MECHANISM OF NATURE 



absorbs the P. S. at the rate of 10 feet a second. 

 Therefore, since both poles attract the iron, it is 

 plain that the iron bar modifies or alters the nor- 

 mal flow also. If it were not so, every substance 

 would be attracted by one pole of the magnet and 

 repelled by the other pole. But let it be granted 

 that the iron bar, because of the peculiar form of 

 its Atoms, has a capability to shear the flow of 

 P. S. from that end where they flow swiftly, to 

 the other end where the flow is slower than normal, 

 then the whole bar will be attracted. 



And it seems as if the observed actions of the 

 magnet can be explained under this Hypothesis, 

 namely, that magnetism is the result of an accelera- 

 tion of the flow of void matter on one side and a 

 retarding of that flow on the other side. 



Taking for granted that the alternate Hypothesis 

 of the manner of an ever-flowing stream of void 

 matter, from the infinite to the infinite, is true, 

 then the velocity of such an alternate stream may 

 be checked or altered even as if it were going in 

 one direction only. If the alternate character of a 

 universal stream consisted in a periodical renewal 

 of direction, like in a certain class of Dynamo, 

 then it would still be a solid displacement rather 

 than a vibratory wave motion. 



Since even gases are susceptible to magnetic ac- 

 tion, the Atoms, or at least the second degree of 

 organization, must be able to produce or respond 

 to magnetism. Steel is not a carbonate of iron, 

 176 



