THE AIR TRAVELS WITH US. 167 



through a void and air-less region ; y'et no par- 

 ticle of it leaves us. Why is this ? 



The reason is that the earth exerts upon the 

 atmosphere, as well as upon every gaseous fluid, 

 or solid body over its surface, the influence of 

 the attraction of gravitation. This force, which 

 pervades the whole created universe, and en- 

 chains worlds and systems lying beyond the ken 

 of unassisted mortal eye, holds this elastic and 

 delicate robe, and binds it fast about the earth. 

 As we travel, it travels. As we revolve, it 

 revolves with us. In fact, could the globe for 

 the space of one hour continue its revolution 

 on its own axis, while the air stood still, the 

 resistance offered by the air to the passage of 

 the earth would be such as to produce, to all 

 appearance, such a tremendous blast, as would 

 not only level trees and -houses, but would lift 

 men and animals, and every moveable thing 

 into the air, hurling them in a common de- 

 struction against the first mountain range that 

 might present itself. Simple and interesting 

 as the fact is, it is greatly lost sight of in our 

 thoughts. We are apt to imagine that the 

 earth moves through the air, not that it car- 

 ries the air together with it. Were it other- 

 wise only for a little while, the fair landscape 

 at our feet would be turned into such a scene 

 of desolation and destruction as the eye of 



