Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-11-08
ELLEN
WHISPERlNGS OF AN
OLD PINE
A PHILOSOPHICAL NOVEL
BY JOSEPH BA1~rELL

In the first advertisement of "Ellen," an
nouncing its publication in July, and which
appeared in the Publishers Weekly of New
York, in May, we said:
"Ths novel demonstrates that large part
of science as taught today in all the schools
and colleges in the world, is entirely erroneous.
In this criticism is included, besides many minor
features, all the undulatory theories so called
Instead of these absurd and impossible theo-
res 1t is shown that there is but one law in the
domain OF nature by (which material things are
made-sound, heat, light, color, magnetism
and electricity being no exception, but formed
precisely as all things else by the combination
of matter in its different elements conditions
and proportions.
These truths, sooner or later, must be uni
versally accepted, and will force the recon-
structon OF science upon new lines. The old
text books will have to Co.
The work also shows logically and unan-
swerably that the principle of evolution as
taught by scientists is not true, but instead
that of special creation as the Bible teaches.
The book is dedicated to the American
people, who are thus made the jury OF dcci-
sion for questions Of SO great moment to all"
But although the publishers were certain
that the arguments in "l.llen" in regard
to the nature OF matter, evolution and the
undulatory theories, must prevail, they did
not then suppose that in six months its
position would be accepted in full by
several OF the leading scientific authorities
of the world; but such is the fact. Among
these we would here mention the great Amer
lean magazine, IIarpers, which in the Editor ;
Study for November, says that several discov-
cries
"Iend to revolutionize theories hitherto held
concerning the constitution of matter.
| W e may as result of these novel disclosures
! revise our theories as to light and electricity
revcrting perhaps to those of Newton and
Franklin, but we are not likely to adopt the
conclusion reached by Mr.. Joseph Battell in
his recent philosophical novel, regulating
evolution, and reverting to the doctrine OF
special creations. Rather we shall see that
what we call evolution is simply continuous
creative specialization in living universe"
In this paragraph the contention of ELLEN
concerning undulatory theories and the nature
OF matter are practically accepted. And the
same is true as to evolution, if we interpret
correctly the new definition here given-'a
continuous creative specialization, etc. (Set
Ellen" Part l., PIP. I3S, I4D.
The intoerable nonsense of the undulatory
theories is plainly exposed in ELLEN; so alsC
is the impossible character of evolution
All creation,l of necessity, whatever it in
cludes is special creation. But creation is by
design, and design is limit. Therefore, ever,
exercise of the creative power is both specia
and limited. In its nature, too, the exercis,
of this power is continuous; for the powe
continues, and it would be the height of foil,
to suppose that such power should exist anC
not be used. 1t follows, as the night follow
the day, that creative acts are in their mature
successive, and each one is special.
Special creation, then, is the only explana
ton of the universe; the evolution hypoth
eses, in whichever OF their hundred-heade,
forms they appear, being absurd and impos
| sible.
II Such are some OF the arguments advanced il
q ELLEN" and we believe them to be manswer
able, But, to test the question, the American
Publishing Co., of Nddlebury, VT, which
represents a million dollars of property ano
not one dollar of debt, will pay at sight on
thousand dollars to the first person who viii
refute these and other arguments in ELLEN,
on either evolution or the undulatory theories