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98 



THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE. 



vital characteristics, may be described as « the continuous 



adaptation of internal to external relations .?' This is the 



The 



causes 





V 



Th 



, .eaian^ that 



[hey * P^'' 

 with which they 

 the influence oi 

 some of these '. 



essence of Life in its dynamical aspect, 

 of change are, however, omnipresent; and the most 

 potent of them seem to be those rays of Heat and Light 

 which are transmitted to us from our great central 

 luminary in the form of molecular motions— by means 

 of subtle impacts and wave-like undulations in the 

 intervening realms of ether-space. These are the best 

 known, and possibly the most influential of the forces | which they have 

 which, emanating from the centre of our solar system, they have a wea 



spirit-like, work their vivifying influence by producing orders of waves 



such material combinations as are capable of mani- remove particul 



festing the phenomena of Life. their attachmeni 



The question how such ethereal undulations are I attachments. . . 

 capable of bringing about the gradually more complex 1 Kirchoff respect 



molecular re-arrangements by which an organizable ( niferous undulat 



material has been supposed to be producible ; and how 

 in the already existing living thing they exert their 

 influence in those processes of assimilation and growth, 



-whereby not-living materials are continually being converted 



into living tissue^ is one of the deepest interest 



the solution of which Mr. Spencer has contributed some 



most valuable suggestions. 



'The elements of the problem,' as Mr. Spencer 



these:— The atoms of several ponderable 



/ 



I 



towards 



stances, joined 

 respecting the c 

 dearly that the 



I'^n in hai 

 rapid 



vibrati 



) 



or 



of atom 



ethereal 

 fscillatj 



can be 



Waves 



says 



are 



/ 



matters exist in combination : those that are com- 

 bined having strong affinities, but having also aft- 

 nities less strong for some of the surrounding atom 



same 



ions 



orde 



3 an 



I 



"nmens 



rof 



ei 



and 



easi 



pond 

 atonis 



1st 



e 



erabl 

 ofth 



