LIGHT THE ETHER IN ITSELF 53 



affected in the course of ages. But nothing affects, or 

 ever can affect, the length of a wave of any colour of 

 light. Nothing can ever increase or dimmish the line 

 occupied by any definite number. They have been 

 measured, and their length can always be so exquisitely 

 determined as to render them a practical and perfect 

 standard of length. They would suffice for all lands. 

 A scientist in Britain, France, China, and Australia, in 

 Jupiter, Mercury, Neptune, or any planet revolving 

 round any sun in the universe, would be able to make 

 a yard or metre, differing no not by a hair's-breadth. So 

 exquisitely is the ether made throughout all its borders. 



Let a sphere be drawn round the sun at any distance. 

 Count in every line of any colour of light a million 

 billion waves, and the points where the numbers are 

 completed would form a sphere as perfect as the first. 

 Let there be two spheres and a million miles between. 

 In every line of that length, of a million miles, there 

 would be in the same colour the same number of waves. 

 We cannot of course prove this by experiment, but 

 experiment leads us to the conviction that it is true, 

 and this mode of representation enables us to realise 

 that the measuring of the waves is immeasurable in 

 amount and inconceivable in accuracy, shows a splendour 

 of order inexpressible. We can go a great length, and 

 so as to see that they are formed by a hand, oh, how 

 perfect ! a hand that loves absolute perfection, aims at it 

 and is able to secure it, and that if in any line of any 

 length there is one more than belongs to that length, 

 there is a reason for it. Yes, there is a reason for 

 everything in the works of the mind that made the 

 universe. Are there perturbations in Uranus, then, 

 reasoned the astronomer, there must be another planet 

 beyond, and by them that planet was placed and found 



