FITNESS 15 



The behavior of radium and the classifica- 

 tion itself suggest one further idea: the hy- 

 pothesis that the elements are genetically 

 related, that they have been evolved by some 

 unknown process according to unknown laws. 

 Certain it is that the properties of matter are 

 no chance phenomena, and that transmuta- 

 tion has ceased to be merely a philosopher's 

 dream. 



All of these familiar facts of chemical science 

 fully justify us in dealing with matter as a 

 known factor in the study of life conditions 

 in the universe. For, whatever may be the 

 fate of present theories, our present practical 

 knowledge of the behavior of matter cannot 

 fail us in the future. 



B 



ENERGY 



Contemporary with the work of Darwin 

 and of Mendeleeff were the feats of Mayer, 

 Joule, Helmholtz, Kelvin, and Clausius, 

 whereby ideas of energy assumed their mod- 

 ern aspect. In the revolution wrought by 

 these men imponderables and fluids vanished 

 from this domain, and energy became that 

 which, not being matter, is conserved. The 

 new principles of the 'fifties have held their 

 own until to-day. Meantime . they have 



I 



