170 FROM NEBULA TO NEBULA 



hemisphere, a feat, however, which it never achieves. 

 In short, whether we regard the tide as part of the moon- 

 lit hemisphere or as part of the other, its behavior is 

 equally contradictory of the Newtonian hypothesis. 



Only a little insight is required to reveal that Newton 

 pictures the moon as doing and undoing its alleged work 

 at one and the same time a house divided against itself. 

 Could you look down from the moon you would see no 

 sign of the tide, for the crest of it is perennially hidden 

 from her sight and even some thirty degrees around the 

 bend of her horizon. Now let me ask you to translate 

 yourself in spirit to that point in the moon's orbit 

 diametrically opposite her, and thence to look down upon 

 that side of the earth. According to Newton's primary 

 hypothesis, where ought you to find high water 1 Why, 

 at the point vertically under you, in the very center of the 

 disc. But where do you really find it 1 I answer you, 

 along the marginal rim of the disc. Strange contradic- 

 tion ! Here we are told that the moon 's function is to 

 gather the waters to the places under and opposite her, 

 and in the next breath we are solemnly informed that by 

 virtue of that same power she foils herself and drags 

 those waters away from herself to the places most distant 

 from those central spots, and what is more, perversely 

 keeps them away! According to theory, the tidal crest 

 should not roll toward the rim as it does, but toward the 

 center or antapex, which in fact it really FLEES. Incon- 

 stant moon! Bringing to bear her full lifting power 

 directly upon the upturned sea, with no resistance to 

 counteract her, all she can do is to indent the surface! 

 With everything against her continental resistances, 

 the curvature of the earth, even her own contrary pull 

 she drags the tide after her without a slip or a break ! 

 Every process of dragging against resistance implies re- 

 tardation in geometrical ratio : how comes it, then, that 

 after, through this cause, having fallen behind the moon 

 120 degrees, the tidal crest thereafter eternally holds its 

 full integrity and speed, instead of softly diffusing into a 

 neutral sheet 1 



