according to Newton, the ‘‘Etherial Medium” explains every phenomenon of vision or perception or motion you can think of.’
‘Is that so?’ said Arthur. ‘I don’t remember studying ether in the
Opticks
. But then again, I haven’t opened it since I was an undergraduate.’
‘And even then, you probably skipped that part, you mathematician,’ said Ernest. ‘Give me your copy, and I’ll show you.’
Arthur abandoned his dinner long enough to fetch the book from his study, and Ernest neglected his to read us out a passage or two, with the result that my plate was empty while theirs were both still well-garnished. I helped myself to more carrots and listened to Ernest:
May not Planets and Comets, and all gross Bodies, perform their motions more freely, and with less resistance in this Etherial Medium than in any Fluid, which fills all Space adequately without leaving any Pores, and by consequence is much denser than Quick-silver or Gold? And may not its resistance be so small, as to be inconsiderable?
‘There, you see? That would explain Michelson-Morley, that right there. And now, listen to this.’
If anyone would ask how a Medium can be so rare, let him tell me how the Air, in the upper parts of the Atmosphere, can be above an hundred thousand times rarer than Gold. Let him also tell me, how an electrick Body can by friction emit an Exhalation so rare and subtile, and yet so potent, as by its Emission to cause no sensible Diminution of the weight of the electrick Body, and to be expanded through a Sphere, whose Diameter is above two Feet, and yet to be able to agitate and carry up Leaf Copper, or Leaf Gold, at the distance of above a Foot from the electrick Body? And how the Effluvia of a Magnet can be so rare and subtile, as to pass through a Plate of Glass without any Resistance or Diminution of their Force, and yet so potent as to turn a magnetick Needle beyond the Glass?
Is not Vision perform’d chiefly by the Vibrations of this Medium, excited in the bottom of the Eye by the Rays of Light, and propagated through the solid, pellucid and uniform Capillamenta of the optick Nerves into the place of Sensation? And is not Hearing performed by the Vibrations either of this or of some other Medium, excited in the auditory Nerves by the Tremors of the Air, and propagated through the solid, pellucid and uniform Capillamenta of those Nerves into the place of Sensation? Is not Animal Motion perform’d by the Vibrations of this Medium, excited in the Brain by the power of the Will, and propagated from thence through the solid, pellucid and uniform Capillamenta of the Nerves into the Muscles, for contracting and dilating them?
He clapped the book closed.
‘There you have it,’ he said, ‘from a Cambridge man if there ever was one. We ether supporters are not beaten yet! Professor Lodge believes that ether is the main medium of contact, of transmission, in the universe,’ he went on quickly. ‘He believes it explains every contact of every kind that occurs. Including that between ourselves and the – ah, the afterlife.’ He glanced at us both quickly, with a tinge of aggression in his eyes.
‘The universe is still an utterly mysterious place,’ observed Arthur evenly.
‘This is all fascinating,’ I said warmly. ‘I really should like to hear more.’
The pudding had come and gone during this discussion, which had allowed Ernest to recover his usual animation and colour. I smiled at him, and rose to leave the gentlemen a moment alone with their drinks.
‘We won’t be long,’ said Arthur, already hunting about for a decanter in the sideboard, as I moved out of the dining room by myself. ‘Let’s see, Ernest, what can I offer you? A little drop of liqueur? Or brandy, perhaps?’
I betook myself dutifully away from the alcoholic regions, and busied myself arranging the drawing room until they should emerge, but I was interrupted quite soon by a sharp rat-tat upon the front door,
‘Is that so?’ said Arthur. ‘I don’t remember studying ether in the
Opticks
. But then again, I haven’t opened it since I was an undergraduate.’
‘And even then, you probably skipped that part, you mathematician,’ said Ernest. ‘Give me your copy, and I’ll show you.’
Arthur abandoned his dinner long enough to fetch the book from his study, and Ernest neglected his to read us out a passage or two, with the result that my plate was empty while theirs were both still well-garnished. I helped myself to more carrots and listened to Ernest:
May not Planets and Comets, and all gross Bodies, perform their motions more freely, and with less resistance in this Etherial Medium than in any Fluid, which fills all Space adequately without leaving any Pores, and by consequence is much denser than Quick-silver or Gold? And may not its resistance be so small, as to be inconsiderable?
‘There, you see? That would explain Michelson-Morley, that right there. And now, listen to this.’
If anyone would ask how a Medium can be so rare, let him tell me how the Air, in the upper parts of the Atmosphere, can be above an hundred thousand times rarer than Gold. Let him also tell me, how an electrick Body can by friction emit an Exhalation so rare and subtile, and yet so potent, as by its Emission to cause no sensible Diminution of the weight of the electrick Body, and to be expanded through a Sphere, whose Diameter is above two Feet, and yet to be able to agitate and carry up Leaf Copper, or Leaf Gold, at the distance of above a Foot from the electrick Body? And how the Effluvia of a Magnet can be so rare and subtile, as to pass through a Plate of Glass without any Resistance or Diminution of their Force, and yet so potent as to turn a magnetick Needle beyond the Glass?
Is not Vision perform’d chiefly by the Vibrations of this Medium, excited in the bottom of the Eye by the Rays of Light, and propagated through the solid, pellucid and uniform Capillamenta of the optick Nerves into the place of Sensation? And is not Hearing performed by the Vibrations either of this or of some other Medium, excited in the auditory Nerves by the Tremors of the Air, and propagated through the solid, pellucid and uniform Capillamenta of those Nerves into the place of Sensation? Is not Animal Motion perform’d by the Vibrations of this Medium, excited in the Brain by the power of the Will, and propagated from thence through the solid, pellucid and uniform Capillamenta of the Nerves into the Muscles, for contracting and dilating them?
He clapped the book closed.
‘There you have it,’ he said, ‘from a Cambridge man if there ever was one. We ether supporters are not beaten yet! Professor Lodge believes that ether is the main medium of contact, of transmission, in the universe,’ he went on quickly. ‘He believes it explains every contact of every kind that occurs. Including that between ourselves and the – ah, the afterlife.’ He glanced at us both quickly, with a tinge of aggression in his eyes.
‘The universe is still an utterly mysterious place,’ observed Arthur evenly.
‘This is all fascinating,’ I said warmly. ‘I really should like to hear more.’
The pudding had come and gone during this discussion, which had allowed Ernest to recover his usual animation and colour. I smiled at him, and rose to leave the gentlemen a moment alone with their drinks.
‘We won’t be long,’ said Arthur, already hunting about for a decanter in the sideboard, as I moved out of the dining room by myself. ‘Let’s see, Ernest, what can I offer you? A little drop of liqueur? Or brandy, perhaps?’
I betook myself dutifully away from the alcoholic regions, and busied myself arranging the drawing room until they should emerge, but I was interrupted quite soon by a sharp rat-tat upon the front door,
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