as a lamp. Now, it has been well pointed out by Thomson, that, looked at in this light, the universe is a system that had a beginning and must have an end; for a process of degradation cannot be eternal. If we could view the universe as a candle not lit, then it is perhaps conceivable to regard it as having been always in existence; but if we regard it rather as a candle that has been lit, we become absolutely certain that it cannot have been burning from eternity, and that a time will come when it will cease to burn. We are led to look to a beginning in which the particles of matter were in a diffuse chaotic state, but endowed with the power of gravitation, and we are led to look to an end in which the whole universe will be one equally heated inert mass, and from which everything like life or motion or beauty will have utterly gone away.

From "The Conservation of Energy."

THE NORNS.

After the Painting by C. Ehrenberg.

RD," "Verdandi," and "Skuld," the three Norns, are the Fates of Norse mythology. Ehrenberg shows them at the foot of the World-ash, Yggdrasil, and "Urd," the eldest of the three, is engraving the

runes of Fate on the staves of destiny.