THE PATH OF EVOLUTION 



assumption, for the very definition of the Ether 

 separates it from all ponderable matter. 



The theory proposed by L. Graetz is that the 

 Ether, though an elastic, solid body when free in 

 space, yet in the interstices of ponderable matter under- 

 goes a process of dilation and expansion consequent 

 upon the reciprocal action and reaction between it 

 and the molecules of matter, which he attributes to 

 the electrostatic energy of the ponderable molecules. 

 He speaks of the kinetic energy of the Ether, but 

 brings no evidence thereof or of its mode of action. 

 He considers the phenomena of static and motor 

 electricity as essentially those of ponderable molecular 

 matter, in which the Ether plays only a secondary 

 part. The origin of the reciprocal actions between 

 the molecules and the Ether is attributed to the mole- 

 cules of ponderable matter, but no cause for or 

 origin of the needed energy is assigned or suggested. 

 The same difficulty applies to any modification of a 

 theory of a solid continuous Ether. Whence and 

 when can energy arise ? 



THE ATOMIC THEORY OF THE ETHER here 

 given is essentially that of Le Sage and of Preston, 

 to which the present writer has added the conception 

 of the IONS as being the cause of Static electricity, 

 The Ether is supposed to be composed of molecule^ 

 consisting of two atoms of non-gravitic matter possess^ 



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