of Kepler, Halley, and Newton. The affairs of this world are managed in
the light of history. It is technically called precedent. There is yet
no history of astronomy. In the desired actual placing of the present
positions of the stars there would be a record which, 25,868 years
hence, would enable the observer of those times to accurately measure
movements of the earth now beyond mortal ken for lack of history. By
the character of those movements, the force, speed, heat, and