544 



Marvels of the Universe 



One cannot but have noticed the similarity which many of these patterns bear to several forms 

 of vegetable hfe, including different kinds of seaweed. 



Here is the frond of a fern ; there is a frost-picture which might be taken for the negative of 

 a photograph of a landscape. Close by we have the miniature counterpart of one of the giant trees 

 of the Western States of America. Here are radiate branches spreading out like certain tropical 

 plants, and which remind one of the fluted stonework which forms the inner support of the roof 

 of a cathedral. On this pane is a fairy glen of mimicked fohage which forms a barrier to all intending 

 intruders. 



The finest and costliest lace, the result of years of thought and patientlj'-applied skill, is not 

 equal to the choice design fashioned on a window-pane in a single dark and frosty evening. Even 



to the unaided eye it is beautiful, but it shows 

 still more wonderful details of ornamental struc- 

 ture under the magnifying-glass. Yet with what 

 apparently elementary materials the designs are 

 fashioned ! 



The late Dr. Maddo.x, a skilful microscopist, 

 in his warm room, breathed on the window- 

 pane during frosty weather, then, focussing his 

 microscope towards the glass, he had the gratifi- 

 cation of seeing a great number of minute 

 crystals, which he photographed by attaching 

 his camera to the microscope. Scores of frost- 

 crystals occupied a space about the tenth of an 

 inch in diameter ! 



Frost-crystals seem to prefigure living forms ; 

 crystal clusters upon crystal until arborescent 

 forms spring forth with great rapidity. 



It may be said that these resemblances are 

 only matters of coincidence. On the other hand, 

 there may be an underlying principle common 

 to the vegetable and to the mineral which would 

 account for the uniformity of design in both. 

 Or, to put it in another way : Are the innate 

 forces which govern both the plant and the 

 mineral identical ? 



Possibly structural forces which have an 

 agreement lie latent in plant and in mineral. 

 So far as water is concerned, there is a 

 marvellous crystalline force which not only shows its results in all the exquisite branching frost- 

 foliage of the window-panes, but which accounts for the beautiful molecular architecture which 

 belongs to ice, and which, though latent, comes into play when the water is sufficiently cooled. 



Mosses and tree-forms like those on the window-pane are to be seen in many specimens of 

 agate and chalcedony. These dendritic shapes add greatly to the value of the gems and are com- 

 posed of iron and manganese. 



We are not strictly accurate in our use of the word " crystals " in connection with these various 

 vegetable forms on the window-pane, or those in the stones named. 



None of these curious and beautiful shapes belong to the recognized systems of crystals. They 

 have not the regular exterior form of true ciystals. They seem to occupy an intermediate position 

 between shapeless matter and perfect crystals. 



fhoUi 4o] 



FROSl ON IHE PANE 



A delicate formation of the Frost Crystals 

 pane, apparently due 



air. The long thin 



on the window- 

 to a small amount of moisture in the 

 growths closely resemble some of the 



tra 



ng mosses 



