122 From Matter to Man. 



to its constitution, molecular affinity or likc-material- 

 attraction ; consequently, it attracts and attaches to 

 itself other like molecules. But, as atoms are 

 magnets, the molecules themselves also become 

 magnets with polarity ; hence, our nucleus molecule 

 does not attract and cohere other molecules indis- 

 criminately, but discriminately or polarly. As the 

 nucleus molecule is six-pointed, it practically possesses 

 six poles or points of force, for each limb of the star 

 manifests equal energy of attraction and repulsion ; 

 consequently, in a condensing or crystallising medium 

 such as vapour, all the limbs of the flake attract and 

 aggregate the molecules equally, thus preserving the 

 typical star -pattern ; although the ornamentation or 

 design of the spokes may differ infinitely in detail. 



This fretwork, however, is still the effect of the 

 same law, for, as shown by a magnet and iron filings, 

 the same pole which attracts the filings also repels 

 them, each filament also repelling every other filament 

 on the same pole. Similarly with the star limbs on a 

 snow-flake ; each limb not only attracts the crystals, 

 but repels them when attracted and attached. Thus, 

 this alternate or dual attraction by one end of a 

 crystal and repulsion by the other end, if undisturbed, 

 eventually produces — though unintentionally on the 

 part of the snow-flake or any of its constituents — 

 what man calls a " design." 



In frost-ferns the design of the crystals is also 

 effected by polarity. That is, the crystals in the 

 mid-rib of the frost-fern and all the branches are, on 



