MECHANISM OF NATURE 



change an atom undergoes to produce a tendency 

 to come together (Prop. XV, B. 3) under the action 

 of a stream of void matter, this change is common 

 to all organized atoms. But the change a bar of 

 steel undergoes it not common to all matter, not 

 even to soft iron. Under any and all circumstances 

 the changes that produce gravity are going on. 

 But a like mechanical displacement of void matter 

 produces magnetism also, and heat and light and 

 electricity. 



Then in that ever flowing stream producing 

 gravity, can there be currents and countercur- 

 rents ? 



No material can go in two different ways at the 

 same time. (Prop. V, B. 3). Therefore, since 

 gravity is constant, the stream of void Matter pro- 

 ducing gravity must also be constant. 



Yet in the swiftest river there are eddies and 

 whirlpools, produced by the very action of the cur- 

 rent on obstructions. And so it seems that gravity 

 may be superseded by a stronger force, while yet 

 gravity furnishes the base for the superior force. 



The magnet hanging on a spring scale in holding 

 up a piece of iron does not gain or lose weight 

 of its own while attracting the iron against the 

 prompting of gravity; and while the iron is at- 

 tracted by the magnet, it yet adds its own weight 

 to that of the magnet in pulling on the scale. 



Both Gravity and magnetism penetrate every 

 known substance, or work through a vacuum. 



It is then evident that both are a displacement 

 174 



