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the natural one as regards the exhibition of a number 

 of wholly unexpected phenomena. By a continuous 

 process of growth, moreover, we are able to connect 

 sky matter, if I may use the term, with molecular mat- 

 ter on the one side, and with molar matter, or matter in 

 sensible masses, on the other. 



In illustration of this, I will take an experiment de- 

 scribed by M. Morren, of Marseilles, at the last meet- 

 ing of the British Association. Sulphur and oxygen 

 combine to form sulphurous acid gas. It is this chok- 

 ing gas that is smelt when a sulphur match is burnt in 

 air. Two atoms of oxygen and one of sulphur consti- 

 tute the molecule of sulphurous acid. Now it has been 

 recently shown in a great number of instances that 

 waves of ether issuing from a strong source, such as the 

 sun or the electric light, are competent to shake asunder 

 the atoms of gaseous molecules. A chemist would call 

 this " decomposition" by light ; but it behooves us, who 

 are examining the power and function of the imagination, 

 to keep constantly before us the physical images which 

 we hold to underlie our terms. Therefore I say, sharply 

 and definitely, that the components of the molecules 

 of sulphurous acid are shaken asunder by the ether 

 waves. Inclosing the substance in a suitable vessel, 

 placing it in a dark room, and sending through it a 

 powerful beam of light, we at first see nothing j the ves- 

 sel containing the gas is as empty as a vacuum. Soon, 

 however, along the track of the beam a beautiful sky- 

 blue color is observed, which is due to the liberated 

 particles of sulphur. For a time the blue grows more 

 intense \ it then becomes whitish ; and from a whitish blue 

 it passes to a more or less perfect white. If the action 

 be continued long enough, we end by filling the tube 



