I 



THE SELF-REGENERATION OF THE UNIVERSE, igi 



aggregates first formed tend to absorb and force 

 into conformity with their motions the surroundino- 

 atoms, and thus to grow disproportionately at the 

 expense of the others : the common elements are 

 those which have obtained a start in the process of 

 genesis and' improved their initial advantage. 



Such is the life-history of the chemical atoms, for, 

 like all things, they have a limited term of existence. 

 They '' share with all created (? generated) beings 

 the attributes of decay and death " ; they are gener- 

 ated out of prothyle, according to the laws of the 

 generation of matter, and when their due course has 

 been accomplished, they return into that which gave 

 them birth. 



§ 13. But it is a more difficult question to deter- 

 mine what is the exact relation of this genesis of the 

 elements to the life of the universe at large, and to 

 decide whether it took place at a definite point in its 

 past history, or continually renews its youth. For 

 there is much that tells in favour of either view. 

 Mr. Crookes himself Vequently speaks of an original 

 genesis of the elements out of prothyle as an event 

 in the past ; he speaks of primitive matter as formed 

 by ** an act of generative force throwing off at 

 intervals atoms endowed with varying quantities of 

 primary forms of energy," and even suggests, on 

 very adequate chemical grounds, that *' it is ex- 

 tremely probable that the chemism-forming energy 

 is itself dying out, like the fires of the cosmic 

 furnace." Moreover we have already seen that a 

 real evolution implies a beginning (§ 3), and shall see 

 that a valid evolutionism implies also an end (§ 20), 

 so that Mr. Crookes' own interpretation of his 

 speculations may claim greater consonance with the 

 ultimate requirements of evolutionist metaphysics. 



