32 future's dBtracles. 



however, we hang it up without its " keeper," 

 and give it nothing to do, it gradually returns 

 to its natural condition in the home circle of 

 molecular rings. Little by little the coercive 

 force is overcome by the constant tendency of 

 the molecule to go back to its natural position 

 among its fellows. 



The magnet furnishes many beautiful les- 

 sons, as indeed do all the natural phenomena. 

 Every man has within him a latent power that 

 needs only to be aroused and directed in the 

 right way to make his influence felt upon his 

 fellows. Like the magnet, the man who uses 

 his power to help his fellows up to the measure 

 of his limitations not only has been a bene- 

 factor to his race, but is himself a stronger 

 and better man for having done so. But, 

 again, like the magnet, if he allows these 

 God-given powers to lie still and rust for want 

 of legitimate use he gradually loses the power 

 he had and becomes simply a moving thing 

 without influence or use in a world in which 

 he vegetates. But let us leave philosophy and 

 go back to science. 



One of the striking exhibitions of magnet- 

 ism is found in the earth. The earth itself is 

 a great magnet; and there is good reason for 

 believing that it is an electromagnet of great 

 power. The magnetic poles of the earth are 

 not exactly coincident with the geographical 

 poles, and they are not constant. There is a 



