THE PATH OF EVOLUTION 



interaction between the substance of the latter and 

 the corporeal molecules of ponderable matter other 

 than the possible transmission of heat by contact 

 seems probable, for, being a continuous substance, it 

 would have no power of motion or change of place. 



The Atomic Theory of the Ether supposes its 

 molecules to be composed as most ponderable mole- 

 cules are of two atoms, their Ions, each possessing 

 strong affinities for the other ; the one having positive 

 polarity, the other negative polarity ;. united in the 

 sense and in the manner that chemical substances 

 unite (for instance, a molecule of free Oxygen is 

 composed of its two Ions one atom each of oxygen 

 united into one molecule). When the rapidly moving 

 ether molecules come in contact with the earth or 

 other ponderable matter their motion would be 

 arrested in part or in whole. Some of the molecules 

 might pass through the substance, or mass, and con- 

 tinue their course unimpeded or with lessened motion ; 

 another part would transfer their motion to the arrest- 

 ing molecules, partly as heat, and would cause in 

 them those peculiar molecular vibrations that we 

 know all matter to possess, whether gaseous, fluid or 

 solid. Still another, and perhaps the larger portion 

 would continue translatory motion, but with far 

 lessened speed, in driving onward or inward the 

 ponderable molecules or masses; the energy of the 



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