60 THE UNIVERSE 



During this period of primeval " darkness upon the 

 face of the earth," the resistless electric waves of the 

 sun were beating upon the cloud-enwrapped surface 

 of the planet, but its light had no power to penetrate 

 its Cimmerian gloom. And the earth was sending 

 back its pulsating magnetic currents to the sun, and 

 both were evolving themselves into giant dynamos 

 of marvelous electric power giving and receiving 

 electric currents of positive and negative polarity of 

 wonderful life-giving potency. Gradually the earth 

 solidified into a vast magnet of crystalline rock and 

 metal and like the magnetic core of a steel magnet 

 of vast extent and power, it drew millions of me- 

 teors from space. 



The internal electric forces in volcanic convulsions 

 were upheaving islands, continents and mountain 

 ranges, rending the rocks and crystalline strata in 

 the contracting crust of the earth, amid lightning 

 flashes and resounding crashes of thunder, like the 

 fabled Titans in primeval battle. It was a contest 

 of the giant forces in their elemental power baptizing 

 a world in the fires of creative and creating energ}^. 

 The planet was shaken by magnetic force and torn 

 and agitated by electric storms. Gigantic boulders 

 were dislodged from the surface and ground into 

 powder against each other, making soil for coming 

 vegetation and marking out the pathway of the 

 rivers and valleys. It was the adjustment of ele- 

 mental forces, the night of ages in whose depths 

 and womb of viewless power conscious life originated 

 by electric energy under the evolving law of evolu- 

 tion as the will of Creative Deity. And the moun- 

 tain ranges following the lines of axial direction of 

 the two poles upon opposite sides of the planet be- 



