"In a scale model in which the stars are ships, the average ship will be well over a million miles from its nearest neighbour, whence it is easy to understand why a ship seldom finds another within hailing distance. We believe, nevertheless, that some two thousand million years ago this rare event took place, and that a second star, wandering blindly through space, happened to come within hailing distance of the sun . . . A huge tidal wave must have travelled over the surface of the sun . . . and threw off small fragments of itself . . . they are the planets, great and small, of which our earth is one."

SIR JAMES JEANS: The Mysterious Universe.

BLINDLY through space, yet having this for guide

A hand upon the helm that turned its path

To the great light whose fervent answering tide

Lit, in a planetary aftermath,

Beacons whose signal wise men from afar

Should learn to mean: "Here—passed a second star."

Blindly through space, and, in its troubled wake,

To earth came life that fashioned in its pride

Empires whose destiny of dust should make

Thicker the dust of Kingdoms that had died.

Then . . . where the outposts of creation are ...

Word of recall came to the second star.

Blindly through space, where aeons buoyed its track,

Urged by a Universe ordained thereto,

From space's edge the pilot speeding back

Turned, in its course, to the Great Light anew,

So three wise men beheld it from afar

Then with great joy followed the second star.

["The St. Martin's Review."