66 THE NEW KNOWLEDGE. 



that there are bodies a thousand times smaller than the smallest 

 atom. Next we have seen that, no matter what their source, 

 these little particles are all alike in nature and size. And, 

 finally, we know that they constitute an actual part of the 

 forms of matter from which they fly. The far-reaching influ- 

 ence of these conclusions on the inner structure of the uni- 

 verse explains the painful efforts we have made to show 

 how they are obtained, and why since the how is not so 

 important in this world as the why we are so sure in our 

 conclusions. 



That we have in a corpuscle the veritable key to many 

 a mystery, it will be the function of the latter part of our 

 book to disclose. Our present duty is to elucidate still 

 farther the nature of these strange little bodies. And, for 

 this purpose, there is no place in which they are better 

 developed, or in which they have greater freedom from ex- 

 traneous influences, than in the cathode rays. 



