62 THE CREATION OF MATTER 



lithium, the green of thallium more than the yellow of 

 sodium, and the blue of indium more than the green of 

 thallium. If the four metals be mixed in the flame, no 

 definite tint is produced. The colour is indeed almost 

 white. But pass this light through a prism, and again 

 each colour appears in its purity and beauty and in its 

 own relative place red, yellow, green, and blue. The 

 colours differ in the length of the waves and in the 

 number of the transverse vibrations. The ether occupy- 

 ing the space among the molecules passes on every kind 

 of wave, transmits the seven different colours. The 

 molecules and ether are, however, so adjusted to each 

 other that the action of the former on the latter bends 

 each colour more and more. Each wave has its own 

 length and number of vibrations, and its own suscepti- 

 bility to the action of the molecules, has its own measure 

 in which it is bent towards the perpendicular. Each 

 wave of the same kind, anywhere and everywhere, pass- 

 ing through the same substance, is always deflected in 

 the same measure. The substance of the prism, consist- 

 ing of ordered matter, tests and exhibits the action of the 

 ether in seven different kinds of ways, and bears a 

 sevenfold testimony to it as produced by mind. What- 

 soever differences of action they may show are all found 

 to be in harmony with law and order. But were not the 

 molecules and the ether perfectly ordered they could not 

 exhibit order in their action. Were they not made 

 according to one exact and adjusted pattern they could 

 not obey one perfect law. 



Diffuse reflection or scattering, and absorption. 

 Non-luminous bodies can only be seen by light falling on 

 them from those that are luminous. Rays striking any 

 point are partly stopped and partly spring from it, and 

 fly to every quarter far and near. By these latter 



