Page:The fairy tales of science.djvu/72

 yet they deal with facts that are incontrovertible: "Man is formed of condensed air (or solidified and liquefied gapes). He lives on condensed as well as uncondensed air, and clothes himself in condensed air. He prepares his food by means of condensed air, and by means of the same agent moves the heaviest weights with the velocity of the wind. But the strangest part of the matter is, that thousands of these tabernacles formed of condensed air, and going upon two legs, occasionally, and on account of the production and supply of those forms of condensed air which they require for food and clothing, or on account of their honour and power, destroy each other in pitched battles by means of condensed air."

We have now arrived at a true solution of the great problem—what is the world made of?

The three kingdoms of nature are built up of some sixty-three elementary bodies, endowed with the most diverse properties and affinities; each being destined to perform some important part in the great system of creation. Truly has it been said, that the powers of not one element could be modified without destroying at once the balance of harmonies, and involving in one ruin the economy of the world!

Although the ancient doctrine of the Four Elements has been exploded by chemistry, we must still honour the mighty sages by whom it was propounded. The doctrine is not wholly false, and