TEE CAUSE OF MIRAGE. 173 



rent as we see it, is direct, that is, with the hands of a watch, then we are 

 said to be standing on its front, and a current always develops boreal mag- 

 netism in its front. When the progress of an electric current is retrograde, that 

 is, contrary to the hands of a watch, then we are standing in its rear, and an 

 electric current always developes austral magnetism in its rear. Hence 

 the current of our first circle develops boreal magnetism in its front, which 

 is turned toward us, and austral magnetism in its rear, which is turned 

 away from us; and the second figure develops boreal magnetism in its 

 front, which is turned away from us, and austral magnetism in its rear, 

 which is turned towards us. To fix these laws indelibly upon the mind, 

 we have only to remember that electric currents are always flowing from 

 east to west through the strata of the earth. Suppose we could see these 

 currents, and that we stood off in space opposite to the north pole of the 

 earth, the flow of the currents would be seen to be direct: hence boreal 

 magnetism is developed at the north pole. At a similar position opposite 

 the south pole, the movements of the currents would be seen to be retro- 

 grade: hence austral magnetism is developed at the south pole. 



Suppose now that we join our two circles with first fig-ure on top, they 

 will form the figure 8. If we now commence on the left side of the lower 

 loop of the figure 8, and trace the current through and around the entire 

 figure, we find that the current now is continuous; but its course is direct 

 in the upper loop and retrograde in the lower. If these joint figures rep- 

 resent two atoms, then we have the north pole of one atom superimposed 

 over the south pole of the other on the side facing us, and the same on the 

 reversed side, or the side turned away from us. 



This forms a magnetic equilibrium the same as two magnetic needles 

 similarly arranged form what is called an astatic needle, a needle that is 

 not affected by the earth's magnetism. This is supposed to be the principle 

 upon which the atoms arrange themselves in the act of crystalization along 

 a line called the axis of the crystal. Hence the season is evident why an 

 electric current will more readily pass through the crystal at right angles 

 to the axis than along said axis. 



Magnetism is not a primitive physical force, but is an attribute of elec- 

 tricity. It is an electric eftect, and is caused in the following manner. -If 

 we subject an astatic needle to the influence of a powerful electric current, 

 then the astatic condition is broken up and the ends of the different needles 

 separate and swing around so that the north poles are together and the 

 south poles also. Or if not, then the astatic condition is destroyed, for the 

 needle which has its north pole on the side of a helical current where aus- 

 tral magnetism is generated, will have its boreal magnetism obliterated 

 and replaced by austral, and vice versa. In fact it is supposed that the 

 whole is affeeted by an atomic change of position, that is, the north poles of 

 the atoms swing around so that they all face one way, and consequently all 

 south poles of the atoms face in the opposite direction. 



Soft iron when placed within the coils of a helix becomes instantly an 



