ftature'6 /HMractes. 



edged that all the theories so far advanced are 

 little better than guesses. But there is value 

 in guessing, for one man's guess may lead to 

 another that is better, and, as it is rarely the 

 case that each one does not give us a little 

 different view of the matter, it may be that 

 out of the multiplicity of guesses there may 

 some time be a suggestion given to some in- 

 vestigator that will solve the problem, or at 

 least carry the theme farther back and es- 

 tablish its true relationship to the other forms 

 of energy. I cannot but think that there is 

 yet a simple statement to be made of Energy 

 in its relation to Matter that will establish 

 a closer relationship between the different 

 branches of physical science. And this, most 

 likely, will be brought about by a better under- 

 standing of the nature of the interstellar sub- 

 stance called Ether, and its relation to all 

 forms and conditions of sensible matter and 

 energy. 



In the talks that will follow it will be the 

 endeavor of the writer to give such a simple 

 and popular exposition of the phenomena and 

 applications of electricity, in a general way 

 only, that the popular reader may get, at least, 

 an elementary understanding of the subject so 

 far as it is known. As we have said, the 

 descriptions will have to be elementary, for 

 nothing else can be done without such 

 elaborate technical drawings and specifications 



