26 The Cause of Life and Motion 



its poles, we will find that some unseen force tends to 

 impel the weight toward the magnet. Now, where 

 does this unseen force come from? We may place 

 our fingers between the weight and the magnet, but we 

 will feel nothing. Can the force be derived from a subtile 

 fluid emanating from the magnet and returning to it? 

 Would it be rational to suppose that such a fluid would 

 return to the magnet with a mysteriously acquired 

 auxiliary force ? Let us say no, without the slightest 

 hesitation. The weight is impelled toward the magnet 

 by a force more potent than what could be derived 

 from the so-called subtile fluid. But we cannot feel it 

 as a general rule, because its vibratory action is so fine 

 that it passes between the elements of our organisms 

 without sensibly affecting them. 



Without attempting to show the true mole- 

 cular structure of a magnet, a crude illustration 

 will nevertheless be given to show a possible con- 

 dition by which the natural action of the vibra- 

 tions of the forces may be so changed about its 

 exterior as to produce its apparent attractive 

 power. 



A magnet then, like any other body, displaces 

 a portion of the Celestial forces. But in conse- 

 quence of some peculiar strained or tense 

 arrangement of its elements, some of the ex- 

 tremely fine vibrations of the forces are greatly 

 impeded and changed in their action. The vi- 

 brations thus changed, while they become ampli- 

 fied and extended for a limited distance outside 

 of the magnet in their action towards it ; lose 



