The Washington times., 1894-06-07
Thouqht Believed to Be the Fourth
Dimension of Space.
THE HINDOOS AND OCCULTISM
Some Indian Jugglers Who Are Familiar
With the Higher Branches Of Physics.
Archie F. Collins Story Of Many Curious
Feats Of sleight-of-H

is not to understand" THE Divine Pi-
mander.
Nearly every American or European trav-
eler who returns after sojourn in Hindostan
adds new and numberless mysteries to the
already long list Of marvels concerning the
weird and wonderful performances in magic
given by native conjurers for the delectation
of visitors and, incidentally, the silver rupees
that are literally showered upon them.
The maximum percentage of travellers, how
ever, who visit the cities in British India are
generally content to witness these so-called
slight-of-hand exhibitions-though in reality
a most remarkable phase of natural philos-
ophy-as merely amusing and without seeking
q solution for the seeming impossibilities.
This lack Of desire to investigate in some
predominates in Others having more scien-
tific penchant, and to this latter class Is due
the credit of making or at least attempting
an investigation; however, it is admitted that
owing to their varying theories 1t is difficult
to determine their real measure of success.
During q recent visit to Hyderabad, town
about six hundred miles east of Bombay, an
accident occurred to one of our party and
ample opportunity presented itself for making
observation OF these clever fellows.
1t is not my Intention to repeat useless de-
scriptions of the manifestations; on the con-
trary, it is presumed that their exploits are
sufficiently familiar to render this unneces-
sary. Taking il for granted that such is the
case we will endeavor to analyze without
delay the effect and subsequently discover the
cause that on witnessing the first performance
stamps it as being impenetrable.
After carefully deducing the results OBJ
tanned by personal experiments with these
so-cailed jugglers, my former impression Is
otr p,,tb paA in haliaf at thau faI
with a knowledge oi a higher branch OF
physics than the world is ready to believe or
give them credit for.
That the fourth dimension of space is within
the limits of human possibilities Is an undis-
puted fact; not simply because the higher
mathematics have been able to prove it. but
because actual experiments have been unable
to refute it; and as the scientist cloves to
read nature In the language OF experiment"
the result is that some OF the most eminent
philosophers have come to regard the fourth
dimension OF space as an important factor in
solving many of the most abslruse problems
that find no explanation in natural philosophy
dealing with but three dimensions.
This fourth dimension has been aptly
termed thought, and Is more or less a COM
bination Of the other tnree-length. breadth
and thickness. To enable the uninitiated to
more readily comprehend the theorem of the
fourth dimension II will be necessary to begin
by imagining an animate object whose ma
terial body completely fills the cross section
Of glass tube, yet it is empowered to move
freely to and fro the length of the tube at
will; thus it would be one dimensional be-
ing, capable of moving in length only, and
would therefore have no other knowledge of
space.
To illustrate the second dimension, let US
suppose the glass tube to be twice the breadth
of the animate being, but that its thickness
still remains the same as the living object
within it; two dimensions are then at its dis
posal. !. e., length and breadth. II we sup
pose that the living being within the tube
gifted with the power OF reasoning, then it
would be safe proposition to assume that it
might conclude that since it could not move
with freedom in two dimensions why might
there not be third? To discover the third
would mean that It must escape from the en-
vironments that now limits it to move in the
two dimensions. And thus it is with man,
who, gifted with clear perception of three
dimensions of space, deduced from that
hypothesis OF another or fourth
and possibly a fifth dimension.
Having clearly demonstrated these funda-
mental truths, let US resolve into the first
principles or elements the fourth dimension
of space-thought.
When beginning the study of natural philos-
ophy, the first truth Impressed upon the mind
same space at the same time. and as we ad
vance in the science we learn that ali sub
stances are composed of atoms. molecules,
and masses as regards the division of matter.
The former being too small and the latter too
large for the purpose under consideration,
our attention will be directed to molecules
and the peculiar force that causes these
minute particles to attract one another.
The molecules OF any substance are con-
ce1ed to be Of a uniform size and are so small
rs to be undefinable to the eye even when
aided by the most powerful microscope; their
extreme minuteness will be better understood
when it is known that it requires SO. 900. .000-
300 molecules to make a single drop OF water.
Appealing again 10 the Imagination we will
suppose that a drop of water has been magni-
fed until it assumes Il proportion equal in
size to the earth. then each mclecule in the
drop would attain bulk nearly as large as
baseball.
Notwithstanding the immense number of
contained in single drop of water
.hey do not occupy all the space inclosed by
the circumference of the drop, hut are widely
separated from each other i'll such an extent
IS to exceed a distance greater than their
1wn diameter To more clearly Illustrate the
spaces that separate these molecules. Avery
mas said il drop Of water could be magniiled
ln.il the molecules We're as large as worlds
he spaces between the molecules would be
Is grea; as tie spaces between the planets. \
practical experiment. 70 illustrate that :he
spaces really exist can be performed in the
oIowilg manner:
4 mass OF algar as large as 4 drop OF water |
nay be combined with it without enlarsing !
he external circumference Of lhs liquid. The |
ugar is dissolved. Thesa. unlike molecules. |
l:e held together by adhesion. Tho above |
mpio operation illustrates partially the great |
,r.ncipie o. the our.h dimension OF space.
III the little nass oi sugar could bs Iorccd |
ntirely through the drop OF wafer without en-
arging its ~; esni circumference in any way |
hen the fourth dimens on of space is iuily il
u>tratel, for this :s precisely what happens !
when two bodies tliIuid and soid) pass each |
,her as individual molecules. This diSso.v-
lg o. ono substance through another cannot |
e econsumated until the barriers of Il remark
oe Iorce are dcccmEoscd.
Exceptions exist to this rule rs when q
itce of cloth passes through liquid; but as
is probably phase OF cleo
rical io-ce-Gnds no resistance in the fluid
hey immediately reattr;lct one another as at
he beginning. This is q natural phenomenon, |
I'D therefore eNcites no cSnGlcn.. but to
ause two so;irs to pass through each other
eQuires another force TO react on cohesion.
AXE tie most common experiment. performed
y fourth d:menscrGi aeiags 20 eiucidate this
ig.ter degree OF Silence. Two leather bands |
hO.NN AG~h-' IA 'Siifrtai ui.N u tusitSt u
1eh wide :>'e fastened by any one TO Il table
nd marked with private seal.
The fourth iimensional beings hands are
ow covered over the bands for an interval
{ two or three minutes and on being re-
lovei are found knotted. The three ordi-
ary dimensions o. space are oTe-come by
he physical forces actuateG by the mind;
he power OF the mind alone can overcome
he fourth dimension, Or rather the cohesion
ttracting the molecules.
Why are the hands employed to conceal
ne operation? Simply as a conductor of the
ill power TO the place of action, just as pipe
employed TO convey steam from the boiler
, the engine or Il wire to conduct the electri-
hence to where it is consumed.