Mysteries of time and space

Preface

The essays in the present volume are for the most part among those in which I have endeavoured to present the tendency of science in our time to show the domain of law as to all intents and purposes infinite. The mysteries of time and space here dealt with were no mysteries to those men of old times who supposed that at a short distance from this earth lies the region which they regarded as the heaven of heavens, and that a short- distance in time from the present takes us to the beginning of all things in the past, to the end of all things in the future. Starting with such conceptions- — the positivism of early thought — men found more and more of mystery as they learned more and more of actual facts, until now that which of old was confidently explained is found to be utterly inexplicable, save as a part — an infinitely minute part — of the mysterious Infinity and Eternity we call The Universe.

RICHARD A. PROCTOR.

London : March 1883.