Energy. 71 



The final question now is — From whence does the 

 earth derive its magnetism ? To this there are two 

 answers. The first is, Its constituent atoms. The 

 earth in substance is but the temporary aggregation 

 of eternal atoms ; hence, for the time being, it only 

 manifests the energy of the sum of its constituents. 

 As its every atom is a magnet with two poles, so the 

 earth as a combined atom, so to speak, is also but a 

 magnet with two poles. This is proved by dissipating 

 the earth into its elements again, when each individual 

 atom as an indestructible unit would resume its 

 magnetism. The whole would but merge into the 

 parts. In other words, only the atoms and their 

 inherent energies are old and unchangeable ; the 

 forms into which they unceasingly aggregate, what- 

 ever they may be, are ever new and ephemeral. The 

 earth and solar system might melt and pass away as 

 in a vision, but the atoms with their everlasting 

 polarities would still remain to create and recreate 

 worlds unendingly, and people and repeople them 

 with beings confronted ever with the same doubts 

 and difficulties, and burdened ever with the same 

 dread enigma of their existence. 



The second answer to the question, From whence 

 does the earth derive its magnetism ? is, Its battery. 



The earth is not a solid magnet like a bar of iron, 

 for we are assured the interior is in a molten state. 

 If this be so, this molten interior is virtually its 

 magnetic battery, in which materials of all kinds are 

 constantly dissolving, producing heat, and generating 



