MECHANISM OF NATURE 



far more material than the storage battery. It is 

 evident then that the change in the wire by the 

 momentary charge of electricity is of a somewhat 

 different character from the change effected in the 

 storage battery by being charged. The broken 

 ocean cable will return the charge of electricity 

 after a measurable interval. 



It seems evident then that the atoms of the wire 

 undergo a change one by one that is, the change 

 of one compels the change of an adjacent one. 



That this is not possible without a necessary 

 change in the process of the life of atoms is very 

 evident when the amount of electricity necessary 

 for the sending of a message over the Atlantic is 

 compared with the amount necessary to change 

 one pound of copper from the solution to pure 

 copper. 



Let it be granted that electricity is a quickening 

 of the process of life in one, and an equivalent 

 retarding of the process in another Substance. 

 (Hypothesis.) Then how are these two connected 

 in the one phenomena ! Why cannot one condition 

 be produced without the other ? 



And this question must connect electricity with 

 gravity, and suggests the further question. If 

 gravity is caused by a constant stream of void 

 matter acting on atoms in the process of life, why 

 does not a quickening of that process enhance the 

 power of gravity? 



In the first place, we cannot assign to force any 

 definite direction; only between living identities 

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