THE TIDES 97 



diametrically opposite her, and thence to look down upon 

 that side of the earth. According to Newton's primary 

 hypothesis, where ought you to find high water I Why, 

 at the point vertically under you, in the very center of the 

 disc. But where do you really find it ? I answer you, 

 along the marginal rim of the disc. Strange contradic- 

 tion! Here we are told that the moon's function is to 

 gather the waters to the places under and opposite her, 

 and in the next breath we are solemnly informed that by 

 virtue of that same power she foils herself and drags 

 those waters away from herself to the places most distant 

 from those central spots, and what is more, perversely 

 keeps them away! According to theory, the tidal crest 

 should not roll toward the rim as it does, but toward the 

 center or antapex, which in fact it really FLEES. Incon- 

 stant moon! Bringing to bear her full lifting power 

 directly upon the upturned sea, with no resistance to 

 counteract her, all she can do is to indent the surface! 

 With everything against her continental resistances, 

 the curvature of the earth, even her own contrary pull- 

 she drags the tide after her without a slip or a break ! 

 Every process of dragging against resistance implies re- 

 tardation in geometrical ratio : how comes it, then, that 

 after, through this cause, having fallen behind the moon 

 120 degrees, the tidal crest thereafter eternally holds its 

 full integrity and speed, instead of softly diffusing into a 

 neutral sheet f 



We are informed that the moon causes a double tide, 

 that is to say, one tide on the side of the earth that faces 

 her, and a secondary tide on the earth's face hidden from 

 her. The first of these is understood to be the tidal crest 

 which follows the moon by the interval of about eight 

 hours (120 degrees). For brevity, let us call this the 

 "follow" tide. Assuming that the secondary tide is nor- 

 mally diametrically opposite this, or 180 degrees behind, 

 the former should in fact be just 60 degrees in front of the 

 moon's position; hence we may, for convenience, call this 

 secondary tide the "leader." Now, if there is any merit 

 in the conceit that the moon makes a business of dragging 

 tides around, why does she not lasso the leader tide, 



