i MASTER NEGATIVE NO. 91-80424 MICROFILMED 1991 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES/NEW YORK as part of the "Foundations of Western Civilization Preservation Project" Funded by the NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES Reproductions may not be made without permission from Columbia University Library ..■Om-'RIGFTT S1^\TEMENT The copyright law of the United States - Title 17, United States Code - concerns the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material . . . Columbia University Library reserves the right to refuse to accept a copy order if, in its judgement, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of the copyright law. AUTHOR ZANDT, AMBROSE TITLE: LEX HELICIS. THE STORY OF CREATION PLACE: BOSTON DA TE : [c1 905] Master Negative # Restrictions on Use* CO LU M B i A U N 1 V E I^S 1 ' I " Y L 1 13 R Mil iiS PRESERVATION DEPARTMENT ^«1/ri^^^^^^^^^ BIBLIOGRAPHIC MICROFORM TARGET Original Material as Filmed - Existing Bibliographic Kecurci . 110 Yl Q M Zandt, i-jnbrooe Lex helicis ; \ Boston I 1905] \ * • V ' »/ /» the story of creation; tr% by 22 p _j TECI INICAL MICROFX3RM DATA REDUCTION RATIO FILM SIZE:_J^-5j/__/^^ IMAGE PLACEMENT: lA ^a' IB IIB DATE FILMED:A-i/__- :_^ INITIALS '>^__ ^ . HLMED BY: RESEARCH PUBLICATION S, INC VVOODBRrDGE, CT I ^ .XE Association for information and image Rflanagement 1 1 00 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1 1 00 Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 301/587-8202 Centimeter 12 3 4 iiiiliiiiliiiiliiiiliiiiliiiiliiiiliiiilii 1 1 1 Inches TTT 1 6 7 8 iliiiiliiiiliiiiliiiil imiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii T TTT 1.0 I.I 1.25 9 10 liiiiliiiiliiiiliii |63 lite 1.4 2.5 2.2 2.0 1.8 1.6 11 12 13 imlimli m 14 15 mm liiiiliiiiliiiil MfiNUFfiCTURED TO flllM STRNDflRDS BY fiPPLIED IMPGE, INC. ''^^.v* '.^ 4^ |-4- • ^ t; I: '^'• 3 .-v. *»^ -»' RO yi Q in iiiv Citij of llcui %}ovl GIVEN BY ■H. t 4 n ii m ' r t Lex Helicis THE STORY OF CREATION Ambrose Zandt Tkanslatel) by M. FARRINGTON PRINTING CO. BOSTON, MASS., U.S.A. . .I'M ■ ■■i-.i If. ■ 4 KM."'- : ■ M; ■^■•v -•?/■' '.''J ?Vi- . • ; ■. *''>;i *•* I- .a 'Jtk B]' ^^hiihruse Zandt I ^ Book 1— /iC)/^)'. Part I — Ckkation. (a) Knowledge. (b) Earth. {c) Atom. {d) Cell. Part II — EvniiTiox Book W—SOUL. Book \\\—MIND, Book W—SPIRIT. Book V— Z?6^rF. Book V\—H0PE. '"'"J PRESCRIPT. If, by " Knowledge," is meant a translation of facts into technical terms there is a vast amount of Knowledge in the World. If, by " Knowledge," is meant a translation of facts into thoughts; there is very little Knowledge in the world. Most of the Knowledge which Man now possesses is inherited from his forefathers. His forefathers, like himself, were men of failings. The failings of those of his forefathers, who devoted themselves to the acquisition and communication of Knowledge, were, in general, two-fold. First — They, his forefathers, were not always at pains to obtain a very complete picture of the object they were studying. They were sometimes satisfied with a single view of the object ; and made this to serve for the front, the back, the sides, and the middle of it. Second— In describing an object, they often employed a terminology, which, to them, was xj/w.W/V merely ; and which, to others than themselves, was either misrepresentative, or was entirely meaningless. These views and these words are now our legacies. We preserve them out of respect for the dead, and out of disrespect for the living. Not one single person ever believed in the " Attraction of Gravitation least of all, its Formulator. No one ever believed in " Chemical Affinity," or in " Polarity." And this, for only one reason ; but that, a sufiicient one ; for the reason, namely, that they cannot be believed; they are inconceivable impossibilities. Yet these words are used as "explanations" in the text books of today. They are imposed upon Inquirers as Elements of " Knowledge ; " in all cases a tiresome load to carry ; and, in many cases, an inhibitory one, to the acquisi- tion of a real understanding of the matter. The only merit of this Book lies in the fact that phenomena are herein described, not only in words which correspond to human experiences, and are therefore understandable; but in words which correspond to the simplest ex- pressions of human experiences, and are therefore understandable as clearly as may be. These first four chapters, though only part of the introduction to the body of the Work, are, themselves, complete so far as they go. And, if the subject, or style, or both become wearisome, the remaining chapters may be ignored. Tuis little, at least, will be Kno-wn in the only proper sense of the word / Knowledge. I. Human Experiences are of two general varieties, objective and subjective. Objective Experiences are those derived directly from the organs of sense. Subjective Experiences are those in which the organs of sense are not directly concerned. It is from tlie former class that Physical Science profes- sedly derives iis data. Its laws are said to be expressions of totalities of such data : and its liypotlieses. to be tenable, must conform to them. Tlie radical test of a physical theory is avowed to be its visualizability; failing which, all others fall to the ground. As to the reliability of this data, the Physicist has noth- ing to say. He takes it for granted. Whether or no Man is jus- tified in projecting his Sensual Experiences outside his personal- ity ; in endowing them with objective embodiment; in imputing to them independent existence; in applying to them distinctive names; the Physicist never dreams of inquiring. But, if this much be provisionally allowed; it will be well, before attempting to visualize Objects, first, to pay some atten- tion to their generators; to the Sensual Experiences themselves, which, so far as Man is concerned, give, to these Objects, birth. It will be well, indeed, to ascertain, if possible, the quality and calling of all human Experiences ; so that the error of pred- icating any Object which has no counterpart in Experience, and the error of omitting to project any Experience which really exists, may be equally avoided. II. The crudest and least reliable sense-organ is muscle. Even its right to the term has been denied. The information, how- ever, derived from it, is not inconsiderable. It records the fact V .J 401816 of resistance to pressure. The Resistance is certain ; it con- cerns the Personality. The Pressure is inferred ; it concerns the Environment. It records two Pressures ; one within and the other witiiout the personality ; a dual fact ; a multiple fact. Whatever other facts Muscle may record; these, MULTIPLICITY and PRESSURE, are the primitive ones. The surest and most complicated of all human sense-organs is the eye. It records Color, Light, Form, etc., in almost end- less variety. But every one of its Experiences is reducible to a series of Pressures, only differing from a second series, in Multiplicity, The ear is, likewise, an organ which records alternations of Pressures ; and which records nothing more primitive. And so, also, the sense of Touch, of Taste, of Smell. These two Experiences, therefore, Multiplicity and Pres- sure, are, it appears, the basic objective experiences of Man. And, if, now, these Experiences be projected outside Man's per- sonality, and independent existence assumed for them ; they be- come External Physical Objects. Distinctive names may be assigned to them. Pressure becomes That which Presses — Body, Matter, Substance — whatever name may be preferred; and Multiplicity becomes That which is Other than any single indi- vidual Pressure — its Environment — the particular factor or factors surrounding it. III. By Subjective Experiences are meant those of Volition and Feeling ; and also that Experience which includes both of these varieties — Power, Causation, Subjectivity — by whatever name it be known. Both Volition and Feeling are experienced to be Causes, not only of each other, but of Objective Experiences also. And it is an easy transition to extend this principle to Ex- ternal Objects, not only as affecting Man, but as affecting each other. Indeed, if it be considered warrantable for Man to project his Objective Experiences outside his personality; to endow them with putative existence ; to call them Objects ; there does not ap- -t pear to be any valid reason why it is not warrantable for Man to project, also, his Subjective Experiences ; to endow them, like- wise, with independent existence ; and to give them any names he chooses. And, in point of fact, this is just what the Ordinary Person does. Under the term **Force,** he projects ulteriorly his Subjec- tive Experience of Power, not only as a property of Objects, but as an independent objective Entity itself. IV. The Metaphysician, however (with whom the Physicist has no dealings) will not have it so. He urges that Objective Ex- periences, occurring at the periphery of Man's personality, are projected instinctively and unconsciously ; but that Subjective ones, occurring evidently within the personality, are projected, if at all, consciously and with intention. That the warrant, if there be any, for the projection of human experiences of any kind, is a warrant derived solely from human exigencies and habit. And that, if this be, indeed, applicable to one kind of experiences ; it does not hold good for the other. That, in short, while, in point of fact, no valid reason presents itself for allowing the one; a positive reason presents itself for disallowing the other. In this discussion the Physicist bears no part. He takes the stand that, if by " Subjective," are meant Mental Experi- ences ; they are matters which do not concern him ; for. that he is dealing with "Bodies," of which Mind is specifically denied.. That, so far as he is concerned, when he has discovered that in the presence of certain conditions certain phenomena arise, he halts ; and does not seek to pry further. That, since it is only bodily properties to which he pays attention, he does not, for his part, employ mental terminology. But, that, if the Ordinary Person finds it convenient to his habits and agreeable to his spirits to regard these properties as "Causes," to name them " Forces," " Attractions," " Affinities," or, indeed, " Faiths," "Hopes" and "Charities," he (the Physicist) will be the very last one in the world to seriously object; only pointing out that i) such application of terms may lead to confusion of ideas, and is, to this extent, unjustifiable. V. To the Serious Person, choice of appellation is unimportant. It is the Phenomenon itself which is to be regarded. By aay names. Physical Phenomena correspond to Man's Physical Experiences; and the most elementary Physical Phen- omenon to the most elementary Physical Experience. If these, as recorded grossly by the most elementary Sense, are discovered to be, in point of fact. Multiplicity and Pressure ; then are Multipli- city and Pressure, from a human standpoint, the most elementary properties of Body. If these very same Experiences, and no other, are recorded elaborately by all the Senses ; then are these very same properties the only properties of Body. They are Causes and they are Effects ; they are Attractions, Affinities, Polarities, and whatever other fanciful aliases may be applied to them. They are the Inherencies, Tendencies, Dispo- sitions and Inclinations of Body. These, and these alone. Are Body ; the Aye and the No of Body ; the Shapes, Masses, Volumes and Densities of Body ; the First and the Last of Body ; and be- side them is no other. It may be convenient to tabulate Bodily Properties, with their immediate derivatives, thus — Multiplicity Quantity Ratio Pressure Passivity Activity VI. To complete the picture of Man's Universe, there is to be predicated an Environment to it. As Man predicates the ex- istence of an Environment relating to himself, just so soon as it thus acquires Bodily Reality similar to his own, it must, to be consistent, acquire also an Environment similar to his own. As the interactions of Man and his Environment, so the interactions of This, and of That which is Beyond. A Triad, then ; Man ; Man's Proper Environment; Man's General Environment. And here is the verge of Man's horizon. Here Knowledge halts. Here Faith begins. To many it will appear that Knowledge halted long before ; that, indeed, it never got fairly under way. If a condition of human Knowledge is that the factors must meet and oppose each other ; how few of all the objects in the Universe will ever come within Man's ken. If, by Knowledge, is meant a translation of phenomena into thoughts ; what an abyss of incommensurability there is between the factors. Man's view of the Universe may be likened to a system of logarithms wherein "one" shall represent Infinity. And if he will not view it thus, he may not view it at all. Earth. I. The prime factors of any physical Object are two — the Body of the Object and the Eaviroameat of the Object. These two factors, then, apply to our own Solar System ; if it is, indeed, a physical Object. Both Body and Environment possess one basic property in common ; the property which stamps each of them, to a human view, with objective reality; the property which corresponds to the most ultimate objective Experience of Man ; and which must, accordingly, if any, be recognized as the most ultimate nature of Objects external to Man. It is the property of Multiplicity or Numerical Separateness, The Body, as a whole, is separate and apart from the Environment as a whole ; and every Ele- ment of Body, and every Element of Environment, is separate and apart from every other element of both. This being the most primitive condition of Objects ; all sub- sequent phenomena can only be modifications of this ; an approx- imation to coincidence of the factors, or a reversal from approx- imate coincidence to the primitive state. If the property of multiplicity be called a Cause, then is it the negative principle of causation. If technical terms are to be applied to the subsequent physical phenomena, conditioned by multiplicity ; the terms most used are " Evolution " and " Devolution." Less basic than Multiplicity, but less basic than no other property of physical objects, is Pressure, the positive aspect of Causation, It is a property possessed alike by Body and Envir- onment. The Body, as a whole, presses upon, and is pressed by the Environment as a whole ; and every Element of each presses, and is pressed by, the Environment peculiar and proper to itself. " In the beginning " the Solar Elements are affected by two principal Stresses, acting in opposite directions. The one is native to the Elements themselves ; an expression of their basic property of multiplicity ; a manifestation, by each Element, of its own particular aloofness from all others. The other Stress is foreign to the Elements. It is derived from the Environment ; an expression of its separateness as a whole from the whole Solar System. The first is internal ; expansive ; the second, ex' ternal ; compressive. Upon the ratio of these Stresses, the preponderance of one over the other, depend Devolution or Evolution. The Foreign Stress predominates. Creation begins. II. Owing to the inequality of the two Pressures, and the pre- dominance of the Environing one, the Solar Elements begin to converge towards a common focus. Here, by aggregation, the native pressure reaches a point where it equals the foreign one. The Elements rest. They mass. Owing to irregularities in the ratios of the two principal Pressures, and their occasional, local, equality ; subordinate ag- gregations of Elements occur, similar to the central one, parts of the general convergence. Irregularities, subordinate to these, occasion aggregations, which bear, to these, the same relation, as these to the central one. Each of these Masses is moving in the mean direction of the Pressures which generate them. This direction is, in general, owing to the predominating influence of the Environing Pressure, a Curved Line bending inwards. Owing to multiple irregularities in the ratios of the two Pressures, and occasional predominence of the native one, this Curve is very Complex. In general, a completed orbit approxi- lO mates to a spire ; an arc; a broken ring whose ends do not lie in one plane. The Elements, also, of each Mass are moving in the mean direction of the Pressures which generate their Motion ; in gen- eral, then, meridianally or equatorially ; the mean of which ap- proximates to the same line as that of the Mass ; a spire; an arc or broken ring. The aggregate Motions of all the Elements of a Mass rela- tive to each other constitute the form of the Mass. The aggregate Motions of all the Elements of a Mass relative to the Environment of the Mass as a Whole constitute the Trans- latory Patli of the Whole. III. The Environment of any Body of the Solar System, or of any Body whatever in course of formation, is, evidently, the Formative Material of which the Body is being composed. Of the constitution of Solar Material, all has been said that can be said. To superadd a string to adjectives, to state what it is not, would be tedious and unprofitable. It is a Multiplicity of Pressures, No other definition than this is forthcoming. Still converging towards its main and minor objective points it is the same today as " in the beginning." It is the positive causation of all phenomena occurring at a great distance from any of the Solar Bodies ; and it is the chief causative principle of all phenomena occurring at a small distance from these Bodies. IV. If the Solar Material is advancing towards a particular centre in successive spherical strata, then is the area of any one of these spheres as the square of its radius. And, if the ad- vance is uniform, all the spheres contain equal amounts of Ma- terial ; and the amount of Material,, contained in the same area of II any of the spheres, varies inversely as the square of the radius of that sphere. So that the degree of impulsive force, toward the centre of a Solar Body in course of formation, which a foreign object en- counters, is in inverse proportion to the square of the distance of that object from the centre of the Body. Again — If formation of all the Solar Bodies commenced simultaneously, has continued uniformly until now, and is still so continuing; the relative Masses of these Bodies, today, are precise indices of the relative quantities of Material which has accrued, and is still accruing, to each of them, within the same period of time ; and are precise indices, therefore, of the" relative degree of impulsive force, manifested by the accruing Material of each, to- wards its own centre of convergence. V. To the impulsive manifestation of the Formative Material of all Solar Bodies still in course of formation, there was applied, in an age teeming with conceits and fancies, a name, which, in our age, appears grotesque and whimsical — The Attraction of Gravitation. This name, out of reverence for its illustrious sponsor and for the magnitude of the discovery to which it alludes, has per- sisted to the present time. Never was scientific metaphor more unfortunate. For, though, presumably, it would be taken literally by those alone, who had "no competent faculty of thinking; " whether or no it is that this characteristic has a very extensive application among mankind, it certainly is a fact that literally it has been taken ; and that, not by the few, but by the many. That physical Objects do, in some mysterious way, attract, pull, tend to approach each other, of their own initiative, is the general impression ; and not alone, the vulgar one. To the Physicist, this is gall and wormwood. But so far as the word " Attraction " is concerned, it is doubtful what other name would seem more fitting. For, is it not a fact, clear to observation, that Bodies often A< 10 mates to a spire ; an arc; a broken ring whose ends do not lie in one plane. The Elements, also, of each Mass are moving in the mean direction of the Pressures which generate their Motion ; in gen- eral, then, meridianally or equatorially ; the mean of which ap- proximates to the same line as that of the Mass ; a spire; an arc or broken ring. The aggregate Motions of all the Elements of a Mass rela- tive to each other constitute the form of the Mass. The aggregate Motions of all the Elements of a Mass relative to the Environment of the Mass as a Whole constitute the Trans- latory Patli of the Whole. III. The Environment of any Body of the Solar System, or of any Body whatever in course of formation, is, evidently, the Formative Material of which the Body is being composed. Of the constitution of Solar Material, all has been said that can be said. To superadd a string to adjectives, to state what it is not, would be tedious and unprofitable. It is a Multiplicity of Pressures. No other definition than this is forthcoming. Still converging towards its main and minor objective points it is the same today as " in the beginning." It is the positive causation of all phenomena occurring at a great distance from any of the Solar Bodies ; and it is the chief causative principle of all phenomena occurring at a small distance from these Bodies. IV. If the Solar Material is advancing towards a particular centre in successive spherical strata, then is the area of any one of these spheres as the square of its radius. And, if the ad- vance is uniform, all the spheres contain equal amounts of Ma- terial ; and the amount of Material, contained in the same area of 1 1 Ai W any of the spheres, varies inversely as the square of ihe radius of that sphere. So that the degree of impulsive force, toward the centre of a Solar Body in course of formation, which a foreign object en- counters, is in inverse proportion to the square of the distance of that object from the centre of the Body. Again — If formation of all the Solar Bodies commenced simultaneously, has continued uniformly until now, and is still so continuing; the relative Masses of these Bodies, today, are precise indices of the relative quantities of Material which has accrued, and is still accruing, to each of them, within the same period of time ; and are precise indices, therefore, of the" relative degree of impulsive force, manifested by the accruing Material of each, to- wards its own centre of convergence. V. To the impulsive manifestation of the Formative Material of all Solar Bodies still in course of formation, there was applied, in an age teeming with conceits and fancies, a name, which, in our age, appears grotesque and whimsical — The Attraction of Gravitation. This name, out of reverence for its illustrious sponsor and for the magnitude of the discovery to which it alludes, has per- sisted to the present time. Never was scientific metaphor more unfortunate. For, though, presumably, it would be taken literally by those alone, who had " no competent faculty of thinking ; " whether or no it is that this characteristic has a very extensive application among mankind, it certainly is a fact that literally it has been taken ; and that, not by the few, but by the many. That physical Objects do, in some mysterious way, attract, pull, tend to approach each other, of their own initiative, is the general impression ; and not alone, the vulgar one. To the Physicist, this is gall and wormwood. But so far as the word " Attraction " is concerned, it is doubtful what other name would seem more fitting. For, is it not a fact, clear to observation, that Bodies often \ ' 12 A, do approach one another ; and, apparently, of tbeir own iaitia' iive. Light Bodies, in the air, often do so. Floating particles on still water often do so. Waves leap up towards the moon. Planets themselves are susceptible of the proximity of others, and are " perturbed " thereby. Now what is all this but attraction? To translate it " Repulsion " certainly seems to express the reverse of fact. It is not intended to insult the " competent faculty " of the Questioner, by returning categorical answer to this question. It may, however, with permission, be pointed out that an Object, compelled^ forced, is, invariably, driven away from, not to- wards, the Agent positively operating. At least, this is the only kind of positive causation of which Man is aware ; whatever may be the absolute fact of the matter. In pulling, therefore, the active agent must, by some means, circumvent the object to be pulled, so as to attack it in the rear. For example — In a moving chain, a part of each link passes beliind the link succeeding it, and applies pressure there. In a rope, the strands crook around and beliind succeeding strands. Filaments of muscle pass behind spiculae of bone on which they make traction. Muscle as a whole, a limb, fingers, all ctook behind the object to be affected. They all make pressure upon that part of the object which is furthest from the point to which it is to be moved. Now, just what kind of grappling-irons does a Planet em- ploy when it sportively perturbs a second one ? Attraction, if it is a force in any wise, literal or analogical, is a negative force, not a positive one. A Body attracts a second Body inasmuch as it does not resist it, and no more. A Body seeks the centre, or any other part, of a second Body, if it is driven thither by a third Body, and not otherwise. There is no other way of "regarding" the matter, convenient or inconvenient. In proportion as one regards the matter in this way, one regards it clearly. In proportion as one regards the matter in any other way, one does not regard it at all. I ^<\ ! Atom. I. "In the beginning the Earth was without form, and void." At the end of the first.day of Creation, a nucleus is formed and saturated. Deriving, from their accumulated numbers, sufficient force to successfully antagonize the foreign Pressure, the Elements now turn upon one another. A civil war begins. Attacking and attacked ; repelling and repulsed; the scene enacted outside the Earth, is repeated, micro- scopically, in its depths. Out of this turmoil, the creature of it, formed and fashioned by it, the warring Elements themselves the Formative Material of it, arises the Atom ; as the Earth arose from the confusion without. ^ Like the Earth, the Atom receives from its generating fac- tors, particular properties of Rest and Motion, Mass and Form ; properties, which, presuming that the forces, present in the be- ginning, will not be subsequently equalled in the Earth's history, are likely to be permanent and stable. Whether this be so or not ; whether or no, in the future, forces may arise sufficient to re-dissolve all Atoms into their primitive Elements; there is one Atomic property, at least, which is certain- ly permanent and stable. It is a property not accruing at birth, but inherent in the Material of which every Atom is composed ; a property, the loss of which is loss of physical existence. It is the property of Separateness, of individual isolation. And only less basic than this is the expression and manifestation of it, the property of Pressure ; this, also, a birth- right of the Atom, and one, therefore, of which it can never be deprived. II. The Motion of an Atom, like that of a Planet, arising from 14 similar causation, is two-fold ; that of its Parts and that of its Whole ; the one constituting the Form of the Atom ; and the other, its Translatory Path. Both Form and Path are Spires ; Arcs ; Broken Rings whose extremities do not lie in one plane. From variations in the ratios of the two principal generators, Atomic Arcs are of two general varieties — Eccentric or Coaceatric, To these two principal varieties of Atoms have been applied, respectively, the names — " Metals " and '* Non-metals. " The one, long thin curved spindles, capable of intertwining, are Cohesive. The other, short, thick curved ovals, are Non- cohesive. The particular Form and Mass of Atoms are causative principles in Atomic phenomena ; as these properties, in Planets, are, in Planetary phenomena. They are negative principles. They do not serve to attract two Bodies ; but they serve, at least, to prevent two Bodies from driving each other away. III. The General Environment of an Atom, like the General En- vironment of a World, is the Formative Material of which it is composed, in its general and constant manifestation — Gravity. In addition to this. Atoms, like Worlds, are perturbed, neg- atively and positively, by other Bodies of similar formation. The irregular and accidental Stresses in the Atomic Envir- onment, caused by corresponding movements of other Atoms are, principally, two ; named, respectively. Heat and Light. The totality of Atomic Stresses, native and foreign, may be tabulated thus : — Native Constant Accidental i Constant Foreign < ^ ( Accidental -! Separateness Expansive Mass Form Gravity Heat Light > Compressive Compressive > Expj )ansive ■> '<\ ^ > 15 IV. If two Atoms are pressed together by their Environment with sufficient force to cause their orbits to intersect, they are com" bined. They are a Molecule. If, owing to the fact of excessive similarity or dissimilarity, the two orbits are but loosely applied to one another ; as soon as the environing Pressure is withrawn, the native antagonism of the Atoms becomes evident, and they work free. The combina- tion is unstable. On the other hand, if the Atoms are but moderately dissim- ilar, and their Forms more fittingly applied ; even though the external Pressure be now withdrawn, they may be unable to work free. For the reciprocal Pressure pf Atom to Atom is now ap- plied within the circuit of each ; it is so directed that it serves to bind instead of to unloose. The combination is, to this extent, stable. Further, if a new Environing Force now "begins to operate; and if this Force is competent to affect one of the Atoms of the combination, but not the other ; it may be that, with this addition to its power, the Atom affected will be able to work free from the combination. And, finally, if, with the advent of the second force, a new Atom also appears upon the scene ; an Atom, in which one or other of the two first finds a more fitting mate; these, driven together by their Environment, unite and intertwine each other with bonds secure and permanent. The combination is very stable. V. An aggregate of Atoms, in unstable combination, will re- main in this condition so long as the environing forces are constant. If, however, one of the environing forces, an accidental one necessarily, slowly withdraw ; the aggregation begins, as slowly. A. i6 to expand; the Atoms begin to free themselves from their companions Commencing in the centre of the aggregate, where Atomic repulsion is greatest, two Atoms, moving in intersecting orbits, work free from each other. But their further progress is halted. The slowly receding Pressure permits this much, but, at present, no more. An impen- etrable wall of double Atoms surrounds them on every side. Moreover, the space which they, conjointly, moved in with comparative freedom, is too small for free movement separately. It is barely large enough for separate occupancy at Rest. Their Motion ceases. But loss of Motion means loss of power either to return to their late conjoined condition, or to increase the dimensions of their present quarters by means of staving off their neighbors. The latter, however, possess this power in full vigor ; and, by them, the hapless pair, passive, helpless, motionless, are crowded together within the smallest space capable of receiving them. But the environing Pressure has now withdrawn a little more. Two of the victorious Atoms profiting nothing by the fate of their late neighbors, invite a similar one. They, now, emerge from the embraces of their partners. For one moment they are free. It is their last. Stricken and paralysed, their inert bodies are cast upon those of their victims. Thus, Atom is successively ranged against Atom with as nice approximation as may be — line to line, plane to plane, angle to depression. This kind of formation is technically termed "Crystalization." Tlie fundamental difference between a Crystal and a Com- bination is that, whereas, in a Crystal, only the ouisides of Atoms are applied to one another ; in a Combination, the Atoms are applied to one another both without and within. In both Crystal and Combination, every Atom assumes that position, wherein, so far as its Environment permits, it is furthest re- moved from all of its immediate neighbors, and from every part of each of them. ^1 17 In a Crystal, Atomic Motion is almost completely arrested. In a Combination the degree of reciprocal inhibition of Motion, by the participating Atoms, is in direct proportion to the degree of stability of the Combination. VI. The practice of employing words, instead of symbols, to represent pressure ratios, is a questionable one. If the words employed are used otherwise than in their ordinary sense, the practice is a pernicious one. If a jailer should explain the close approximation of two convicts by the word "affinity" instead of "hand-cuffs;" prob- ably a stronger and more offensive epithet than " conveniency " would be applied to such explanation. If a cook should explain the transit of a fish from the frying pan into the fire, by stating that an " elective affinity " existed between the fish and the fire, which superceded the " affinity " be- j^ween the fish and the pan ; the statement would not, by the Or- dinary Person, be taken seriously, not even as a plausible " work- ing hypothesis " of the phenomenon. But of all explanations, the most remarkable is that des- cribed by the word " Polarity." If this word mean anything, when applied to Elementary phenomena, it means that one end of the Element repulses while the other end attracts. And the be- wildered Ordinary Person is set to the task of trying to visualize an energetic Element, grasping a prisoner with one hand, and vigorously striking out with the other. A mode of regarding a matter which does not conform to the truth of the matter is anything but a " convenient " mode of re- garding the matter. Nor is it, indeed, an inconvenient mode of regarding the matter. It is a disregard of the matter. A wilful closing of the eyes in regard to the matter. At best, a hood- winked, one-sided view of the matter ; and, often, a disingenuous perversion of fact. Cell. I. That part of the Earth's Mass, which is least saturated with Material, is the Periphery, Here are no such furious struggles, among the Elements, as in the depths below. Here environing forces press more lightly than upon any other part of the Earth. Here, if anywhere, is an approximation to equality between na- tive and foreign Stress. This is the birth place of the Cell ; the Creature of Balanced Forces; itself an Epitome of them. Composed of the very same Material as Worlds and Atoms, the basic properties of a Cell are identical with theirs. Arising from causation similar to that which generated Worlds and Atoms, its Form is comparable to both. Its parts united by no other bonds than those which hold together Elements and Atoms, its structure is, in no wise different from that of Molecules. In one respect, however, but in one respect alone. Cellular conditions are unlike those of all other Objects — in the Ratios of its component factors. Cellular Ratios approximate equivalence. They are representible, almost, by Unity. Out of a multitude of diverse motions, inextricably inter- woven, the mean result is harmony and synchronism ; from an infinitude of reciprocal adaptations, there arises a freedom of indi- vidual Motions only limited by the integrity of the whole. II. The Contents of a Cell are in a state of instability. Their native tendency to separateness is unabated ; but so hedged in are they by multitudinous inhibitions, that the manifestation of this tendency is, almost completely, controlled. Whichever way they turn, they meet with oppositions. To move in >■. 4.^ ♦J 19 any direction is to encounter the abhorred presence of others. Here, then, will result Confusion and Nullity. Not so. The Bonds which bind the Elements together, though very numerous, are, also, of great latitude ; an extended swing is per- missible without rupture. The very infinitude of the bonds al- lows this; the Elements are not connected by a single link, but by a vast number of them. And these two factors. Inhibition and License, Law and Liberty, are (almost) Balanced. The result is foreseen. The swings of all the Elements occur synchrously ; instead of inhibi- tion, there is enforcement ; instead of confusion, accentuation and harmony, III. The aggregate Motions of all its Elements, is the proper Motion of the Cell, as distinguished from its translatory Mo- tion. It is the proper Form of the Cell, as distinguished from its occasional and accidental one. According to the ratio of the factors, a Ce]l inclines either td the Spindle or to the Oval in Form. Whether Spindle or Oval, it is a Curved Line bending inwards; an Arc, a Broken Ring whose extremities do not lie in one plane. The native force of a Cellular Element, like that of the same Element in any other position and under any other circumstances, is expansive ; Balanced, as it is, by that of other Elements, it is inconsiderable in amount. Reinforced and accentuated, as it is, by that of other Elements acting synchronously and har- moniously. Cellular force as a whole is measurable by the Multi- plicity of its Elements. And, since these are very numerous, their resulting force is proportionally great. Beginning in the centre, where reciprocal opposition is fiercest, the Elements flee, in opposite directions, to the extremi- ties of the Arc. Here, finding no outlet, crowded together, they are hurried .back to the centre ; from whence they again retreat ; and whither they again and again return. When the two streams of Elements reach their respective V Ai 20 peripheries; the two extremities of the Arc bend inwards, towards each other. When the Elements reach the centre ; and the two extremities are left almost free; the Cell straightens outwards. And the factors which produce this oscillation are (almost) balanced, A Rhythmical Pulsation ensues. IV. The prime factors of a Cell, like those of all physical ob- jects, are Body and Environment. Unlike all other physical Objects, the proper Environment of a Cell is an integral con- nected part of the Cell. Originating from the peripheral Cellular Elements which are interposed between the remainder of the Elements and the Outside World; battered alike by native and foreign forces until they become welded into a continuous expansion ; the Cell-wall is quite distinct from the Body of the Cell, and is, thus, the Cell's proper Environment. It represents the foreign compressive force of the Cell. It not only prevents the ingress of foreign Bodies from the Outer World ; but, chiefly, it prevents the egress of native Bodies from within. It is elastic; its compressive powers are irregular, with occasional yieldings. Dilatation results. It is ionic. Its Elements, forced into artificial relationship, have, in no wise, lost their primitive tendency to separateness. Forced expansion of the Elements, bound, as they are, only serves to make their chains more galling. Contraction of the Cell-wall is an expression of the native forces of the Elements. And these factors are (almost) balanced. Alternate Dila- tation and Contraction result. V. When a Cell dilates, its Ventral surface becomes exposed to the Outside World. Whatever foreign Bodies are nearest to this -0 ai surface, are pressed against it by their immediate Environment. The succeeding contraction of the Cell closes them in. During Contraction, the Cellular Elements are least dense at the Ventral surface. Opposition to the ingress of foreign bodies is proportionably small. To some of the enclosed foreign Bodies, the path of least resistance may be through the Cell-wall, and into the Ventral substance of the Cell. It might be so, for instance, to an inor- ganic Atom. Let it be supposed so. The Invader now lies full in the path where, presently, the returning Cellular Elements will meet. For a moment he enjoys a new found liberty; the next, his fate is decided. Crushed be- tween the marshalled forces of the native Elements, the hapless foreigner must either be drilled into their habits, and so become an integral part of them ; or else will he be ground between their ranks and cast back into the Outside World. In the one case the Atom will be " absorbed ;" in the other, " excreted." VI. Cells, like Atoms, combine. If two Cells, of similar Formation, are approximated; for these is union impossible; for neither can penetrate the other. If two Cells, of very dissimilar formation are approximated ; for these is union impracticable ; for if reciprocal destruction does not immediately result, though one penetrate the other, the reten- tive bonds are lacking ; they are mutually unfit, and the combin- ation is unstable. But if two Cells, of not very dissimilar formation, meet with sufficient force to cause penetration, but insufficient to produce destruction ; they will unite with such nice fitness that separation will be impossible ; and they will remain fast locked in each other's embrace. This is a Cellular Combination in the same sense as an Atomic Combination. To two Atoms; this would be the end. If undisturbed by further ulterior forces, their combination would, thereafter, know no change. To a Cellular Combination it is otherwise. Apart from any V 99 further ulterior force, changes are initiated from within, simple enough when reduced to simple terms, but singularly curious when viewed as a whole. K VII. Assuming that neither of the factors of a Cellular Combina- tion are immediately ruptured by the first shock of meeting; the Spindle shaped Cell remains buried in the Ventrum of the Oval. The internal Stress of the latter is now doubled. The Cell- wall being only sufficient to stay the normal Cellular Pressure, this condition cannot continue. Beginning in the centre where native Stress is fiercest, the Cell-wall of the Invader is the first to succumb. Its Elements are dispersed among their hosts. Being precisely adaptable to one another, as their respective wholes were, the two kinds of Elements immediately pair. The internal Stress is now somewhat lessened, but it still far exceeds the retaining power of the Cell-wall. At the centre, where tension is greatest, the Cellular Ele- ments begin to withdraw in two opposite directions, tearing the Cell-wall where they divide. As the Elements retreat, the rear-ranks of both parties, bear ing the brunt of the fray, become battered into a membrane sim- ilar to the environing one, and continuous with it. But in each of the two halves, the internal Stress is still greater than the external one. Then occur cleavages of both the halves ; into fours ; into eights ; sixteens ; until, finally, the internal and external Stresses balance. <^ This process is technically termed '• Proliferation." It is a destructive process. Expressed in simplest terms, it is a reversal from, a state of unity to a state of multiplicity, A Devolution- ary process. Without doubt, a process of Death. But no less truly is it a Beginning of Life. ^ I / I Copyright 1905, by The Stapelkrs Society 1 COi. ijMBiA UN'v'fcR; If E i i l! ts ii ) hi r L<-2