomers,withtheirtheoreticalscience,candofortheirfellowcreatures--deceivethem--itisclearthatthingsarenotastheysaytheyare;and,inshort,itisaproofthatEarthisnotaglobe.
19HALFTHEGLOBEISCUTOFF,NOW!
Everymaninhissensesgoesthemostreasonablewaytoworktodoathing.Now,astronomers(oneafteranother--followingaleader),whiletheyaretellingusthatEarthisaglobe,arecuttingofftheupperhalfofthissupposititiousglobeintheirbooks,and,inthisway,formingthelevelsurfaceonwhichtheydescribemanaslivingandmoving!Now,iftheEarthwerereallyaglobe,thiswouldbejustthemostunreasonableandsuicidalmodeofendeavoringtoshowit.Sothat,unlesstheoreticalastronomersarealloutoftheirsensestogether,itis,clearly,aproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
20.NO"UP"OR"DOWN"INNATURE?
Thecommonsenseofmantellshim--ifnothingelsetoldhim--thatthereisan"up"anda"down"innature,evenasregardstheheavensandtheearth;butthetheoryofmodernastronomersnecessitatestheconclusionthatthereisnot:therefore,thetheoryoftheastronomersisopposedtocommonsense--yes,andtoinspiration--andthisisacommonsenseproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
21.THE"SPHERICALLODESTONE
Man'sexperiencetellshimthatheisnotconstructedlikethefliesthatcanliveandmoveupontheceilingofaroomwithasmuchsafetyasonthefloor:andsincethemoderntheoryofaplanetaryearthnecessitatesacrowdoftheoriestokeepcompanywithit,andoneofthemisthatmenarereallyboundtotheearthbyaforcewhichfastensthemtoit"likeneedlesroundasphericallodestone,"atheoryperfectlyoutrageousandopposedtoallhumanexperience,itfollowsthat,unlesswecantrampleuponcommonsenseandignoretheteachingsofexperience,wehaveanevidentproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
22.NOFALSEHOODSWANTED!
God'sTruthnever--no,never--requiresafalsehoodtohelpitalong.Mr.Proctor,inhis"Lessons,"says:Men"havebeenabletogoroundandroundtheEarthinseveraldirections."Now,inthiscase,theword"several"willimplymorethantwo,unquestionably:whereas,itisutterlyimpossibletocircumnavigatetheEarthinanyotherthananeasterlyorawesterlydirection;andthefactisperfectlyconsistentandclearinitsrelationtoEarthasaPlane.Now,sinceastronomerswouldnotbesofoolishastodamageagoodcausebymisrepresentation,itispresumptiveevidencethattheircauseisabadone,and--aproofthatEarthisnotaglobe.
23.NOPROOFOF"ROTUNDITY."
Ifastronomicalworksbesearchedthroughandthrough,therewillnotbefoundasingleinstanceofabold,unhesitating,ormanlystatementrespectingaproofoftheEarth's"rotundity."Proctorspeaksof"proofswhichservetoshow...thattheEarthisnotflat,"andsaysthatman"findsreasontothinkthattheEarthisnotflat,"andspeaksofcertainmattersbeing"explainedbysupposing"thattheEarthisaglobe;andsaysthatpeoplehave"assuredthemselvesthatitisaglobe;"buthesays,also,thatthereisa"mostcompleteproofthattheEarthisaglobe:"justasthoughanythingintheworldcouldpossiblybewantedbutaproof--aproofthatprovesandsettlesthewholequestion.This,however,allthemoneyintheUnitedStatesTreasurywouldnotbuy;and,unlesstheastronomersareallsorichthattheydon'twantthecash,itisasterlingproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
24.A"MOSTCOMPLETE"FAILURE
Whenamanspeaksofa"mostcomplete"thingamongstseveralotherthingswhichclaimtobewhatthatthingis,itisevidentthattheymustfallshortofsomethingwhichthe"mostcomplete"thingpossesses.Andwhenitisknownthatthe"mostcomplete"thingisanentirefailure,itisplainthattheothers,allandsundry,areworthless.Proctor's"mostcompleteproofthattheEarthisaglobe"liesinwhathecalls"thefact"thatdistancesfromplacetoplaceagreewithcalculation.But,sincethedistanceroundtheEarthat45"degrees"southoftheequatoristwicethedistanceitwouldbeonaglobe,itfollowsthatwhatthegreatestastronomeroftheagecalls"afact"isNOTafact;thathis"mostcompleteproof"isamostcompletefailure;andthathemightaswellhavetoldus,atonce,thathehasNOPROOFtogiveusatall.Now,since,iftheEarthbeaglobe,therewould,necessarily,bepilesofproofsofitallroundus,itfollowsthatwhenastronomers,withalltheiringenuity,areutterlyunabletopointoneout--tosaynothingaboutpickingoneup--thattheygiveusaproofthatEarthisnotaglobe.
25.THEFIRSTATLANTICCABLE.
Thesurveyor'splansinrelationtothelayingofthefirstAtlanticTelegraphcable,showthatin1665miles--fromValentia,Ireland,toSt.John's,Newfoundland--thesurfaceoftheAtlanticOceanisaLEVELsurface--nottheastronomers'"level,"either!Theauthoritativedrawings,publishedatthetime,areastandingevidenceofthefact,andformapracticalproofthatEarthisnotaglobe.
26.EARTH'S"CURVATURE."
IftheEarthwereaglobe,itwould,ifwetakeValentiatobetheplaceofdeparture,curvatedownwards,inthe1665milesacrosstheAtlantictoNewfoundland,accordingtotheastronomers'owntables,morethanthree-hundredmiles;but,asthesurfaceoftheAtlanticdoesnotdoso--thefactofitslevelnesshavingbeenclearlydemonstratedbyTelegraphCablesurveyors,--itfollowsthatwehaveagrandproofthatEarthisnotaglobe.
27.WHICHENDGOESDOWN?
Astronomers,intheirconsiderationofthesupposed"curvature"oftheEarth,havecarefullyavoidedthetakingofthatviewofthequestionwhich--ifanythingwereneededtodoso--wouldshowitsutterabsurdity.Itisthis:--If,insteadoftakingouridealpointofdeparturetobeatValentia,weconsiderourselvesatSt.John's,the1665milesofwaterbetweenusandValentiawouldjustaswell"curvate"downwardsasitdidintheothercase!Now,sincethedirectioninwhichtheEarthissaidto"curvate"isinterchangeable--depending,indeed,uponthepositionoccupiedbyamanuponitssurface--thethingisutterlyabsurd;anditfollowsthatthetheoryisanoutrage,andthattheEarthdoesnot"curvate"atall:--anevidentproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
28.A"HILLOFWATER."
AstronomersareinthehabitofconsideringtwopointsontheEarth'ssurface,without,itseems,anylimitastothedistancethatliesbetweenthem,asbeingonalevel,andtheinterveningsection,eventhoughitbeanocean,asavast"hill"--ofwater!TheAtlanticocean,intakingthisviewofthematter,wouldforma"hillofwater"morethanahundredmileshigh!Theideaissimplymonstrous,andcouldonlybeentertainedbyscientistswhosewholebusinessismadeupofmaterialsofthesamedescription:anditcertainlyrequiresnoargumenttodeduce,fromsuch"science"asthis,asatisfactoryproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
29.CHARACTERISTICSOFAGLOBE
IftheEarthwereaglobe,itwould,unquestionably,havethesamegeneralcharacteristics--nomatteritssize--asasmallglobethatmaybestooduponthetable.Asthesmallglobehastop,bottom,andsides,somustalsothelargeone--nomatterhowlargeitbe.But,astheEarth,whichis"supposed"tobealargeglobe,hasnosidesorbottomasthesmallglobehas,theconclusionisirresistiblethatitisaproofthatEarthisnotaglobe.
30.HORIZON--LEVELWITHTHEEYE
IftheEarthwereaglobe,anobserverwhoshouldascendaboveitssurfacewouldhavetolookdownwardsatthehorizon(ifitbepossibletoconceiveofahorizonatallundersuchcircumstances)evenasastronomicaldiagramsindicate--atanglesvaryingfromtentonearlyfiftydegreesbelowthe"horizontal"lineofsight!(Itisjustasabsurdasitwouldbetobetaughtthatwhenwelookatamanfullinthefacewearelookingdownathisfeet!)But,asnoobserverintheclouds,oruponanyeminenceontheearth,haseverhadtodoso,itfollowsthatthediagramsspokenofareimaginaryandfalse;thatthetheorywhichrequiressuchthingstopropitupisequallyairyanduntrue;andthatwehaveasubstantialproofthatEarthisnotaglobe.
31.MUCHTOOSMALLAGLOBE
IftheEarthwereaglobe,itwouldcertainlyhavetobeaslargeasitissaidtobe--twenty-fivethousandmilesincircumference.Now,thethingwhichiscalleda"proof"oftheEarth'sroundness,andwhichispresentedtochildrenatschool,is,thatifwestandonthesea-shorewemayseetheships,astheyapproachus,absolutely"comingup,"andthat,asweareabletoseethehighestpartsoftheseshipsfirst,itisbecausethelowerpartsare"behindtheearth'scurve."Now,since,ifthiswerethecase--thatis,ifthelowerpartsoftheseshipswerebehinda"hillofwater"atall--thesizeoftheEarth,indicatedbysuchacurveasthis,wouldbesosmallthatitwouldonlybebigenoughtoholdthepeopleofaparish,iftheycouldgetallroundit,insteadofthenationsoftheworld,itfollowsthattheideaispreposterous;thattheappearanceisduetoanotherandtosomereasonablecause;andthat,insteadofbeingaproofoftheglobularformoftheEarth,itisaproofthatEarthisnotaglobe.
32.VANISHINGPOINTOFOBJECTS
Itisoftensaidthat,iftheEarthwereflat,wecouldseealloverit!Thisistheresultofignorance.Ifwestandonthelevelsurfaceofaplainoraprairie,andtakenotice,weshallfindthatthehorizonisformedataboutthreemilesallaroundus:thatis,thegroundappearstoriseupuntil,atthatdistance,itseemsonalevelwiththeeye-lineorlineofsight.Consequently,objectsnohigherthanwestand--say,sixfeet--andwhichareatthatdistance(threemiles),havereachedthe"vanishingpoint,"andarebeyondthesphereofourunaidedvision.Thisisthereasonwhythehullofashipdisappears(ingoingawayfromus)beforethesails;and,insteadoftherebeingaboutitthefaintestshadowofevidenceoftheEarth'srotundity,itisaclearproofthatEarthisnotaglobe.
33.WEARENOT"FASTENEDON."
IftheEarthwereaglobe,people--exceptthoseonthetop--would,certainly,havetobe"fastened"toitssurfacebysomemeansorother,whetherbythe"attraction"ofastronomersorbysomeotherundiscoveredandundiscoverableprocess!But,asweknowthatwesimplywalkonitssurfacewithoutanyotheraidthanthatwhichisnecessaryforlocomotiononaplane,itfollowsthatwehave,herein,aconclusiveproofthatEarthisnotaglobe.
34.OUR"ANTIPODES."--ADELUSION
IftheEarthwereaglobe,therecertainlywouldbe--ifwecouldimaginethethingtobepeopledallround--"antipodes:""peoplewho,"saysthedictionary,"livingexactlyontheoppositesideoftheglobetoourselves,havetheirfeetoppositetoours:"--peoplewhoarehangingheadsdownwardswhilstwearestandingheadsup!But,sincethetheoryallowsustotraveltothosepartsoftheEarthwherethepeoplearesaidtobeheadsdownwards,andstilltofancyourselvestobeheadsupwardsandourfriendswhomwehaveleftbehindustobeheadsdownwards,itfollowsthatthewholethingisamyth--adream--adelusion--andasnare;and,insteadoftherebeinganyevidenceatallinthisdirectiontosubstantiatethepopulartheory,itisaplainproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
35.HORIZONALEVELLINE
Ifweexamineatruepictureofthedistanthorizon,orthethingitself,weshallfindthatitcoincidesexactlywithaperfectlystraightandlevelline.Now,sincetherecouldbenothingofthekindonaglobe,andwefindittobethecaseallovertheEarth,itisaproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
36.CHESAPEAKEBAYBYNIGHT
IfwetakeajourneydowntheChesapeakeBay,bynight,weshallseethe"light"exhibitedatSharpe'sIslandforanhourbeforethesteamergetstoit.Wemaytakeupapositiononthedecksothattherailofthevessel'ssidewillbeinalinewiththe"light"andinthelineofsight;andweshallfindthatinthewholejourneythelightwillnotvaryintheslightestdegreeinitsapparentelevation.But,saythatadistanceofthirteenmileshasbeentraversed,theastronomers'theoryof"curvature"demandsadifference(onewayortheother!)intheapparentelevationofthelight,of112feet8inches!Since,however,thereisnotadifferenceof112hair'sbreadths,wehaveaplainproofthatthewateroftheChesapeakeBayisnotcurved,whichisaproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
37.SIXMONTHSDAYANDNIGHT
IftheEarthwereaglobe,therewould,verylikely,be(fornobodyknows)sixmonthsdayandsixmonthsnightatthearcticandantarcticregions,asastronomersdaretoassertthereis:--fortheirtheorydemandsit!But,asthisfact--thesixmonthsdayandsixmonthsnight--isnowherefoundbutinthearcticregions,itagreesperfectlywitheverythingelsethatweknowabouttheEarthasaplane,and,whilstitoverthrowsthe"acceptedtheory,"itfurnishesastrikingproofthatEarthisnotaglobe.
38.THE"MIDNIGHTSUN.
WhentheSuncrossestheequator,inMarch,andbeginstocircleroundtheheavensinnorthlatitude,theinhabitantsofhighnorthernlatitudesseehimskimmingroundtheirhorizonandformingthebreakoftheirlongday,inahorizontalcourse,notdisappearingagainforsixmonths,asheriseshigherandhigherintheheavenswhilsthemakeshistwenty-fourhourcircleuntilJune,whenhebeginstodescendandgoesonuntilhedisappearsbeyondthehorizoninSeptember.Thus,inthenorthernregions,theyhavethatwhichthetravellercallsthe"midnightSun,"asheseesthatluminaryatatimewhen,inhismoresouthernlatitude,itisalwaysmidnight.If,then,forone-halftheyear,wemayseeforourselvestheSunmakinghorizontalcirclesroundtheheavens,itispresumptiveevidencethat,fortheotherhalf-year,heisdoingthesame,althoughbeyondtheboundaryofourvision.This,beingaproofthatEarthisaplane,is,therefore,aproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
39.SUNMOVESROUNDTHEEARTH
WehaveabundanceofevidencethattheSunmovesdailyroundandovertheEarthincirclesconcentricwiththenorthernregionoverwhichhangstheNorthStar;but,sincethetheoryoftheEarthbeingaglobeisnecessarilyconnectedwiththetheoryofitsmotionroundtheSuninayearlyorbit,itfallstothegroundwhenwebringforwardtheevidenceofwhichwespeak,and,insodoing,formsaproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
40.SUEZCANAL--100MILES--LEVEL.
TheSuezCanal,whichjoinstheRedSeawiththeMediterranean,isaboutonehundredmileslong;itformsastraightandlevelsurfaceofwaterfromoneendtotheother;andno"allowance"foranysupposed"curvature"wasmadeinitsconstruction.ItisaclearproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
41.THE"TRUELEVEL."--ACURVE
Whenastronomersassertthatitis"necessary"tomake"allowanceforcurvature"incanalconstruction,itis,ofcourse,inorderthat,intheiridea,alevelcuttingmaybehadforthewater.Howflagrantly,then,dotheycontradictthemselveswhentheysaythatthecurvedsurfaceoftheEarthisa"truelevel!"Whatmorecantheywantforacanalthanatruelevel?Sincetheycontradictthemselvesinsuchanelementarypointasthis,itisanevidencethatthewholethingisadelusion,andwehaveaproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
42.PROJECTILES--FIRINGEASTORWEST
ItiscertainthatthetheoryoftheEarth'srotundityandthatofitsmobilitymuststandorfalltogether.Aproof,then,ofitsimmobilityisvirtuallyaproofofitsnon-rotundity.Now,thattheEarthdoesnotmove,eitheronanaxis,orinanorbitroundtheSunoranythingelse,iseasilyproven.IftheEarthwentthroughspaceattherateofeleven-hundredmilesinaminuteoftime,asastronomersteachus,inaparticulardirection,therewouldunquestionablybeadifferenceintheresultoffiringoffaprojectileinthatdirectionandinadirectiontheoppositeofthatone.Butas,infact,thereisnottheslightestdifferenceinanysuchcase,itisclearthatanyallegedmotionoftheEarthisdisproved,andthat,therefore,wehaveaproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
43.BODIESTHROWNUPWARDS
ThecircumstanceswhichattendbodieswhicharecausedmerelytofallfromagreatheightprovenothingastothemotionorstabilityoftheEarth,sincetheobject,ifitbeonathingthatisinmotion,willparticipateinthatmotion;but,ifanobjectbethrownupwardsfromabodyatrest,and,again,fromabodyinmotion,thecircumstancesattendingitsdescentwillbeverydifferent.Intheformercase,itwillfall,ifthrownverticallyupwards,attheplacefromwhenceitwasprojected;inthelattercase,itwillfallbehind--themovingbodyfromwhichitisthrownwillleaveitintherear.Now,fixagun,muzzleupwards,accurately,intheground;fireoffaprojectile;anditwillfallbythegun.IftheEarthtravelledeleven-hundredmilesaminute,theprojectilewouldfallbehindthegun,intheoppositedirectiontothatofthesupposedmotion.Since,then,thisisNOTthecase,infact,theEarth'sfanciedmotionisnegatived,andwehaveaproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
44.FIRINGINOPPOSITEDIRECTION
Itisinevidencethat,ifaprojectilebefiredfromarapidlymovingbodyinanoppositedirectiontothatinwhichthebodyisgoing,itwillfallshortofthedistanceatwhichitwouldreachthegroundiffiredinthedirectionofmotion.Now,sincetheEarthissaidtomoveattherateofnineteenmilesinasecondoftime,"fromwesttoeast,"itwouldmakeallthedifferenceimaginableifthegunwerefiredinanoppositedirection.But,as,inpractice,thereisnottheslightestdifference,whicheverwaythethingmaybedone,wehaveaforcibleoverthrowofallfanciesrelativetothemotionoftheEarth,andastrikingproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
45.ASTRONOMERROYALOFENGLAND.
TheAstronomerRoyal,ofEngland,GeorgeB.Airy,inhiscelebratedworkonAstronomy,the"IpswichLectures,"says:"Jupiterisalargeplanetthatturnsonhisaxis,andwhydonotweturn?"Ofcourse,thecommonsensereplyis:BecausetheEarthisnotaplanet!When,therefore,anastronomerroyalputswordsintoourmouthwherewithwemayoverthrowthesupposedplanetarynatureoftheEarth,wehavenotfartogotopickupaproofthatEarthisnotaglobe.
46.ANUTTERLYMEANINGLESSTHEORY
IthasbeenshownthataneasterlyorawesterlymotionisnecessarilyacircularcourseroundthecentralNorth.TheonlynorthpointorcentreofmotionoftheheavenlybodiesknowntomanisthatformedbytheNorthStar,whichisoverthecentralportionoftheoutstretchedEarth.When,therefore,astronomerstellusofaplanettakingawesterlycourseroundtheSun,thethingisasmeaninglesstothemasitistous,unlesstheymaketheSunthenortherncentreofthemotion,whichtheycannotdo!Since,then,themotionwhichtheytellustheplanetshaveis,onthefaceofit,absurd;andsince,asamatteroffact,theEarthcanhavenoabsurdmotionatall,itisclearthatitcannotbewhatastronomerssayitis--aplanet;and,ifnotaplanet,itisaproofthatEarthisnotaglobe.
47.PROFESSORPROCTOR'SCYLINDER
Inconsequenceofthefactbeingsoplainlyseen,byeveryonewhovisitsthesea-shore,thatthelineofthehorizonisaperfectlystraightline,itbecomesimpossibleforastronomers,whentheyattempttoconvey,pictorially,anideaoftheEarth's"convexity,"todosowithevenashadowofconsistency:fortheydarenotrepresentthishorizonasacurvedline,sowellknownisitthatitisastraightone!Thegreatestastronomeroftheage,inpage15ofhis"Lessons,"givesanillustrationofashipsailingaway,"asthoughshewereroundingthetopofagreathillofwater;"andthere--ofatruth--isthestraightandlevellineofthehorizonclearalongthetopofthe"hill"fromonesideofthepicturetotheother!Now,ifthispictureweretrueinallitsparts--anditisoutrageouslyfalseinseveral--itwouldshowthatEarthisacylinder;forthe"hill"shownissimplyuponesideofthelevel,horizontalline,and,weareledtosuppose,downtheother!Since,then,wehavesuchhighauthorityasProfessorRichardA.ProctorthattheEarthisacylinder,itis,certainly,aproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
48.PROCTOR'SFALSEPERSPECTIVE
InMr.Proctor's"LessonsinAstronomy,"page15,ashipisrepresentedassailingawayfromtheobserver,anditisgiveninfivepositionsordistancesawayonitsjourney.Now,initsfirstposition,itsmastappearsabovethehorizon,and,consequently,higherthantheobserver'slineofvision.But,initssecondandthirdpositions,representingtheshipasfurtherandfurtheraway,itisdrawnhigherandstillhigherupabovethelineofthehorizon!Now,itisutterlyimpossibleforashiptosailawayfromanobserver,undertheconditionsindicated,andtoappearasgiveninthepicture.Consequently,thepictureisamisrepresentation,afraud,andadisgrace.Ashipstartingtosailawayfromanobserverwithhermastsabovehislineofsightwouldappear,indisputably,togodownandstilllowerdowntowardsthehorizonline,andcouldnotpossiblyappear--toanyonewithhisvisionundistorted--asgoinginanyotherdirection,curvedorstraight.Since,then,thedesignoftheastronomer-artististoshowtheEarthtobeaglobe,andthepointsinthepicture,whichwouldonlyprovetheEarthtobecylindricaliftrue,areNOTtrue,itfollowsthattheastronomer-artistfailstoprove,pictorially,eitherthattheEarthisaglobeoracylinder,andthatwehave,therefore,areasonableproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
49.MOTIONOFTHECLOUDS
Itisawell-knownfactthatcloudsarecontinuallyseenmovinginallmannerofdirections--yes,andfrequently,indifferentdirectionsatthesametime--fromwesttoeastbeingasfrequentadirectionasanyother.Now,iftheEarthwereaglobe,revolvingthroughspacefromwesttoeastattherateofnineteenmilesinasecond,thecloudsappearingtoustomovetowardstheeastwouldhavetomovequickerthannineteenmilesinasecondtobethusseen;whilstthosewhichappeartobemovingintheoppositedirectionwouldhavenonecessitytobemovingatall,sincethemotionoftheEarthwouldbemorethansufficienttocausetheappearance.Butitonlytakesalittlecommonsensetoshowusthatitisthecloudsthatmovejustastheyappeartodo,andthat,therefore,theEarthismotionless.Wehave,then,aproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
50.SCRIPTURALPROOF--APLANE
Wereadintheinspiredbook,orcollectionofbooks,calledTheBible,nothingatallabouttheEarthbeingaglobeoraplanet,frombeginningtoend,buthundredsofallusionsthereareinitspageswhichcouldnotbemadeiftheEarthwereaglobe,andwhichare,therefore,saidbytheastronomertobeabsurdandcontrarytowhatheknowstobetrue!Thisisthegroundworkofmoderninfidelity.But,sinceeveryoneofmany,manyallusionstotheEarthandtheheavenlybodiesintheScripturescanbedemonstratedtobeabsolutelytruetonature,andwereadoftheEarthbeing"stretchedout""abovethewaters,"as"standinginthewaterandoutofthewater,"ofitsbeing"establishedthatitcannotbemoved,"wehaveastorefromwhichtotakealltheproofsweneed,butwewilljustputdownoneproof--theScripturalproof--thatEarthisnotaglobe.
51.THE"STANDINGORDER."
A"StandingOrder"existsintheEnglishHousesofParliamentthat,inthecuttingofcanals,&c.,thedatumlineemployedshallbea"horizontalline,whichshallbethesamethroughoutthewholelengthofthework."Now,iftheEarthwereaglobe,this"Order"couldnotbecarriedout:but,itiscarriedout:therefore,itisaproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
52.MOREICEINTHESOUTH
Itisawell-knownandindisputablefactthatthereisafargreateraccumulationoficesouthoftheequatorthanistobefoundatanequallatitudenorth:anditissaidthatatKerguelen,50degreessouth,18kindsofplantsexist,whilst,inIceland,15degreesnearerthenortherncentre,thereare870species;and,indeed,allthefactsinthecaseshowthattheSun'spowerislessintenseatplacesinthesouthernregionthanitisincorrespondinglatitudesnorth.Now,ontheNewtonianhypothesis,allthisisinexplicable,whilstitisstrictlyinaccordancewiththefactsbroughttolightbythecarryingoutoftheprinciplesinvolvedintheZeteticPhilosophyof"Parallax."ThisisaproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
53.SUN'SACCELERATEDPACE,SOUTH
EveryyeartheSunisaslongsouthoftheequatorasheisnorth;andiftheEarthwerenot"stretchedout"asitis,infact,butturnedunder,astheNewtoniantheorysuggests,itwouldcertainlygetasintensiveashareoftheSun'srayssouthasnorth;buttheSouthernregionbeing,inconsequenceofthefactstated,farmoreextensivethantheregionNorth,theSun,havingtocompletehisjourneyroundeverytwenty-fourhours,travelsquickerashegoesfurthersouth,fromSeptembertoDecember,andhisinfluencehaslesstimeinwhichtoaccumulateatanygivenpoint.Since,then,thefactscouldnotbeastheyareiftheEarthwereaglobe,itisaproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
54.BALLOONSNOTLEFTBEHIND
Theaeronautisabletostartinhisballoonandremainforhoursintheair,atanelevationofseveralmiles,andcomedownagaininthesamecountyorparishfromwhichheascended.Now,unlesstheEarthdragtheballoonalongwithitinitsnineteen-miles-a-secondmotion,itmustbeleftfarbehind,inspace:but,sinceballoonshaveneverbeenknownthustobeleft,itisaproofthattheEarth,doesnotmove,and,therefore,aproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
55.THEMOON'SBEAMSARECOLD
TheNewtoniantheoryofastronomyrequiresthattheMoon"borrow"herlightfromtheSun.Now,sincetheSun'sraysarehotandtheMoon'slightsendswithitnoheatatall,itfollowsthattheSunandMoonare"twogreatlights,"aswesomewhereread;thattheNewtoniantheoryisamistake;andthat,therefore,wehaveaproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
56.THESUNANDMOON
TheSunandMoonmayoftenbeseenhighintheheavensatthesametime--theSunrisingintheeastandtheMoonsettinginthewest--theSun'slightpositivelyputtingtheMoon'slightoutbysheercontrast!IftheacceptedNewtoniantheorywerecorrect,andtheMoonhadherlightfromtheSun,sheoughttobegettingmoreofitwhenfacetofacewiththatluminary--ifitwerepossibleforaspheretoactasareflectoralloveritsface!ButastheMoon'slightpalesbeforetherisingSun,itisaproofthatthetheoryfails;andthisgivesusaproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
57.NOTEARTH'SSHADOWATALL
TheNewtonianhypothesisinvolvesthenecessityoftheSun,inthecaseofalunareclipse,beingontheoppositesideofaglobularearth,tocastitsshadowontheMoon:but,sinceeclipsesoftheMoonhavetakenplacewithboththeSunandtheMoonabovethehorizon,itfollowsthatitcannotbetheshadowoftheEarththateclipsestheMoon;thatthetheoryisablunder;andthatitisnothinglessthanaproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
58.ROTATINGANDREVOLVING
AstronomershaveneveragreedamongstthemselvesaboutarotatingMoonrevolvingroundarotatingandrevolvingEarth--thisEarth,Moon,planetsandtheirsatellitesall,atthesametimedashingthroughspace,aroundtherotatingandrevolvingSun,towardstheconstellationHercules,attherateoffourmillionsofmilesaday!Andtheyneverwill:agreementisimpossible!WiththeEarthaplaneandwithoutmotion,thewholethingisclear.Andifastrawwillshowwhichwaythewindblows,thismaybetakenasaprettystrongproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
59.PROCTOR'SBIGMISTAKE
Mr.Proctorsays:"TheSunissofaroffthatevenmovingfromonesideoftheEarthtotheotherdoesnotcausehimtobeseeninadifferentdirection--atleastthedifferenceistoosmalltobemeasured."Now,sinceweknowthatnorthoftheequator,say45degrees,weseetheSunatmid-daytothesouth,andthatatthesamedistancesouthoftheequatorweseetheSunatmid-daytothenorth,ourveryshadowsonthegroundcryaloudagainstthedelusionofthedayandgiveusaproofthatEarthisnotaglobe.
60.SUN'SDISTANCEFROMEARTH
ThereisnoproblemmoreimportanttotheastronomerthanthatoftheSun'sdistancefromtheEarth.Everychangeintheestimatechangeseverything.Now,sincemodernastronomers,intheirestimatesofthisdistance,havegoneallthewayalongthelineoffiguresfromthreemillionsofmilestoahundredandfourmillions--to-day,thedistancebeingsomethingover91,000,000;itmattersnothowmuch:for,notmanyyearsago,Mr.Hindgavethedistance,"accurately,"as95,370,000!--itfollowsthattheydon'tknow,andthatitisfoolishforanyonetoexpectthattheyeverwillknow,theSun'sdistance!AndsinceallthisspeculationandabsurdityiscausedbytheprimaryassumptionthatEarthisawandering,heavenlybody,andisallsweptawaybyaknowledgeofthefactthatEarthisaplane,itisaclearproofthatEarthisnotaglobe.
61.NOTRUE"MEASURING-ROD
Itisplainthatatheoryofmeasurementswithoutameasuring-rodislikeashipwithoutarudder;thatameasurethatisnotfixed,notlikelytobefixed,andneverhasbeenfixed,formsnomeasuring-rodatall;andthatasmoderntheoreticalastronomydependsupontheSun'sdistancefromtheEarthasitsmeasuring-rod,andthedistanceisnotknown,itisasystemofmeasurementswithoutameasuring-rod--ashipwithoutarudder.Now,sinceitisnotdifficulttoforeseethedashingofthisthingupontherockonwhichZeteticastronomyisfounded,itisaproofthatEarthisnotaglobe.
62.SAILING"ROUND"ATHING
Itiscommonlyassertedthat"theEarthmustbeaglobebecausepeoplehavesailedroundit."Now,sincethisimpliesthatwecansailroundnothingunlessitbeaglobe,andthefactiswellknownthatwecansailroundtheEarthasaplane,theassertionisridiculous,andwehaveanotherproofthatEarthisnotaglobe.
63.TELESCOPES--"HILLOFWATER."
Itisafactnotsowellknownasitoughttobethatwhenaship,insailingawayfromus,hasreachedthepointatwhichherhullislosttoourunaidedvision,agoodtelescopewillrestoretoourviewthisportionofthevessel.Now,sincetelescopesarenotmadetoenablepeopletoseethrougha"hillofwater,"itisclearthatthehullsofshipsarenotbehindahillofwaterwhentheycanbeseenthroughatelescopethoughlosttoourunaidedvision.ThisisaproofthatEarthisnotaglobe.
64.THELAWSOFOPTICS--GLAISHER
Mr.Glaisher,inspeakingofhisballoonascends,says:"Thehorizonalwaysappearedonalevelwiththecar."Now,sincewemaysearchamongstthelawsofopticsinvainforanyprinciplethatwouldcausethesurfaceofaglobetoturnitsfaceupwardsinsteadofdownwards,itisaclearproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
65."DWELLING"UPONERROR
TheRev.D.Olmsted,indescribingadiagramwhichissupposedtorepresenttheEarthasaglobe,withafigureofamanstickingoutateachsideandonehangingheaddownwards,says:"Weshoulddwellonthispointuntilitappearstousastrulyup,"--inthedirectiongiventothesefiguresasitdoeswithregardtoafigurewhichhehasplacedonthetop!Now,asystemofphilosophywhichrequiresustodosomethingwhichis,really,thegoingoutofourminds,bydwellingonanabsurdityuntilwethinkitisafact,cannotbeasystembasedonGod'struth,whichneverrequiresanythingofthekind.Since,then,thepopulartheoreticalastronomyofthedayrequiresthis,itisevidentthatitisthewrongthing,andthatthisconclusionfurnishesuswithaproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
66.PTOLEMY'SPREDICTIONS
Itisoftensaidthatthepredictionsofeclipsesproveastronomerstoberightintheirtheories.Butitisnotseenthatthisprovestoomuch.ItiswellknownthatPtolemypredictedeclipsesforsix-hundredyears,onthebasisofaplaneEarth,withasmuchaccuracyastheyarepredictedbymodernobservers.If,then,thepredictionsprovethetruthoftheparticulartheoriescurrentatthetime,theyjustaswellproveonesideofthequestionastheother,andenableustolayclaimtoaproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
67.CANALINCHINA--700MILES
Seven-hundredmilesissaidtobethelengthofthegreatCanal,inChina.Certainitisthat,whenthiscanalwasformed,no"allowance"wasmadefor"curvature."Yetthecanalisafactwithoutit.ThisisaChineseproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
68.MR.LOCKYER'SFALSELOGIC
Mr.J.N.Lockyersays:"BecausetheSunseemstoriseintheeastandsetinthewest,theEarthreallyspinsintheoppositedirection;thatis,fromwesttoeast."Now,thisisnobetterthanthoughweweretosay--Becauseamanseemstobecomingupthestreet,thestreetreallygoesdowntotheman!Andsincetruesciencewouldcontainnosuchnonsenseasthis,itfollowsthattheso-calledscienceoftheoreticalastronomyisnottrue,and,therefore,wehaveaproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
69.BEGGARLYALTERNATIVES.
Mr.Lockyersays:"TheappearancesconnectedwiththerisingandsettingoftheSunandstarsmaybedueeithertoourearthbeingatrestandtheSunandstarstravellingroundit,ortheearthitselfturninground,whiletheSunandstarsareatrest."Now,sincetruesciencedoesnotallowofanysuchbeggarlyalternativesasthese,itisplainthatmoderntheoreticalastronomyisnottruescience,andthatitsleadingdogmaisafallacy.Wehave,then,aplainproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
70.MR.LOCKYER'SSUPPOSITIONS
Mr.Lockyer,indescribinghispictureofthesupposedproofoftheEarth'srotunditybymeansofshipsroundinga"hillofwater,"usesthesewords:--"Diagramshowinghow,whenwesupposetheearthisround,weexplainhowitisthatshipsatseaappearastheydo."ThisisutterlyunworthyofthenameofScience!Asciencethatbeginsbysupposing,andendsbyexplainingthesupposition,is,frombeginningtoend,amerefarce.Themenwhocandonothingbetterthanamusethemselvesinthiswaymustbedenouncedasdreamersonly,andtheirleadingdogmaadelusion.ThisisaproofthatEarthisnotaglobe.
71.NORTHSTARSEENFROMS.LAT
Theastronomers'theoryofaglobularEarthnecessitatestheconclusionthat,ifwetravelsouthoftheequator,toseetheNorthStarisanimpossibility.Yetitiswellknownthisstarhasbeenseenbynavigatorswhentheyhavebeenmorethan20degreessouthoftheequator.Thisfact,likehundredsofotherfacts,putsthetheorytoshame,andgivesusaproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
72."WALLSNOTPARALLEL!"
Astronomerstellusthat,inconsequenceoftheEarth's"rotundity,"theperpendicularwallsofbuildingsare,nowhere,parallel,andthateventhewallsofhousesonoppositesidesofastreetarenotstrictlyso!But,sinceallobservationfailstofindanyevidenceofthiswantofparallelismwhichtheorydemands,theideamustberenouncedasbeingabsurdandinoppositiontoallwell-knownfacts.ThisisaproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
73.PENDULUMEXPERIMENTS
Astronomershavemadeexperimentswithpendulumswhichhavebeensuspendedfromtheinteriorofhighbuildings,andhaveexultedovertheideaofbeingabletoprovetherotationoftheEarthonits"axis,"bythevaryingdirectiontakenbythependulumoverapreparedtableunderneath--assertingthatthetablemovedroundunderthependulum,insteadofthependulumshiftingandoscillatingindifferentdirectionsoverthetable!But,sinceithasbeenfoundthat,asoftenasnot,thependulumwentroundthewrongwayforthe"rotation"theory,chagrinhastakentheplaceofexultation,andwehaveaproofofthefailureofastronomersintheireffortstosubstantiatetheirtheory,and,therefore,aproofthatEarthisnotaglobe.
74."DELIGHTFULUNCERTAINTY."
Astothesupposed"motionofthewholeSolarsysteminspace,"theAstronomerRoyalofEnglandoncesaid:"Thematterisleftinamostdelightfulstateofuncertainty,andIshallbeverygladifanyonecanhelpusoutofit."But,sincethewholeNewtonianschemeis,to-day,inamostdeplorablestateofuncertainty--for,whethertheMoongoesroundtheEarthortheEarthroundtheMoonhas,foryears,beenamatterof"raging"controversy--itfollowsthat,rootandbranch,thewholething,iswrong;and,allhotfromtheragingfurnaceofphilosophicalphrensy,wefindaglowingproofthatEarthisnotaglobe.
75.OUTRAGEOUSCALCULATIONS
ConsiderablymorethanamillionEarthswouldberequiredtomakeupabodyliketheSun--theastronomerstellus:andmorethan53,000sunswouldbewantedtoequalthecubiccontentsofthestarVega.AndVegaisa"smallstar!"Andtherearecountlessmillionsofthesestars!Andittakes30,000,000yearsforthelightofsomeofthesestarstoreachusat12,000,000milesinaminute!And,saysMr.Proctor,"IthinkamoderateestimateoftheageoftheEarthwouldbe500,000,000years!""Itsweight,"saysthesameindividual,"is6,000,000,000,000,000,000,000tons!"Now,sincenohumanbeingisabletocomprehendthesethings,thegivingofthemtotheworldisaninsult--anoutrage.AndthoughtheyhaveallarisenfromtheoneassumptionthatEarthisaplanet,insteadofupholdingtheassumption,theydragitdownbytheweightoftheirownabsurdity,andleaveitlyinginthedust--aproofthatEarthisnotaglobe.
76.J.R.YOUNG'SNAVIGATION.
Mr.J.R.Young,inhisworkonNavigation,says:"Althoughthepathoftheshipisonasphericalsurface,yetwemayrepresentthelengthofthepathbyastraightlineonaplanesurface."(Andplanesailingistherule.)Now,sinceitisaltogetherimpossibleto"represent"acurvedlinebyastraightone,andabsurdtomaketheattempt,itfollowsthatastraightlinerepresentsastraightlineandnotacurvedone.And,sinceitisthesurfaceofthewatersoftheoceanthatisbeingconsideredbyMr.Young,itfollowsthatthissurfaceisastraightsurface,andweareindebtedtoMr.Young,aprofessorofnavigation,foraproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
77."TUMBLINGOVER."
"Oh,butiftheEarthisaplane,wecouldgototheedgeandtumbleover!"isaverycommonassertion.Thisisaconclusionthatisformedtoohastily,andfactsoverthrowit.TheEarthcertainlyis,justwhatmanbyhisobservationfindsittobe,andwhatMr.Proctorhimselfsaysit"seems"tobe--flat;andwecannotcrosstheicybarrierwhichsurroundsit.Thisisacompleteanswertotheobjection,and,ofcourse,aproofthatEarthisnotaglobe.
78.CIRCUMNAVIGATION--SOUTH
"Yes,butwecancircumnavigatetheSoutheasilyenough,"isoftensaid--bythosewhodon'tknow.TheBritishShipChallengerrecentlycompletedthecircuitoftheSouthernregion--indirectly,tobesure--butshewasthreeyearsaboutit,andtraversednearly69,000miles--astretchlongenoughtohavetakenhersixtimesroundontheglobularhypothesis.ThisisaproofthatEarthisnotaglobe.
79.ADISC--NOTASPHERE
TheremarkiscommonenoughthatwecanseethecircleoftheEarthifwecrosstheocean,andthatthisprovesittoberound.Now,ifwetieadonkeytoastakeonalevelcommon,andheeatsthegrassallaroundhim,itisonlyacirculardiscthathehastodowith,notasphericalmass.Since,then,circulardiscsmaybeseenanywhere--aswellfromaballoonintheairasfromthedeckofaship,orfromthestandpointofthedonkey,itisaproofthatthesurfaceoftheEarthisaplanesurface,and,therefore,aproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
80.EARTH'S"MOTION"UNPROVEN.
Itis"supposed,"intheregularcourseoftheNewtoniantheory,thattheEarthis,inJune,about190millionsofmiles(190,000,000)awayfromitspositioninDecember.Now,sincewecan,(inmiddlenorthlatitudes),seetheNorthStar,onlookingoutofawindowthatfacesit--andoutoftheverysamecorneroftheverysamepaneofglassintheverysamewindow--alltheyearround,itisproofenoughforanymaninhissensesthatwehavemadenomotionatall.ItisaproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
81.MOON'SMOTIONEASTTOWEST
NewtonianphilosophersteachusthattheMoongoesroundtheEarthfromwesttoeast.Butobservation--man'smostcertainmodeofgainingknowledge--showsusthattheMoonneverceasestomoveintheoppositedirection--fromeasttowest.Since,then,weknowthatnothingcanpossiblymoveintwo,oppositedirectionsatthesametime,itisaproofthatthethingisabigblunder;and,inshort,itisaproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
82.ALLONTHEWRONGTRACK.
AstronomerstellusthattheMoongoesroundtheEarthinabout28days.Well,wemayseehermakingherjourneyround,everyday,ifwemakeuseofoureyes--andtheseareaboutthebestthingswehavetouse.TheMoonfallsbehindinherdailymotionascomparedwiththatoftheSuntotheextentofonerevolutioninthetimespecified;butthatisnotmakingarevolution.Failingtogoasfastasotherbodiesgoinonedirectiondoesnotconstituteagoingroundintheoppositeone--astheastronomerswouldhaveusbelieve!And,sinceallthisabsurdityhasbeenrenderednecessaryfornootherpurposethantohelpotherabsurditiesalong,itisclearthattheastronomersareonthewrongtrack;anditneedsnolongtrainofreasoningtoshowthatwehaveaproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
83.NOMERIDIANAL"DEGREES."
Ithasbeenshownthatmeridiansare,necessarily,straightlines;andthatitisimpossibletotravelroundtheEarthinanorthorsouthdirection:fromwhichitfollowsthat,inthegeneralacceptationoftheword"degree,"--the360thpartofacircle--meridianshavenodegrees:fornooneknowsanythingofameridiancircleorsemicircle,tobethusdivided.Butastronomersspeakofdegreesoflatitudeinthesamesenseasthoseoflongitude.This,then,isdonebyassumingthattobetruewhichisnottrue.Zeteticphilosophydoesnotinvolvethisnecessity.Thisprovesthatthebasisofthisphilosophyisasoundone,and,inshort,isaproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
84DEPRESSIONOFNORTHSTAR.
Ifwemoveawayfromanelevatedobjectonoroveraplainoraprairie,theheightoftheobjectwillapparentlydiminishaswedoso.Now,thatwhichissufficienttoproducethiseffectonasmallscaleissufficientonalargeone;andtravellingawayfromanelevatedobject,nomatterhowhigh,overalevelsurface,nomatterhowfar,willcausetheappearanceinquestion--theloweringoftheobject.Ourmoderntheoreticalastronomers,however,inthecaseoftheapparentloweringoftheNorthStaraswetravelsouthward,assertthatitisevidencethattheEarthisglobular!But,asitisclearthatanappearancewhichisfullyaccountedforonthebasisofknownfactscannotbepermittedtofigureasevidenceinfavorofthatwhichisonlyasupposition,itfollowsthatwerightfullyorderittostanddown,andmakewayforaproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
85.RIVERSFLOWINGUP-HILL?
Thereareriverswhichfloweast,west,north,andsouth--thatis,riversareflowinginalldirectionsovertheEarth'ssurface,andatthesametime.Now,iftheEarthwereaglobe,someoftheseriverswouldbeflowingup-hillandothersdown,takingitforafactthattherereallyisan"up"anda"down"innature,whateverformsheassumes.But,sinceriversdonotflowup-hill,andtheglobulartheoryrequiresthattheyshould,itisaproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
86.100MILESINFIVESECONDS
IftheEarthwereaglobe,rollinganddashingthrough"space"attherateof"ahundredmilesinfivesecondsoftime,"thewatersofseasandoceanscouldnot,byanyknownlaw,bekeptonitssurface--theassertionthattheycouldberetainedunderthesecircumstancesbeinganoutrageuponhumanunderstandingandcredulity!ButastheEarth--thatis,thehabitableworldofdryland--isfoundtobe"standingoutofthewaterandinthewater"ofthe"mightydeep,"whosecircumferentialboundaryisice,wemaythrowthestatementbackintotheteethofthosewhomakeitandflauntbeforetheirfacestheflagofreasonandcommonsense,inscribedwith--aproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
87.MISERABLEMAKESHIFTS
Thetheoryofarotatingandrevolvingearthdemandsatheorytokeepthewateronitssurface;but,asthetheorywhichisgivenforthispurposeisasmuchopposedtoallhumanexperienceastheonewhichitisintendedtouphold,itisanillustrationofthemiserablemakeshiftstowhichastronomersarecompelledtoresort,andaffordsaproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.
88.WHATHOLDSTHEPEOPLEON.
Ifwecould--afterourmindshadoncebeenopenedtothelightofTruth--conceiveofaglobularbodyonthesurfaceofwhichhumanbeingscouldexist,thepower--nomatterbywhatnameitbecalled--thatwouldholdthemonwould,then,necessarily,havetobesoconstrainingandcogentthattheycouldnotlive;thewatersoftheoceanswouldhavetobeasasolidmass,formotionwouldbeimpossible.Butwenotonlyexist,butliveandmove;andthewateroftheoceanskipsanddanceslikeathingoflifeandbeauty!ThisisaproofthattheEarthisnotaglobe.