SCIENCE AS A SYMBOL AND A LAW 29 



enon is to be found in electronic action is considered 

 satisfactory. Physicists in Germany are gravely dis- 

 cussing whether electrons are spheres or discs in shape. 

 The transmutation of the elements, a problem which 

 has baffled research for centuries, is announced as an 

 assured fact, because radium and a few other sub- 

 stances spontaneously give off energy. Electricity is 

 declared to be a substance and matter is said to be not 

 a substance, but an attribute of electricity, because an 

 electrified body has an apparent increase in its resist- 

 ance to motion; although we know nothing about the 

 nature of either matter or electricity. Others say that 

 the universe is a sort of modified ether; although we 

 never can have cognizance of an unmodified ether. 

 Surely matters of such infinite difficulty and of such 

 supreme importance should not be decided before the 

 most rigid elimination of more natural causes. The 

 fact is, all such statements as these are merely words 

 which convey no ideas; the problems involved are 

 entirely beyond our powers of solution either by 

 physical or by metaphysical methods. Such confusion 

 of thought and dissolution of the boundaries between 

 fact and fancy are deplorable, and if they create trouble 

 in the minds of scientific men, they have absolutely 

 bewildered the general public. Books of a popular na- 

 ture are constantly appearing which change these re- 

 sults of speculation into established fact, and their 

 readers naturally credit the most astounding state- 



