Continuity 17 



Whether the ether exists or not matters little, 

 let us leave that to the metaphysicians ; what 

 is essential for us is that everything happens as 

 if it existed, and that this hypothesis is found to 

 be suitable for the explanation of phenomena. 

 After all, have we any other reason for believing 

 in the existence of material objects? That, too, 

 is only a convenient hypothesis. 



A needed antidote against over-pressing 

 these utterances, however, is provided by 

 Sir J. Larmor in his Preface: 



There has been of late a growing trend of 

 opinion, prompted in part by general philo- 

 sophical views, in the direction that the theoreti- 

 cal constructions of physical science are largely 

 factitious, that instead of presenting a valid 

 image of the relations of things on which further 

 progress can be based, they are still little better 

 than a mirage. . . . 



The best method of abating this scepticism 

 is to become acquainted with the real scope and 

 modes of application of conceptions which, in the 

 popular language of superficial exposition and 

 even in the unguarded and playful paradox of 

 their authors, intended only for the instructed 

 eye often look bizarre enough. 



One thing is very notable, that it is 



