148 THE UNIVERSE 



different from any electrical theory of the sun or 

 planets. 



He 'says, "The subject of the sun's electric influence 

 is of absorbing interest, but there is no solid scien- 

 tific basis for a genuine theory." 



From the lack of knowledge he displays of the 

 well-known laws of electricity I am not surprised at 

 his statement. He says and illustrates it by a 

 diagram : "If we grant the sun does act as a stu- 

 pendous source of electro-magnetic waves, as the 

 planets circle about the sun in nearly a common 

 plane, and sometimes lie practically in the common 

 plane in a straight line, in such a contingency there 

 may be a stream of electric energy linking them all 

 together." He seems to think this would produce 

 confusion and settle the whole question. 



He should know that the simplest law of electro- 

 magnetism teaches that the electric attraction of 

 every planet is the measure of its power in drawing 

 the electric currents of the sun. Distance from or 

 nearness to the sun or planets or their being scat- 

 tered or all on the same plane or in a straight line 

 has nothing to do with the supply of electric power 

 from the sun. 



Each receives the positive electricity from the sun, 

 which it draws by reason of its negative polarity. 

 He should know that twenty-eight currents of elec- 

 tricity may pass over the same wire at the same 

 time, fourteen one way and fourteen the other way, 

 and do not interfere with one another, and each go 

 to their separate destinations. The sun may send 

 a different electric current or vibration to each 

 planet and nothing in the universe could prevent 

 it from reaching that planet. It would pass through 



