MORE ABOUT ELECTRONS 89 



together, and impelling that at a terrific speed in 

 infinitesimal orbits. We can widen the orbits by 

 means of heat, and thus obtain the energy of a 

 gas ; we can perturb the orbits by means of 

 magnetism ; and the day will come, perhaps, when 

 we shall be able to turn the whole enormous 

 rotational energy of the electrons into useful 

 translational form. 



" The scholar," says Le Bon, " who discovers 

 the way to liberate economically the forces which 

 matter contains will almost instantaneously change 

 the face of the world. If an unlimited supply of 

 energy were gratuitously placed at the disposal of 

 man, he would no longer have to procure it at the 

 cost of arduous labour. The poor would then be 

 on a level with the rich, and there would be an 

 end of social questions." 



