And the paper itself may be conceived to exercise such a force: it is many particles thick, while the thin layer of matter is only one particle thick, and thus it will keep the layer of matter, which covers one side of it, in its place by virtue of its own attraction.
We suppose that the paper exerts an attractive force which keeps the thin layer of matter to it. This attractive force is not felt by the sentient beings on the paper, nor does it influence the movements of the particles of matter amongst themselves. We also suppose another attractive force proceeding from particle to particle of the matter on the plane. This would be felt by the beings and produce movements of matter.
Thus the conception of a plane world necessarily involves that of something on which it is.
A Plane World.
Where the sun’s rays grazing the earth in January pass off and merge into darkness lies a strange world.
’Tis a vast bubble blown in a substance something like glass, but harder far and untransparent.
And just as a bubble blown by us consists of a distended film, so this bubble, vast beyond comparison, consists of a film distended and coherent.
On its surface in the course of ages has fallen a thin layer of space dust, and so smooth is this surface that the dust slips over it to and fro and forms densities and clusters as its own attractions and movements determine.
The dust is kept on the polished surface by the attraction of the vast film; but, except for that, it moves on it freely in every direction.