184 THE ORIGIN OF CREATION. 



causing intens* friction and light ; or the polarity of the 

 mineral atoms in the upper atmosphere is deranged, and 

 opacity or light is the result. We are inclined to think that both 

 causes may be in operation at times, and thus we may account 

 for the brilliancy and dullness of the displays the bright ones 

 being caused by chemical action. By the latter theory, the 

 evanescent character and continuously shifting position of these 

 northern lights may be accounted for more easily than by any 

 other, for a shoot of the current along the " lines of force " could 

 instantly reverse the poles of the atoms in the direction traversed; 

 and in withdrawing aa instantly allow them to resume their 

 natural position again. The fact that nearly all these displays 

 shoot out in lines from a Polar centre, very materially corrobo- 

 rates our assertion that the action of the " magnetic curves " 

 of the earth is the principal cause of auroras. 



The influence of the aurora on the compass needle and on 

 telegraph lines, may then be easily accounted for by the Polar 

 magnetic current. 



But the auroras are seen much further south, how far south 

 we believe has not been correctly ascertained ; but, we should 

 think, that under suitable conditions, they would be visible 

 wherever any magnetic influence is found to be exerted on 

 the compass. 



It may be asked why do we not see the 'aurora to the south 

 of us 1 We believe it is owing to the position of the atoms of 

 the atmosphere, and to the atoms having two poles. The mine- 

 ral atoms, under the influence of the polarity of the earth, being 

 attracted southward through the oxygen, only those southern 

 poles that come in contact with the oxygen exhibit light. Thus, 

 also, for a somewhat similar reason, only those observers who are 



