44 From Matter to Man. 



science shows that the highest intellects have not yet 

 realised the fallacy of asking questions beyond the 

 limits of intelligent reply, or the senselessness of 

 seeking, by man's limited five senses, for the origin of 

 ultimates. As in tracing an earl's pedigree we only 

 need evidence of the existence of the founder of the 

 family, and do not consider the present descendants 

 " mysteries or enigmas " because the founder's own 

 origin is obscure, so in natural ultimates all that 

 philosophers require to know is proof of the existence 

 of the ultimate. Consequently, when the orthodox 

 assert that scientists ought to know the origin of their 

 ultimate " matter," theologians in like manner ought 

 to know the origin of their ultimate " God." A retort 

 which shows that such super-sensuous puzzles are for 

 fools and metaphysicians, not scientists and sensible 

 men. 



The list of the chemical elements up to date 

 numbers seventy or more, and as a material alphabet, 

 even should it be materially reduced, is ample enough 

 for nature's utmost requirements, since its capacities 

 for inter-combination are infinite. 



The absurdity of the old alchemists' efforts to trans- 

 mute dross into gold is thus thoroughly realised, for the 

 quantity of gold in the universe, as of any element, is 

 fixed beyond the power of any potency in existence 

 either to add to or subtract from it ; hence, it could no 

 more be transmuted than created or destroyed. 



Regarding the quantity or proportions of each 

 element in the universe, no ruling principle seems to 



