IV 

 LIGHT THE ETHER IN" ITSELF 



The Ether A Medium differing from Ordinary Matter Nature 

 of Wave Motions Action in the Ether itself Its Motions 

 Advance in Straight Lines Velocity of Light, Great, Suit- 

 able, combining Maximum of Forward Velocity with Mini- 

 mum of Forward Force Waves Transverse Vibrations. 



THE field of chemical science is crammed with beautiful 

 order and action. In it the elements of matter are seen 

 to possess characteristics so exactly measured, to show 

 adjustments to each other so exquisitely determined, to 

 present signs of mind so many and so brilliantly clear, 

 as to inspire the rapture of admiration, and lead with 

 irresistible force to the conviction that they have been 

 made by a mighty intelligence. 



In light and the science of optics, we meet with the 

 same wealth and complexity of order, with the same, if 

 not greater, beauty and exquisiteness of action, with the 

 finest adjustments of a new and widely different element 

 to ordinary matter, we meet with signs of mind transcend- 

 ing in brightness the shining of light itself. 



More than two centuries ago, a Danish astronomer, 

 Olaus Rbmer, made the important and fruitful discovery 

 that light travels in time. It does not come from the 

 sun to the earth by instantaneous transmission. Its 

 velocity is finite, and can be measured ; and by his cal- 

 culation, 192,000 miles per second. Modern observers 



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