OF THE ATMOSPHERE. 219 



yet to be fully examined ; its weight, specific heat, chemical affini- 

 ties, and other properties, to be ascertained. Professor Ramsay 

 believes that when these qualities are known they may explain the 

 anomalous position of Argon in its relation to other bodies. The 

 question arose when that strange gas was detected — Is it an ele- 

 ment, is it one body or a combination, or is there some other mixed 

 with it, or is it nitrogen in what is called an allotropic condition ? 

 The last suggestion may be put aside. It is now pretty clear that 

 " atmospheric Argon did contain some other gas not heretofore 

 separated," and that this gas is Helium. It becomes so much the 

 more probable that Argon will be found to fit into the system of 

 elementary bodies according to Mendeleeff's law. 



What, it may be asked, does it matter whether the list of ele- 

 ments extend to sixty-five, sixty-seven, or any other number ? To 

 chemical theory it is all-important, and chemistry is the most fruit- 

 ful of all sciences in its contributions to human well-being. These 

 elements are the pillars of the material universe. It is a favourite 

 peroration with the popular orator to refer to the fall of empires 

 and the crash of worlds. If the latter cataclysm should ever 

 happen, the one thing that would stand the shock would be the 

 ultimate atom. If, for example, the earth could suddenly be 

 stopped in its orbit and should fall headlong into the sun, as it 

 would, every drop of its water would be resolved into oxygen and 

 hydrogen, and every mineral and metal it holds would be vaporised; 

 but the ultimate atoms of nitrogen, carbon, oxygen, iron, and the 

 like would be unchanged and unchangeable ; ready to enter into 

 fresh combinations that would endure through new eons of exist- 

 ence. These atoms that belong to the infinitely little, of which 

 millions of millions can find room and verge enough to keep up a 

 ceaseless dance within a single cubic inch, and the force of whose 

 impact we call heat, are profoundly interesting entities. Clerk- 

 Maxwell based upon them an irresistible argument for a Creator. 

 For these, he said, can be derived by no system of evolution, and 

 each one of them changeless in weight, and size, and properties, 

 bears the impress of " a manufactured article." 



