32 The Cause of Life and Motion 



the phenomenon of light. All the theories ad- 

 vanced by scientist, to account for this phenome- 

 non are singularly at fault, and altogether at 

 variance with certain properties which they as- 

 cribe to matter. That the particles of light 

 should travel of their own volition is an irrational 

 supposition at the outset. For in what manner 

 could power be stored up in infinitesimal atoms 

 to propel them ninety-two millions of miles, to say 

 nothing of the greater distances traveled ? How 

 do the atoms overcome the so-called attraction of 

 the body they leave ? 



In the refraction of light we have an anomaly 

 very difficult to explain, if we hold to the. scien- 

 tist's theory, For all bodies or particles moving 

 through space of their own volition, would in en- 

 tering a new uniform medium at an oblique angle 

 describe a curve. As a matter of fact, however, 

 when a particle of light thus enters a new med- 

 ium, it instantly changes from its first direct 

 course to another direct course, and the latter 

 course will be at some consistent angle with the 

 former, depending upon the obliquity of entrance 

 the character of the new medium and the form of 

 the particle. Now, any particle whether of light, 

 heat or other class, when it is impelled at an 

 oblique angle against a new medium, is thrown 

 out of balance by a change in the action of the 

 forces near the surface and within the medium, 



