Page:Hector Macpherson - Herschel (1919).djvu/81

Rh both in space and time—in very truth, "he broke through the barriers of the skies". He revealed to the wondering gaze of his contemporaries star upon star, system upon system, cluster upon cluster. Speaking of these revelations Horace Walpole said: "If there are twenty millions of worlds, why not as many and as many and as many more? Oh, one's imagination cracks!" His researches revealed the Earth in its true light—one revolving globule chained to a tiny star; a dust-grain in the infinite.

Every branch of observational astronomy bears to this day the impress of Herschel's powerful personality. Since his death, the science has greatly advanced; its horizons have widened, and innumerable new facts have been brought to light. Yet, even to-day, we cannot but agree with the verdict of a prominent American astronomer that Herschel "was so far in advance of his age that we are just now beginning to appreciate his genius," and we may safely say that in the annals of astronomical science the name of William Herschel, pioneer of modern astronomy, will shine with increasing lustre as the years roll on. To him, indeed, we may apply, with peculiar fitness, the beautiful words of Longfellow:—