190 F. W. Very— A Cosmic Cycle. 



leading to partial explanations of the valency of the atoms, gave 

 the hypothesis one more analogy. But the researches of Hicks,* 

 by establishing relations between vortex motions and the ther- 

 mal properties of the elements, have done more than all the 

 others to give a stable foundation to the vortical doctrine. 



Regarding the vortex-atom theory as almost certainly true^ 

 it seems to me probable that there is some connection between 

 ethereal wave-motion and the origin of vortex-motion in the 

 ether. If the reciprocating electro-magnetic motions of an 

 ether-wave are not absolutely reciprocal or self-destructive, a 

 minnte fraction of the radiant energy of the stars will remain 

 behind in the ether. We know from the atomic changes shown 

 by the Zeeman effect,!- and from the opposite absorptive effect 

 in the magnetic held discovered by Righi,J that magnetism is 

 able to produce a temporary change in atomic movement. Is 

 it not possible that electro-magnetic waves originate the per- 

 manent vortex movements of the ether? In this case every 

 stellar track must be strewn with atoms, and even in the most 

 dimly lighted recesses of space matter is slowly forming. 



The myriad-age-long history of an atom, if it could be traced, 

 would be the story of the evolution of a jDarticular form of 

 motion through the accumulation of many vicissitudes. That 

 in spite of the very great differences in these stories of elemen- 

 tal change, the elementary forms of matter are few in number^ 

 can only be accounted for by assuming that the number of 

 possible forms of vortex-motion along these lines is limited by 

 spatial conditions. 



Newton in his "Hypothesis Touching Light and Color " 

 suggests that " all things may be originated from ether," § but 

 without distinguishing the substance of the ether from an 

 attenuated form of matter. 



The modern conception of the ether lends itself more readily 

 to a theory of the ethereal origin of matter. 



The different velocities with which various orders of material 

 particles may be propelled by the electric current gives us a 



* W. M. Hicks. "Researches in Yortex Motion, Part III. on Spiral or Gyro- 

 static Yortex Aggregates," Proc. R. S. London, vol. lxii, p. 332, 1898. 



f See the Astrophysicol Journal, vol. v, p. 332 ; vol. vi, p. 48, p. 378 ; vol. vii, 

 p. 131. p. 163; vol. viii, p. 45, p. 48; vol. ix, p. 47; vol. xii, p. 120; Phil. Mag. 

 (b), vol. xliv, p. 55, p. 255, p. 503; vol. xlv, p. 197, p. 325 ; vol. xlvii, p. 165. 



\ A. Righi, R. Accad. Lincei, Atti. Ser. 5, vol. vii, sem.' 2, p. 41 and 338, 1898. 



§ " Perhaps the whole frame of nature may he nothing but various contextures 

 of some certain aetherial spirits or vapors, condensed as it were by precipitations. 

 * * * Thus, perhaps, may all things be originated from sether," (Newton's 

 Letters, etc., Phil. Mag. (3), vol. xxix, p. 190, 1846). He also suggests that 

 " nature is a perpetual circulatory worker, * * * and as the earth, so per- 

 haps may the sun imbibe this spirit copiously to conserve his shining, and keep 

 the planets from receding further from him," and thus" that the vast astherial 

 spaces between us and the stars are a sufficient repository for this food of the sun 

 and planets " (p. 192). 



