The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1873-07-16

gravitation AMI drmcn :trAt".l that the
motion Of Ill matter WIS uu!er its c2nrrDl,
the world was startled AZ Il Hc!". f!nm long
s:ccr: yet ~ >rlrle AMI rIan l. til" theory,
we only wonder that it hal not been dis
covered i,ng before; anal we wonder still
more, because our bOasied progress has stop
ped here, and made not onc step beyond.
As to what gravita,ion is, VIC propose to
institute q course Of reasoning to show that
it is us easy 10 account for lis origin, rs i
was explain its Laws. We are satisfied that
it is nothing less tl!an what philosophers call
electricity. The heat emitted from the sun,
philosophers have. failed to assign any, but
the mos. absurd reason for, others little
| wiser, haze confessed their ignorance. Some
think HAT the body Of the sun is in ! safe
of combustion, burning Ill the while without
consuming materials. Others suppose these
materials are supplied by falling meteorS,
when i; is well admitted fact, that il every
planet which belongs to our system, were
precipitatcd from their orbits in the direction
OF the sun, they would be converted intoYapor
before thcr woud reach its surface. And
other theories as equally absurd, are US
easily dispcl'cl.
We now make the assertion and proceed
to demonstrate its tru tn: that the sun
atmosphere is electricity, held in a state OF
continual activity, as it were, by some law OF
than electricity acting upon the organs and
functions of the human body. giving life and
energy 10 all the human frame. All our
motions, feelings, together with the special
sense and in fact every sensation OF the body
or motion OF the mind, have their origin in
the nervous centre. and in these centres there
is q chemical combination which produces
the electric fluid in some form, ami the
different nerves given off by each, arc bu!
the telegraph wires that send the current to
every part Of the human system and gives
life and animation TO all.
five cut q nerve OF special sense or a
motor nerve, the parts they supply lose all
motion or sensation.
We may cut the Mcdulla Oblongata below
the origin of the pneumoSaStic nerve and
respiration will continue. The same re>ull
follows ii cut shove, but if the Medulla is
Injured Ut its origin, the act Of respiration
instantly ceases This same result follows
experiment upon all the different nerves.
Now, physiologis,s have been unable to
account .or the immcasurable rapidly by
which sensation is carried from every part OF
the human frame to its nervous centre; for il
is known that touch and sensation arc
simultaneous. Had these nerves or wires
becu rs long as the distance 10 the sun
then calculation would have proved these
things identical, and this mystery long age
solved.
Press the knob in the telegraph office anG
the ,hrob is r;lt Instantly Il thousand miles
Touch any part Of the human body anC
instantly the nervous centres feel it. i
seems that man in his works on earth carrie:
out this analogy. Wherever his progres:
has been great, the network Of his telegraph
is like the nerves of tie human body. The
channels of his commerce, whether i: be Ibt
ocean, the lake, river or railroad, throb5 Us j
were, with the crimson current of life.
Again, all physicians will tell you, tina
twu-thirds OF the human race who die !
natural death, pass away between twelve
aud five o'clock in tho morning. This il
surely on account Of the long absence OF tht
sun and its life-sving electricity, and it is fo
this reason that the gaunt skeleton OF dcatl
knocks at our doors in The still, small hour
-.,.lt u, I.,p fD Ir> nj
that long jouracy-"to that bourne from
whence no traveller ever returns" As III
sun is the centre from which issues lha
subtle influence that moves aud controls al
things, so from these nervous centres Of th
human body, this same influence is sent to
all par,s-to every organ ortunciiOn and give
us that vitality We call life, and bids tn
crimson current roll.
An individual WHO has met death acci
dcntally, by the application OF the electric
current 10 the proper nerves, can be made Il
breathe as in life. Also 10 laugh, to weep
and the writheings and contorrions of tht
features frighten the bystander;' and if
were possible to restore the injured part,
believe they could be restored 10 life. Ii III
question was asked can this theory be proyeC
other than by analogy, would answer tha
the simplest things with which we ar
| laDllaT, aS hSll SlaiiQSSt
proved only by comparison. If m individual
were to smell beautiful rose and tell m
that its odor WAS exquisite, and | were t
: deny it, the only proof that he could offer
would be for me TO inhale its perfume. and
would know by this that he possessed tn
sense Of smell.
In this faith cffer you this theory 70
your consideration. Of one thing am salts
fed that it is the only plausible theory whic
has been advanced, and from my standpoint
we are to take only one intelligent glanc
and the same conclusions will be iresstiOl
!; on every point taken. 1t would require
volume 10 carry out al! the points taken ii
this, but we will not cover any more grount
this evening. Whether human ingenuity wi
ever devise a way to analyze this substance
know not It would be knowing too much
4 complete knowledge of it would TAX
away all our theories of religion, tue origil
of our lives and our hopes beyond the grave
, If 1 knowledge of this will di$pcl ever
human hope, every Illusion and every dream
, Lam content to know no more.
am willing to stop here and hope tha
human progress will so no farther. But tn
human mind will inquire, though in our da
it is couded by the mist Of superstition an
bigotry.
Although thus hampered it will yet soar an
5 rise far above these things, and the mln(
, that wi first point the way wilt last lonSe
in the remembrance OF mankind thai
Pythagoras or Newton.