according to which the solar radiance is due to the arrested
motion of the sun's constituent particles toward their common
centre of gravity. But this is too fanciful to satisfy M.
Figuier. The speculations of Helmholtz "have the disadvantage of
resting on the idea of the sun's nebulosity,--an hypothesis which
would need to be more closely examined before serving as a basis
for so important a deduction." Accordingly, M. Figuier propounds
an explanation which possesses the signal advantage that there is
nothing hypothetical in it. "In our opinion, the solar radiation
is sustained by the continual influx of souls into the sun."
This, as the reader will perceive, is the well-known theory of
Mayer, that the solar heat is due to a perennial bombardment of
the sun by meteors, save that, in place of gross materialistic
meteors, M. Figuier puts ethereal souls. The ether-folk are daily
raining into the solar orb in untold millions, and to the
unceasing concussion is due the radiation which maintains life in
the planets, and thus the circle is complete.

In spite of their exalted position, the ether-folk do not disdain
to mingle with the affairs of terrestrial mortals. They give us
counsel in dreams, and it is from this source, we presume, that
our author has derived his rigid notions as to scientific method.
In evidence of this dream-theory we have the usual array of
cases, "a celebrated journalist, M. R----," "M. L----, a lawyer,"
etc., etc., as in most books of this kind.

M. Figuier is not a Darwinian: the derivation of our bodies from
the bodies of apes is a conception too grossly materialistic for
him. Our souls, however, he is quite willing to derive from the
souls of lower animals. Obviously we have pre-existed; how are we