Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-02-26
Light-More Light.

For the INrELLIeEscER.
The paper read before the Star club by
Miss Martin is truly mastery production
of scientific speculations. Much of the
subject has been source of study with me,
especially that branch where she touches
upon how the sunlight strikes green leaf,
its absorbing powers, about the deep vio-
let waves from the pansy-this relates to
botanical science as well. Then she says,
We have the plant-stem rejecting one
kind of waves, the leaves another, and each
petal still another" Sure enough !''WhO
can paint like Light % sc. Equally true,
"The mind is unable to grasp any idea OF
the millions of millions just referred to-
rays or waves of light, infer. But do we
not realize after following up these scien-
tific speculations that we are just as wise
as we were before. The colOrs are appar-
ent to our eyes true there are those who
are color blind to such q beautiful GRIM
son flower may seem of a dull gray color
and nothing to admire. That there are
mental faculties or powers differing in diff
the cause what it may. So with color and
light certain law governs, be that law
what it may.
The properties of light have been
elaborately shown by Sir J. Herschel,
Airy, Brewster, Young, Blot, Pouillet,
Hunt, ct al AS to theories Of light, that
of Newton was long considered salts
factory theory-claiming that matter is
projected from the luminous body with a
velocity equal to about 1913, 600 miles 4
second. The latter hypothesis supposes
light to be the vibrations or undulations
of an ETHEREAL fluid of graf elasticity
which pervades all space and penetrates
all substances, and to which the luminous
body gives an impulse which is prOpagated
with uncomfortable rapidity, by sort of
tremor or undulatiOn, hence called the
undulatory theory" the one now gen
orally accepted, in place of Newton's. DIR.
Young gives many striking and remark
able facts and phenomena which would &c
to sustain this theory. '' 1t is theory,
says Herschcl, (which, if not founded i'll
nature, is certainly one of the happiest
fictiOns that the genius of man has yet
invented to group together natural phe'
nomena, which at their discovery seemed
in irreconcilable opposition to it. It is, in
fact, in all its applications and details, one
succession of felicities; insOmuch that We
may almost be induced to say, if it be moi
true it deserves to be so.
There are certain facts-and facts arc
stubborn things to get rid of by theories
however we'll established. The full accept
ance of the theory may cause closer
scrutiny to be suspended, and if facts are
asserted to exist, which do not accord will
the theory, SO much the worse for the
facts and for them that declare faith il
them. Science has its bigots like politics
and religion. They adopt side or theory
which becomes so ingrained that it simply
constitutes phase of Opinion-prejudicia
to all other theories or facts that seem tt
clash or lay outside Of their notion. 1t i:
one thing for mind to seek diligently tt
know the truth, examining without par
tiality the evidence of thought, and thu
angle of reflection by which the light o
, truth may strike other minds and inquire
modestly, "Wherc and what constitute!
the ditferencc?' - Is there mental defect
in me ~ cam color-blind >" or ''Can
by assuming the same standpoint, ant
honestly see for myself, whether the thing
so claimed is a fact or defect and menta
delusion in the other or myself?" have
no right, priori, to say such a fact doe!
: not accord with my notion or theory, there
fore it can not be Il fact. But facts still
remain, even if those believing them art
deemed ignorant of those notions and the
, ories so much in vogue. In short, we art
yet very superficial in acknowledgement
rooters and speculatives in many things.
J. $.