Mrs. B. We have no means of ascertaining the distance of the fixed stars. When, therefore, they are said to be in the zodiac, it is merely implied that they are situated in that direction, and that they shine upon us through that portion of the heavens, which we call the zodiac.
Emily. But are not those large bright stars, which are called stars of the first magnitude, nearer to us, than those small ones which we can scarcely discern?
Mrs. B. It may be so; or the difference of size and brilliancy of the stars may proceed from their difference of dimensions; this is a point which astronomers are not enabled to determine. Considering them as suns, I see no reason why different suns should not vary in dimensions, as well as the planets belonging to them.
Emily. What a wonderful and beautiful system this is, and how astonishing to think that every fixed star may probably be attended by a similar train of planets!
Caroline. You will accuse me of being very incredulous, but I cannot help still entertaining some doubts, and fearing that there is more beauty than truth in this system. It certainly may be so; but there does not appear to me to be sufficient evidence to prove it. It seems so plain and obvious that the earth is motionless, and that the sun and stars revolve round it;—your solar system, you must allow, is directly in opposition to the evidence of our senses.
Mrs. B. Our senses so often mislead us, that we should not place implicit reliance upon them.
Caroline. On what then can we rely, for do we not receive all our ideas through the medium of our senses?
Mrs. B. It is true that they are our primary source of knowledge; but the mind has the power of reflecting, judging, and deciding upon the ideas received by the organs of sense. This faculty, which we call reason, has frequently proved to us, that our senses are liable to err. If you have ever sailed on the water, with a very steady breeze, you must have seen the houses, trees, and every object on the shore move, while you were sailing.
Caroline. I remember thinking so, when I was very young; but I now know that their motion is only apparent. It is true that my reason, in this case, corrects the error of my sight.