new world was to be sent whirling through space, hurled, as it were, at
our earth, which was to be shattered to pieces by it.

Except that such stories serve to call the attention of unscientific
people to scientific facts, and teach them to observe the wonders of the
universe, it really seems a shame that such marvels should be used as
bogies to scare the ignorant and superstitious.

As a matter of fact, very little is known about these sun-spots. They
occur in greatest numbers in periods of about eleven years apart, and
astronomers and geologists agree that periods of rainy and dry seasons
seem to correspond with the sun-spot periods.

When the greatest number of spots are visible on the sun, scientists
agree that the climatic conditions on the earth are normal and even.
When there are fewest spots on the sun we have extreme temperature and
sudden changes. When we say that astronomers and geologists agree on
this point, we must also admit that some astronomers are not quite
satisfied that the fact has been proved.

The only fact that has been actually proved to everybody's satisfaction
is that, during the time when the most spots are visible on the sun,
there are always more magnetic storms and displays of the aurora
borealis.

A magnetic storm is a disturbance of the magnetic field which surrounds
the earth; its presence is shown by a disturbance of the needle of the
compass, and it often interferes with the electrical currents, making it
difficult and sometimes impossible to use the telegraph-wires.