I III'". I.I M ITS DI-" sriKNi 1.. 3O3 



the electron is, that it repels another electron; this repulsive force 

 we recognise as electrical. We say, in fact, that electrons are 

 electricity. A flash of lightning is nothing more or less than a 



discharge of electrons, and the Aurora is the display of the small 

 electron planets, at the two magnetic poles of the earth. Actually 

 electrons are negative electricity, whilst positive electricity is 

 the condition of matter, or atoms, from which electrons are par- 

 tially absent. In the normal state of matter the atoms have 

 neither too many electrons to make it act as though negatively 

 charged, nor too fcxv to make it act as though positively charged. 

 Founder's imaginary experiment shows how much greater elec- 

 trical force is than gravity. If we were to place two small globes 

 of lead, weighing one gramme each, at a distance of one centi- 

 meter apart, they will attract each other by the ordinary force of 

 gravity, but the force of attraction will be so small that it could 

 not be measured by any known instrument. If, however, it were 

 possible to put two globes the same size, made of negative elec- 

 tricity, or electrons, and to place tlicm the same distance apart as 

 the globes of lead, they would repel each other with a force of no 

 less than 320 quadrillion tons, or, if they were placed as far apart 

 as the North and South Poles, they would still exert a repulsive 

 force of 192 million tons on each other. Of such a nature is the 

 force, of which we inspan a tiny fraction, to drive our modern 

 machinery and give us light. Wherever matter exists this force 

 must exist too, either dormant or active. Whether still greater 

 forces are hidden from our view we cannot say, but certainly 

 science has not yet revealed one greater than electricity, and we 

 may safely say we have reached its limits in this direction. 



In conclusion : We have tried to answer the five unanswer- 

 able questions, and in doing so we have started with facts about 

 each, and found ourselves nonplussed, or only landed in doubtful 

 theories. We have, as it were, tried to climb beyond the boun- 

 daries of science, to scale the mighty heights of the Eternal 

 mountains. With Tennyson, we may say we have tried to — 



'".... climb the summit's slope 

 Beyond the furthest flights of hope 

 Wrapt in dense cloud from base to cope." 



We may have found that 



" Sometimes a little corner shines 

 As over rainy mist inclines 

 A gleaming crag with belts of pines." 



But. 



" The highest mounted mind, 

 Still sees the sacred morning spread 

 The silent summit over-head. 

 Fore-run thy peers, thy time, and let 

 Thy feet millenniums hence, be set, 

 In midst of knowledge dreamed not yet. 

 Thou hast not gained a real height, 

 Nor art thou nearer to the light. 

 Because the scale is infinite." 



