SCIENCE 



407 



attraction is least. Why should this variation in position 

 produce such a variation in attraction ? In the light of 

 the electrical theory the following explanation is con- 

 fidently advanced : 



On the 2 1 st of December the positive sun, (S.) and the 

 negative south-pole of the earth's magnetic axis (N.) are 

 in closest relation to each other, and the north-pole, (P.) 

 is out of the field, therefore the opposing conditions, viz : 

 the positive sun, and the negative portion of the earth, 

 represented by the south-pole, acting in concert, produce 

 attraction between the two bodies, according to the elec- 

 trical law that icnlikes attract each other. At that date 

 the centre of the great electric sun-current strikes the 

 earth at a point 23^ degrees south of the equatorial line, 

 and from thence moves in the direction of its mass 

 towards, and along the earth's natural magnetic axis ; in 

 this instance, towards the north. This northerly move- 

 ment of the electric mass is concurrent with the earth's 

 magnetic axis, and the force of attraction between the 

 two bodies is thereby increased to its maximum. 



On the 21 st of June precisely opposite conditions exist : 

 the positive sun, and the positive north-pole, are in 

 closest relation to each other, and the south-pole is out 

 of the field ; attraction between the two bodies is conse- 

 quently at that date lessened, and this in accordance 

 with the electrical law that likes repel each other. And, 

 too, the centre of the great sun-current strikes the earth 

 at a point 23^ degrees north of the equator, and its 

 mass moves in a southerly direction. The direction of this 

 electrical movement is contrary to the earth's natural 

 magnetic axis, and the force of attraction between the 

 two bodies is further lessened ; consequently at that date 

 they are found at their greatest distance apart, — viz : 

 several millions of miles more distant than on the 21st of 

 December. 



On the 20th of September, and the 20th of March, the 

 sun is equidistant from the eatth's two polar extremities, 

 and the centre of the great sun-current strikes the earth 

 at the equator in a direction at right-angles with the 

 earth's magnetic axis. The electrical conditions are thus 

 balanced, and the earth at those periods is equally dis- 

 tant from the sun. 



The degree of ellipticity of each planetary orbit is due 

 to the inclination of its axis : if the axis is at right angles 

 with the plane of the ecliptic, the poles must be equi- 

 distant from the sun, and attraction and repulsion thus 

 become equalized, and the orbit must necessarily be cir- 

 cular. Had the axis of the earth been perpendicular to 

 the plane of the ecliptic, the sun would always have ap- 

 peared to move in the equator, the days and nights would 

 have been equal, and there could have been no change in 

 the seasons. 



The extent of elliptxity in any orbit is governed by the 

 amount of axial divergence from such right-angle. 



As a further demonstration of the ability of the elec- 

 trical theory to account for the grand phenomena of the 

 universe, we will apply it to the philosophy of the earth's 

 axial motions. Electricity and Magnetism are regarded by 



scientists at the present day as virtually identical. The 

 correlation of heat and magnetism is apparently as pro- 

 nounced, as witness certain natural phenomena which 

 bear directly upon this point. The tropical plant, the 

 pliytolacca electrica, is known to produce marked elec- 

 trical effects ; a touch of a twig gives to the hand as 

 vivid a shock as that of a Rumkorff battery. At the dis- 

 tance of seven or eight paces, the influence of the plant 

 is manifested through a compass needle, the closer the 

 proximity, the more marked are the demonstrations ; and 

 if the compass is placed in the centre of the bush, the 

 movement of attraction previously shown by the needle 

 is changed into that of rapid rotation. The intensity oi 

 the phenomena varies with the time of day. At two 

 o'clock P.M. it attains its maximum, and at night its mag- 

 netic powers are scarcely perceptible. It is tnus demon- 

 strated that at precisely the same hour, viz : two o'clock 

 P.M. heat intensity, and magnetic intensity are co-inci- 

 dent. From this hour each diminishes, and from the 

 morning until two o'clock P.M. each increases in the 

 same proportion. The hour of the least magnetic effect, 

 or the most negative condition, is shown by the follow- 

 ing phenomenon to occur at a period of time opposite to 

 that of its maximum, or positive condition, viz : two 

 o'clock A.M. It is the experience of miners whose lives 

 are passed in the depths of the earth, that between 

 twelve and two o'clock in the night, if there is a loose 

 stone or bit of earth in the mine it is sure to fall. Says 

 a miner of many years experience : " About this time it 

 seems that everytning begins to stir, and soon after twelve 

 o'clock, although the mine has been as still as the tomb 

 before, you will hear particles of rock and dirt come tum- 

 bling down, and if there is a caving piece of ground in 

 the mine it is sure to give way." 



From these and such like familiar suggestions on the 

 part of nature we may infer that the portion of the earth 

 which is at any given time specially under the action 

 of the great sun-current, becomes electro-positive, the 

 maximum intensity occurring at two o'clock P.M. During 

 the night the magnetic condition changes, and is at two 

 o'clock A.M. most electro-negative. Thus at two o'clock 

 P.M. the sun on the one hand, and that portion of the 

 earth on the other hand, being in like electrical condit- 

 ions, viz : electro-positive, mutually repel each other, and 

 the consequent push moves the earth in revolution. The 

 revolving earth turning eastward, is continually carrying 

 its negative condition of the night into the field of the 

 positive sun, a mutual attraction therefore takes place 

 with its consequent pull upon that side ; and thus is gen- 

 erated the process of an incessant attraction on the east 

 side, and of repulsion on the west side, giving to the earth 

 its axial motion. 



Gravity may therefore legitimately be claimed as purely 

 an electrical phenomenon. 



The words of the grand old Faraday now stand 

 forth in lines of light, viz : Gravity, surely this force must 

 be capable of an experimental relation to electricity, mag 

 netism, and the other forces, so as to bind it up with them 

 in reciprocal action, and equivalent effect. 



SUN HEAT, as an Affection of the Great ONE-FORCE. 



The demonstrations of our senses, as well as the teach- 

 ings of all the ages, lead us to attribute to the sun the 

 possession of a most dazzling brilliancy, an unlimited 

 amount of heat. So it certainly appears. Yet the simple 

 fact that the earth receives its heat through the agency of 

 the sun, is not conclusive evidence that the sun is itself 

 hot. On the contrary, it is well known that heat rapidly 

 diminishes in the direction of the sun, and that at the 

 altitude of considerably less than three miles lies the line 

 of perpetual frost, the temperature of space progressively 

 lowering beyond that point. The space therefore which 

 separates the earth from the sun, 93,000,000 of miles in 

 extent, is inconceivably cold ; its intensity is variously es- 

 timated at from minus a few hundred degrees, (Fahr.) to 



