The Time Travel Machine

By Harry Sebastian

"Well, it's miles extremely fantastic that that is so massively overlooked," the Time Traveller said, a faint smile on his face. "Really, that is what the Fourth Dimension means, even though some people who speak about the Fourth Dimension don't realize they mean it. It is the most convenient method of looking for Time. There is no distinction between Time and any of the three dimensions of Space except that our attention moves along with it. However, a few foolish people have been got hold of the erroneous component of that notion. You've all heard what they've got to say about this Fourth Dimension?"

• Language: English
• Publisher: Harry Sebastian
• Release date: Jul 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201229573

Harry Sebastian

AUTHOR: HARRY SEBASTIAN

Book preview

The Time Travel Machine

Harry Sebastian

Published by Harry Sebastian, 2022.

Table of Contents

Title Page

The Timetravel Machine

About the Author

The Timetravel Machine

I.

Introduction

The Timetravel Machine (for therefore it will likely be handy to talk of him) turned into expounding a recondite rely to us. His faded gray eyes shone and twinkled, and his normally faded face turned into flushed and lively. The hearthplace burnt brightly, and the smooth radiance of the incandescent lighting fixtures withinside the lilies of silver stuck the bubbles that flashed and handed in our glasses. Our chairs, being his patents, embraced and caressed us instead of submitted to be sat upon, and there has been that high-priced after-dinner environment, while concept runs gracefully freed from the trammels of precision. And he positioned it to us on this manner—marking the factors with a lean forefinger—as we sat and lazily widespread his earnestness over this new paradox (as we concept it) and his fecundity.

You have to observe me cautiously. I shall ought to controvert one or  thoughts which are nearly universally time-honored. The geometry, for instance, they taught you at faculty is based on a misconception.

Is now no longer that as a substitute a massive aspect to assume us to start upon? stated Filby, an argumentative individual with purple hair.

I do now no longer imply to invite you to simply accept some thing with out affordable floor for it. You will quickly admit as plenty as I want from you. You recognise of direction that a mathematical line, a line of thickness nil, has no actual lifestyles. They taught you that? Neither has a mathematical plane. These matters are mere abstractions.

That is all proper, stated the Psychologist.

Nor, having handiest period, breadth, and thickness, can a dice have a actual lifestyles.

There I item, stated Filby. Of direction a stable frame can also additionally exist. All actual matters—

So maximum humans assume. But wait a second. Can a direct dice exist?

Don’t observe you, stated Filby.

Can a dice that doesn't closing for any time in any respect, have a actual lifestyles?

Filby have become pensive. Clearly, the Time Traveller proceeded, any actual frame have to have extension in 4 instructions: it have to have Length, Breadth, Thickness, and—Duration. But thru a herbal disease of the flesh, which I will provide an explanation for to you in a second, we incline to miss this reality. There are virtually 4 dimensions, 3 which we name the 3 planes of Space, and a fourth, Time. There is, but, a bent to attract an unreal difference among the previous 3 dimensions and the latter, as it takes place that our attention movements intermittently in a single route alongside the latter from the start to the stop of our lives.

That, stated a completely younger guy, making spasmodic efforts to relight his cigar over the lamp; that . . . very clean certainly.

Now, it's miles very super that that is so significantly ignored, persevered the Time Traveller, with a mild accession of cheerfulness. Really that is what is supposed via way of the Fourth Dimension, aleven though a few folks who communicate approximately the Fourth Dimension do now no longer recognise they imply it. It is handiest any other manner of searching at Time. There isn't anyt any distinction among Time and any of the 3 dimensions of Space besides that our attention movements alongside it. But a few silly humans have were given maintain of the incorrect facet of that concept. You have all heard what they have got to mention approximately this Fourth Dimension?

I actually have now no longer, stated the Provincial Mayor.

It is truely this. That Space, as our mathematicians have it, is spoken of as having 3 dimensions, which one can also additionally name Length, Breadth, and Thickness, and is usually definable via way of reference to a few planes, every at proper angles to the others. But a few philosophical humans had been asking why 3 dimensions mainly—why now no longer any other route at proper angles to the alternative 3?—and feature even attempted to assemble a Four-Dimensional geometry. Professor Simon Newcomb turned into expounding this to the New York Mathematical Society handiest a month or so in the past. You recognise how on a flat floor, which has handiest  dimensions, we are able to constitute a determine of a 3-dimensional stable, and further they assume that via way of fashions of 3 dimensions they might constitute certainly considered one among 4—if they might grasp the attitude of the aspect. See?

I assume so, murmured the Provincial Mayor; and, knitting his brows, he lapsed into an introspective nation, his lips transferring as one that repeats mystic words. Yes, I assume I see it now, he stated after a while, brightening in a pretty transitory way.

"Well, I do now no longer thoughts telling you I had been at paintings upon this geometry of Four Dimensions for a while. Some of my consequences are curious. For instance, here's a portrait of a person at 8 years vintage, any other at fifteen, any other at seventeen, any other at twenty-3, and so on. All those are naturally sections, because it had been, Three-Dimensional representations of his Four-Dimensioned being, that is a set and unalterable aspect.

Scientific humans, proceeded the Time Traveller, after the pause required for the right assimilation of this, recognise thoroughly that Time is handiest a type of Space. Here is a famous clinical diagram, a climate record. This line I hint with my finger suggests the motion of the barometer. Yesterday it turned into so excessive, the day before today night time it fell, then this morning it rose once more, and so lightly upward to right here. Surely the mercury did now no longer hint this line in any of the scale of Space commonly recognized? But really it traced this sort of line, and that line, therefore, we have to conclude, turned into alongside the Time-Dimension.

But, stated the Medical Man, staring tough at a coal withinside the hearthplace, if Time is virtually handiest a fourth size of Space, why is it, and why has it usually been, appeared as some thing exclusive? And why can't we pass in Time as we pass approximately withinside the different dimensions of Space?

The Time Traveller smiled. Are you so certain we are able to pass freely in Space? Right and left we are able to pass, back and forth freely sufficient, and guys usually have performed so. I admit we pass freely in  dimensions. But how approximately up and down? Gravitation limits us there.

Not precisely, stated the Medical Man. There are balloons.

But earlier than the balloons, keep for spasmodic leaping and the inequalities of the floor, guy had no freedom of vertical motion.

Still they might pass a touch up and down, stated the Medical Man.

Easier, a ways less complicated down than up.

And you can't pass in any respect in Time, you can't break out from the existing second.

My pricey sir, this is simply wherein you're incorrect. That is simply wherein the complete international has long gone incorrect. We are usually getting farfar from the existing second. Our intellectual existences, that are immaterial and haven't any dimensions, are passing alongside the Time-Dimension with a uniform speed from the cradle to the grave. Just as we ought to journey down if we started out our lifestyles fifty miles above the earth’s floor.

But the superb issue is that this, interrupted the Psychologist. ’You can pass approximately in all instructions of Space, however you can't pass approximately in Time."

That is the germ of my superb discovery. But you're incorrect to mention that we can't pass approximately in Time. For instance, if I am recalling an incident very vividly I pass again to the on the spotaneous of its occurrence: I end up absent-minded, as you say. I leap again for a second. Of direction we haven't any manner of staying again for any period of Time, any greater than a savage or an animal has of staying six ft above the floor. But a civilised guy is higher off than the savage on this respect. He can pass up in opposition to gravitation in a balloon, and why ought to he now no longer wish that in the long run he can be capable of forestall or boost up his float alongside the Time-Dimension, or maybe flip approximately and journey the alternative manner?

Oh, this, started out Filby, is all—

Why now no longer? stated the Time Traveller.

It’s in opposition to purpose, stated Filby.

What purpose? stated the Time Traveller.

You can display black is white via way of argument, stated Filby, however you may by no means persuade me.

Possibly now no longer, stated the Time Traveller. But now you start to see the item of my investigations into the geometry of Four Dimensions. Long in the past I had a indistinct inkling of a gadget—

To journey thru Time! exclaimed the Very Young Man.

That shall journey indifferently in any route of Space and Time, because the motive force determines.

Filby contented himself with laughter.

But I actually have experimental verification, stated the Time Traveller.

It could be remarkably handy for the historian, the Psychologist advised. One would possibly journey again and confirm the time-honored account of the Battle of Hastings, for instance!

Don’t you suspect you'll entice interest? stated the Medical Man. Our ancestors had no superb tolerance for anachronisms.

One would possibly get one’s Greek from the very lips of Homer and Plato, the Very Young Man concept.

In which case they could really plough you for the Little-pass. The German pupils have advanced Greek a lot.

Then there may be the destiny, stated the Very Young Man. Just assume! One would possibly make investments all one’s money, depart it to build up at hobby, and hurry on in advance!

To find out a society, stated I, erected on a strictly communistic basis.

Of all of the wild extravagant theories! started out the Psychologist.

Yes, so it regarded to me, and so I by no means talked of it till—

Experimental verification! cried I. You are going to confirm that?

The test! cried Filby, who turned into getting mind-weary.

Let’s see your test anyhow, stated the Psychologist, aleven though it’s all humbug, you recognise.

The Time Traveller smiled spherical at us. Then, nonetheless smiling faintly, and together along with his palms deep in his trousers wallet, he walked slowly out of the room, and we heard