30 THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION, 
and even those gentle touches from her child, the Moon, helped to 
mould and carve our Mother Earth, and prepare her for the habita- 
tion of sentient and thinking beings. And thus the word ‘“‘tide” is 
not merely a rising and falling of the Earth’s waters, but has a wider 
sweep and has a vaster sky line, it must include alternating deforma- 
tions of a solid and elastic or of a molten and plastic globe. In fact 
the theory of tides properly investigated and given its proper place in 
scientific research is a chapter in the unfolding of the vast problem 
of Evolution, that multiform and brilliant philosophy of the universe 
which has taken so deep hold of the science and literature of our 
time. The tide-problem fully studied is another minaret in that 
glorious temple, the foundation stone of which was laid by Charles 
Darwin ; it is another chord in that great rhythm that proclaims the 
universality of intelligent law, dethrones blind chance and exalts the 
Creator working through eternity not by revolutionary dramatic fiats,. 
but by invincible evolutionary purpose and unceasing Providence. 
And we shall see, too, how where more fully studied this problem 
deals not only with the question of our past origin but with our 
future goal, not only with our ‘whence ?” but with our ‘‘ whither ? ” 
and gives rise to many curious and far reaching astronomical 
speculations. 
From the pen of George Howard Darwin, the Plumian Profess- 
or in the University of Cambridge, only last year came a book on 
‘©The Tides.” It is verily a discussion of that problem down to 
date—a classic, presenting in a popular form the mathematical argu- 
ment as organized common sense, and smoothing out the intricacies 
of this most interesting subject. It is a book of nearly 400 pages, 
illustrated by 43 diagrams, many of them intricate and demanding 
close attention. A short account of the principles and theory of the 
book will, it is trusted, encourage my hearers to read more fully and 
accurately for themselves. Some account of the knowledge the an- 
cients had as to the theory of tides may be interesting. Aristotle and 
Pytheas of Marseilles, pointed out the connection between the phases. 
of the Moon and the tides. Julius Cesar whi'e fighting the yellow- 
haired Gauls took occasion to notice the connection between the Moon 
and spring tides. He says :—‘‘ Kadem nocte accidit, ut esset luna 
plena, qui dies maritimos estus maximos in Oceano efficere consuevit.” 
And he tells us how in consequence his ships broke from their 
