34 THE CREATION OF MATTER 



a work of consummate art, is in its nature and qualities 

 an ideal of adaptation, and proclaims with all the force 

 of everything that is in it and about it, that it owes its 

 existence to a hand of matchless wisdom. A few atoms 

 would speak with power, a jar of them with irresistible 

 force. Eut there are worlds of them. There are worlds 

 on worlds. And all speak loudly and clearly. Nowhere 

 is an uncertain sound heard. Not an atom hesitates in 

 its testimony, but ringing clear, as from golden mouth, as 

 with perfect articulation, and truth's own vigour, ascribes 

 the glory of its condition to an understanding mind. 



The action of the atoms is uniform. They might 

 have differed in the temperature or circumstances of 

 their entering into union. But all the atoms of the same 

 element are so perfectly alike, have the measures and 

 characteristics of their force determined with an exact- 

 ness so exquisite, that their septillions and centillions act 

 at the same moment in the same circumstances. They are 

 as septillions of strings composed of the same substance, 

 made of the same thickness, cut to the same length, 

 drawn to the same tension, tuned to the same note. 

 They are as centillions of jars charged with the same 

 electrical force. All in contact with the same element 

 are thrown into activity at the same instant, at the same 

 point. They know it everyone ; they recognise it. Its 

 touch is magic. As with one accord, and perfect intelli- 

 gence, they spring into the right place, leap into union in 

 the right manner and number. They need no hand of 

 operator to guide, or set right the position of any one 

 of them. Within the same range of circumstances, too, 

 they continue in union, they cleave to each other, they 

 hide themselves individually, and show only their com- 

 bination qualities. And again at the same point or points, 

 they relax their grasp, start aside and become themselves 



