THE PATH OF EVOLUTION 



are to some extent conductors. No substance is ab- 

 solutely a non-conductor. It is a difference in de- 

 gree though there is a very great difference. It is 

 known that in all conductors the current passes on 

 the surface or outside of the wire not through the 

 substance or central mass thereof. The said con- 

 ductor or other electrified body is surrounded by 

 what may be called an atmosphere, better known as 

 an " Electric field." This may be its origin : When 

 the Ether atoms are stopped or checked by matter in 

 their path, they must be differently affected by the 

 nature of the opposing body. Some substances will 

 more easily permit their onward passage than others. 

 Those that are best fitted by their inherent structure, 

 or by their Ions, to arrest the onward move of the 

 Ether atoms by converting their energy into the 

 molecular vibrations of ponderable matter, will neces- 

 sarily be surrounded by a greater number of quies- 

 cent or partially quiescent dissociated ethereal Ions, 

 while poor conductors would have but few thereof. 

 These quiescent Ions would soon again be brought into 

 motion by other free moving Ether atoms, and with 

 them be swept away ; but the rain of Ether atoms is 

 incessant, and the electric field would be quickly re- 

 cruited by countless thousands of other dissociated 

 Ions replacing those that have moved away. The 

 Ions of an unbalanced electric charge such as lately 

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