Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-06-01
The Invisible World.
From the Providence Journal.

t. W
to me to be a remarkably pregnant
and timely contribution TO the current
number of the Arena"
1t is from the pen of Prof. James T.
Bixby. and is entitled Prof. Roentgens
Discovery and the Invisible World
Around Us"
The first part of the title has Slight
recognition in the body of the paper
other than as an introduction to the
Ingenious theorizing of the writer as
to the relation of the invisible TO the
spiritual as we'll as TO the material uni
verse.
The power Of the cathode rays 10 pass
through organic substances as if they
were non-consistent, as shown by Prof
Roentgen, and though invisible to the
eye produce Photographic prints OF con-
cealed objects, is claimed as another OF
the stimulating iutimat!ons of an in
visible world which tend TO the re-en-
forcement Of Imagination and falth,
and donate a spiritual and divine rela-
ton. In a captivating manner many
analOgies are cited 20 show that even
scientific research itself can not ad-
vance except by the aid of the inferen-
tial and coriectural. To adopt the I'M
agery of the writer. 1T has found that
it can progress only by taking imagin-
g. .r,rfla anH fnfnFanpp MS
staff" Oxygen gas, which constitutes
one-half of the earth's crust, ana nine
terths of its lakes and oceans, is known
only by its results. Pure oxygen can
not be seen, smelt, tasted or grasped.
Even when condensed to liquid 1t
manifeslS itself by its forces only.
With the revolutions Of the sirene the
vibrations Of audible sound can be
counted. but it is proved that the ear
takes no note of vibrations which are
less than fifteen to the second or more
than 10000. BY the aid of inference
we know they exist, but the senses can
not lay hold on them. BY the aid of
the prism, the rays of the solar beam
are measured; but only vibrations with
IN certain limits are visible TO the eye.
Scientific faith compels us to admit
that there are sounds we can not hear.
odors we can not detect, light and other
energies to which the senses are insen-
si6le. The world is built of atomic
units, and yet not one of them has been
separately observed, weighed or hand
led.
The existence of a luminiferous ether
surrounding everything, pervadirg all
things, is now the general belief. More
suJle than the thionest gas, it pene-
trates metals and crystals and plates of
glass. Ii must be regarded as Of the
nature of solid since its vibrations are
| transverse rather than longitudinal.
The pressure of it is many million
times that of gravity. 1t extends to
the fartAesJ visible star and its mag
niUde is millions of times that of the
solid matter of the sun and all its plan
| etary attendants. And yet it's existence
/ can not be proved except by inference.
I The suppOSitiOn of such an ether is the
only theory by which the phenomena
Of optics can be explained.
The recognition of the immaterial is
| necessary TO explain the energies of ma
ture. in no other way can gravitation,
cohesion. the repulsion Of heat and the
forces Of electricity and magnetism be
accounted for. The marvels of hered-
ity, the temperance OF vanished loves
and antipathies requires this explana-
ton. Inert matter can not explain the
vital architecture OF the simplest grass
blade. the reproductive power of the
| hUmDleSt germ cell. Our conscious
ness belongs to an unseen world. Blind
force and inseHtient atom can not SIT
and order the medly of sounds and
sights that strike the sense; or couple
premise with conclusion These things
belong to a spiritual realm which.
though the eye may see not, the soul
recognizes in its native atmosphere.
So faT, all Who are familiar with the
trend of scieatific discovery must fully
agree with the talented author; and
must admit the integrity and soundness
of the premise he has given to justify
the speculative and conjectural depar-
ture which follows. and which is evil
IDENTIFY that which has inspired the pro-
ductiOn. In substance, he suggests
that the marvels Of the cathode rays,
UN4ltAl 4AALl- A4NAttA anu OAhNA 0HetION NiA-
velODes. may have an analogy in tele-
paJhy. mind cure, thought transference
and clairvOyarce If within the pores
OF the sponge there is sea of invis-
IDLE air, and between the atoms of the
air a realm OF unseen ether. why not,
he iuterroga,es. within the interSticeS
OF the ether another invisible and still
subtier spirit world? What reason
have we 10 think that it is only in the
material and visible there is life? The
unseen realm that penetrates and envel-
ones the visible world may be utilized
as the home of conscious life. IL is
conceivable that though the body gives
back 10 earth the dust ii has borrowed,
the soul may step out into the unseen,
where lis affections and hopes have
conferred. Wherever life is nObly led.
there is constantly evolved something
which belongs not to the dust of thhe
body. Reason. love and Righteousness
have no explanation in chemical prop
critics. As the Opaque is found to be
TRANSPARENT. may not the veil which
separates us from the spiritual world
be a mere film invisible TO the eye be-
cause Of its tenUity? When the Won
ders of the material overpass the mag
nation. why should we deny the spirit
nal because we can not comprehend
il?
The ultimate conclusion of the ingen-
ious writer is well expressed in the fol-
lowing eloquent passage:
THE invisible forces are the might
;csr Revord the fartheSt range to
which the telescope pushes the domain