82 THE CREATION OF MATTER 



at the greatest distance from any kind of motion among 

 themselves. And yet, who has not heard through a 

 gable wall the finest music, proving that the particles 

 through and through were executing harmonic motions. 

 There is not a wall in this city the particles of which its 

 bells do not largely stir. When they are ringing even 

 granite stones are moved. They are charmed. Their 

 particles on the largest scale dart to and fro, execute 

 motions corresponding to those in the metal. They beat 

 also on the stones of the street. They spread out afar 

 through the air. The imagination exults in the multi- 

 tude and range of particles executing the same motions. 

 They make to the mind endeavouring to realise them a 

 scene of brilliant order and beauty. It is impossible, as 

 the clang bursts over the city, as the chimes fall in sweet- 

 ness on the ear, as the musical notes of psalm or hymn 

 flow out, it is impossible to listen without acknowledg- 

 ing the splendour of the music, the delight which it 

 carries in its wings. It is as impossible to survey in 

 imagination the motions of the sea of particles, numerous 

 as the stars of the universe many times multiplied, with- 

 out being as much lost in wonder and delight in presence 

 of a splendour of order as beautiful to the mind as is 

 the music to the ear. 



The waves of sound behave as those of light. They 

 are reflected and refracted. Speaking in face of a wall, 

 the waves rush forward, reach it, and are instantly sent 

 back again. To this is due the resonance in churches 

 and halls when empty. Echoes are thus produced. 

 Distinct and clearly articulated words are sent back from 

 considerable distances. Calling at one point in the 

 King's Park, Edinburgh, towards Morningside, the 

 words are instantly sent back. There are such echoes 

 in not a few places, and sometimes, between reflecting 



