tlbeorg an& nature of Aagnettem. 37 



the theory that the earth is a great electro- 

 magnet; for the stronger the electrical cur- 

 rent the more powerful we should expect the 

 magnetism to be, and this is shown by the 

 action of the magnetic needle at such times. 

 The stronger the magnet the more intense will 

 be the lines of force, and naturally the more in- 

 tense the light, if indeed these lines of force 

 are the cause of the light. There is evidently 

 some close relation between the two. 



Another coincidence is that at the times of 

 these storms there is an unusual display of 

 sun-spots. These sun-spots seem to be great 

 holes that have been blown through the photo- 

 sphere of the sun. The photosphere is a great 

 luminous body of gaseous matter that is be- 

 lieved to envelop the sun, so that we do not see 

 the core of the sun unless it is when .we 

 look into one of these spots. In some way, evi- 

 dently, the sun affects the earth by radiating 

 magnetic lines of force which are cut by the 

 earth's revolution, and so creating currents of 

 electricity. The sun is the field-magnet, and 

 the earth is the revolving armature of nature's 

 great dynamo-electric machine. It would 

 seem that the radiant energy that comes out 

 through these spots or these holes in the sun's 

 envelop.', an- more potent to develop earth- 

 currents than the ordinary ray<; and so, when 

 l.rief while in the revolution of the earth 

 about the sun, these extra patent rays strike 



