The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1914-07-03
IN ATOMS
Likened to Infinite Power In an
Infinitesimal Space.
EACH ONE IS A TINY WORLD.

| S"So Ho SU'NoFsc WouIo OIbsO1Ne
In an instant-A Magic Force That
Scienoe Is Seeking to Control.
Do you remember when Aladdin
had, at last, got down into the cave
under the tree. what inexpressibie mar
vels he found around himi But among
all the riches OF the cave there was
only one little dust covered thing that
was really worth the risk he had run.
because 1t alone was truly novel and
unlike anything else In the world-the
necromantic lamp that had the genie
for its slave. With that I'm his posses
sion the poor boy was more powerful
than all the monarchs In the world
provided that he knew how to handle
the lamp. and that knowledge came to
him by accident
i have just been pondering over some
statements by Jean Becquerel. the
French physicist. about the contents
OF the atoms Of which matter Is CON-
posed, and they have forcibly recalled
Aladdin's adventures to my mind. The
Interior Of an atom is a little world
Infinitely more marvellous than the
cave that contained the magic lamp.
and II conceats powers incomparably
greater than that of Aladdin's good
genie.
To the scientific Imagination the In
side OF an atom is inversely as won
drous as the starry heavens. II is in
finite power packed into infinitesimal
space. That. OF course, is an exag-
geration; but this is case I'm which
one has to speak In imposing figures.
because the facts surpass all ordinary
'The atom" says Jean Becquerel,
lis a closed world. or almost closed.
and II is that fact which constitutes
Its individuality"
This "closed world" OF the atom Is
80 small that if we could increase the
powers of our microscopes thou.
sandfold we could not render II visible.
and yet that minute speck OF matter
incloses "solar system" as elaborate
as that Of the great sun with its
planets. and keeps locked up there an
energy so colossal that the plainest
or fact that can be made
about II seem like wild dreams.
"The emanation from radium" IN
substance whose atoms spontaneously
give out at least part OF their en-
ergy) us capable Of liberating 100000
lines more energy than the most vio-
ent chemical reaction known"
The world within the atom ordinarily
behaves as II II had no concern with
he world outside. Ii is sufficient unto
tseif. 1t is little medieval China.
With closed ports and insurmountab BILE
walls all round. Still. very few atoms.
Ike those OF radium. have a tendency
20 communicate with the outer world
)y kind of explosion.
IL all atoms should burst their walls |
simultaneously the whole universe |
would be dissolved In an instant.
The atoms that do disintegrate pass
rom change to change Within their
limits the foundations Of matter are
broken up; the distinctions OF the fun.
iamental elements are confounded;
hings lose their nature and shift into
'ther things; uranium gives birth to
adium and to pol0nium: radium brings
orth helinm. and the last transforma.
Ion OF polonium that has thus far been
observed Is into plain lead! 1t is like
of atomic souls.
But this is not the only consequence
Il the opening Of the world Of the
tom. That opening releases energy I'm
orms which we can recognize and
which some day perhaps we may be
BILE to utilize.
Atomic energy is the magic lamp
hat the Aladdin of science has found
q natures secret cave
One day Aladdin's mother found the
usty lamp where he had cast Il aside
s useless and thought that she would
olish II up. Instantly, at the first Wig.
rous rub. the slave of the lamp stood
efore her. ready to do her bidding!
The Aladdin OF science has not
brown his lamp aside He knows II is
nll OF magic. He is sure that II he
ubs II Alright the genie will appear be-
ore him, but he has not yet learned
he right stroke. And perhaps after all
will be with him as II was with the
tber Aladdin-accident will teach him
he secret.
When that day comes. II ever II does.
here will hardly be any limit To the
power OF man over the
'orld he lives in.-Garrett p. Serviss
! New York Journal.