Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-11


matter. organic and Inorganic. is scaled
upon law of concord.
In the Old Book. which we all love 10
ponder. We are told that "He who built
all things is God" and In our liturgy the
Great Builder Is called Lover of Con-
cord"
There Is law OF octaves" in the
chemical elements which constitute the
architecture Of mountains, says the learn
ed fcikie, and | confess / would never
nave supposed 1t. The one musical stone
IN which | have any knowledge Is the
mythical statue of Memnon which, at sun
rise, emitted strains of delightful music
FOR the early-risers. | had supposed that
the rugged cliffs OF Humpback and Dolby
were haunts for the rattlesnake, the var
mint terrOrs of the lowlands. / did not
know that every rock was a constituent
chord OF harmony, and that the music
OF the spheres" were subterranean melo-
dies as well.
a BEAUTIFUL ANALOGY.
In this theory there is a beautiful
analogy between the musical and the
chemical elements. In the chemical
elements, says another scientist,
ON tins subject. the Great Builder has set
hydrogen as the unit by which the rela-
tive atomic weights of the other elements
might be measured.
hydrogen being the lightest, the other
elements are counted as so many hydro
gems in weight, and the elements gradu-
ally increase in atomic weight as the
notes OF the music scale ascending in
crease in the number of vibrations per
second by which they are produced. The
first seven substances. goins up in the
order Of their increasing atomic weights
shew certain physical and chemical cnar
actcrs, just as the seven notes of
the musical octave have certain tOnal
characters by which they can be named
in any musical composition. There is no
known element whose atomic weight is
hydrogens, nor 3, nor 4, nor ), nor 8. We
spring from hydrogen l 10 lithium Z;
then the octave goes on with beryllium
.. boron II, carbon l.. nitrogen Ii, oxygen
lG, ana nuOrine ~. We have, as * Were
an octave space between hydrogen l, and
lthium Z, with no element in IL. 1t is
very remarkable that in the genesis of
the musical clements the same thing oc-
ours. OF the metals. the knowledge OF
the ancients was limited 10 namely,
gold, silver, copper tin, iron, lead, mer-
curry while now we know Of IS. Most
of these new metals were unknown be-
fore the beginning Of the present century,
more will be discovered whose existence
is still secret to mankind" The last
formulation assumes that there may be
100 elements. What interests US Is, that
the chemical elements are the crystals
of which the primitive rocks are COM
posed and rocks are built OF crystals.
and mountains. which are the primitive
land. are built Of rocks-an ascending
scale of building.
The notes of any crystal, from its chem
zeal properties, may be composed into an
air or built into chords, so as to feel the
harmony as well as the melody of the
crystal, says Professor Andrew, "for the
crystal also is a composition" Thus we
see the crystals of granite or basalt, and
the scales or chords of music facing each
other like the two leaves of a book. 50
that we may gaze and listen to the silent
music of the still earth, so deeply does
music enter into the hidden secrets and
unvoiced harmony Of its rocky founda
lions.
This will be of interest TO summer WISH
tors 10 the mountains and give them
something to think OF when they gaze
upon these Titan masses Of earth-always
grandly beautiful-though that quick
thrill of soul which comes when the noun
tans are first seen after a long
absence is a rapture known to the noun
taineer alone. However, the time for
the summer sojourner has come and he
is already represented at either hotel.
Never is the law Of elective affinity.
tersely put in the proverb about birds Of
a feather" more clearly demonstrated
than i'm the summer outing. 1t is not
true that the better sort Of country folk
look upon the better sort OF city folk
with envy, jealousy, or diStrust Gene
rally, they are quite ready for friendly
acquaintance Yet, as these city cousins
have enjoyed greater social advantages,
they naturally wait for them to take
the initial steps towards good fellow
She.
Mrs Charles Martin, Of near Greenfield,
left last week to visit her sister. in ST.
Louis, and will be absent several months.
Mrs. Henry Page and Miss Bette Lips
comb who visited Washington for the
Jubilee" are back at home.
Mr.. John :. Hays Jr.. returned 10
Chestnut Ridge" last Tuesday.
Miss Annie Topper Of Richmond. IS a
guest of her sister, Mrs. II. *. Hawthorn.
Miss Lucy Opie, governess for Mr.. Al
bert Critzer. has returned to stanton.
Miss Blanch Terrell, OF Washington, and
Miss Alice Norton. Of Alexandria. are
expected to spend the summer at'"Chest-
nut Ridge"