The Electron Theory

It was about sixty years ago when there appeared the first glimmerings Of the knowledge which has since ripened into that which we now possess, that neither the molecules of any natural object nor the parts Of which those molecules consist are ever at rest; that, on the contrary, swift and orderly movements are ever in progress among them and within them; and that where bodies appear to us to be stationary, it is only be cause this great internal activity is on too small a scale, the parts moving too tiny, and the motions subject to too rapid changes Of direction for senses like ours even when assisted by the micro scope to Obtain any suggestion that all this activity is going forwards.

Accordingly, until other means than direct Observation of arriving at the truth were discovered, every one remained under the delusion that the Objects about us on the earth could be brought to rest absolutely freed from every motion except the celestial motion, which is consequent upon their being on a planet which rotates upon an axis, revolves in an orbit round the sun, and accompanies the solar system in its peregrinations through space.