Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-02-19
PRIMAL STATE OF NATTER
Made the Subject OF . LecturorssB,
Rev Father Mulcahy.

Made the Subject OF . Lecturor..By
Rev Father Mulcahy.
The lecture of Rev j. A. Mulcahy, be-
fore the Young Mems Catholic Literary
association last night, upon 1.-THE Pri-
NAL state of matter" was one ofsthe
lecture began by asking the question
I'm what form did matter exist when
it came forth from the hands of the
Creator? Having considered the ques-
ton when did creation occur, we are
naturally led to ask, In what form was
this matter at its birth? Science and
revelation agree in stating that this
world has undergone many transforma-
!. lions since its entrance into existence
1.-The first steps, said Father Mulcahy,
sin the study of this question, will. be to
obtain as far as we are able a knowl-
edge of the innermost nature Of the ele-
ments constituting bodies" The rsver-
end father said that two classes of
science are devoted to the study of this
| physical sciences, based upon observa-
ton and which material experiment and
philosophy, taking as its starting point
the discoveries made by physics and
resting on the principles of reason en-
deavors to penetrate beyond that which
| the senses can pc rceive.
physics. chemistry, astronomy and
| mechanics seek to solve this problem.
| The first deals with the altered appear
ances which take place in bodies without
any CORE spending change in their in
| most nature. The second, chemistry
| takes the investigation step farther
and considers the changes which obtain
in the fundamental elements of bodies
essentially changing their constitution,
| as occurs in sodium and chlorine in the
formation of salt. Astronomy, not con-
tent with measuring the distance or de-
termining the position of the planets,
| seeks the mariner of their formation and
strives to wrest from them the secret
of their BIRTH 1t also comes to the aid
of chemistry, Selling with the lenses of
its telescopes the Uniformed matter in the
course of its transformation into earthly
matter. Mechanics, detecting motion
in space to the atoms that dance in
sunbeams, and knowing it to be be-
gotten of force, endeavors to ascertain
the nature of this element and the part
it plays in physical, chemical and as
Economical phenoma."
Continuing his able address, the
speaker said that matter assumed two
elementary forms First, matter suscep-
tible of weight, as all things that are
perceived by the senses Secondly mat
ter incapable of weight as ether. The
speaker dwelt largely on the first of the
two elementary forms. In this science
finds sixty six simple bodies. But in all
probability this number is not correct.
Many known facts render plausible the
theory that there is but one simple SUBJ
stance. In support of this it is alleged
that there are many substances
which are chemically identical and yet
much more different in appearance than
many known simple bodies. AS an ex-
ample the speaker illustrated charcoal
and the diamond as being absolutely
identical in the closest chemical analy-
sis. In fact the former has been con-
verted into diamond and the diamond
in turn converted into charcoal. But,
says the scientist, the charcoal and the
diamond are the same, why may not
iron and gold be also the same, although
we are powerless at the present day to
make this manifest.
The question that presents itself is,
Science says all bodies are composed of
atoms exceedingly small and incapable
of being divided. These are the
final particles to which we necessarily
come if we resolve a body into all it's
component parts. In bodies these are
the only elements that do not change.
These are exceedingly small and this
renders it difficult if not Impossible to
form an adequate idea Of them. The
placing of musk in a room where parti-
cles or atoms become detached without
causing any apparent loss in weight OF
the original quantity was one example.
Whilst these atoms seem to elude the
grasp of science they are, however,
compelled in many respects to stand and
unfold themselves. What is known
to science of them was summed up al
follows: GAS to their nature scientists
are divided into two classes. Some hold
that there are as many different atoms
as there are simple bodies, while others
say that there is but one species of atom
even as there is but one simple sub
stance. In bodies atoms do not touch
the element known as force. This is
evident from the varied density in
bodies as seen by their difference in
weight compared to bulk, taken into
connection with the fact that atoms are
not in themselves susceptible of COM
preston. These atoms are in constant
motion and the rapidity of their move.
millions per second. Atoms vary in
size. In heavier bodies the atoms OF
matter are by some mysterious force
drawn more closely together, whilst in
lighter bodies these atoms are at q
greater distance apart. For example
A cubic foot of iron weighs heavier
than cubic foot of wood because in the
iron the atoms are more compressed.
The Rev Father spoke at length upon
atoms their formation and forms and
their unity in forming bodies. In closing
he said: ''These atoms are indestructible
man cannot create an atom and he Ii
powerless to destroy one." Matter not
susceptible of weight will be treated al
another time.
After the lecture DR. M. j. Donohue
smoke upon the scientific researches OF
DR. Bronson, of London.
Tener Signs With the Brotherhood.
, PITTsBURG, Feb. 19.-Pitcher Tener,