69 MAGNETISM, THE LIFE GF THE WORLD—DEWAR. 
Magnetism is thus the life of the law, and consequently, the 
life of matter. 
We will give a few facts showing that matter has polarity. 
If water freezes gently on a pond, the ice is perfectly transpa- 
vent ; but if a wind blows while it is being congealed, the ice is 
whitish and opaque. In the former case the atoms were not 
disturbed, and thus they arranged themselves in perfect polar 
order. Jn the latter the poles were disturbed, and eongealed in 
a disturbed state. 
Jn making sugar-candy, if the material is gently poured out, 
the candy will be comparatively transparent; but if it is pulled 
before it hardens, it soon becomes opaque, and becomes whiter 
with every pulling. It is sometimes said that the air mixing 
the water or sugar produces the opacity; but why sheuld air, a 
transparent substance, mixing with water, also a transparent 
hody., produce opacity, unless there were some constitutional law 
such as we have stated to cause it. In crushing many transpa- 
rent or semi-transparent bodies they become whiter. We believe 
that in these facts is to be found the solution of the phenomena 
wf light and flame, and the mystery ef the come%’s tail. The 
greater the friction of disorganized poles among suitable ma- 
terial, the more brilliant the light. 
In frost ferns on window panes we see another instance of the 
polarity of matter, and this time in distinet magnetic action. 
Just as filings placed on the end of a magnet arrange themselves 
in distinet lines or feelers, so do the particles of ice array them- 
selves, and each frond starting from the same centre, repels 
every other frond. If twe similar magnetic poles are brought 
together, with iron filings on each, the repulsion is se great that 
the filings drop off. We have observed a similar effect with the 
frost ferns, for the points of the two frends on nearing one 
another were seen to be shattered by some invisible force into 
atter confusion. 
These frost ferns may be said to be links between rock and 
plant life, and the little frost bush which grows on ice under 
peculiar circumstances of thaw and frost is another. The 
‘ushes, which are from a half inch to two inches high, are per- 
a 
