openings
by means of which wire is manufactured. It resembles also a slight,
smooth, roundish stream of fluid escaping through a tube or trough.

This sound has relation, therefore, in the first place, to _Centrality_
or CENTRE; and then to LENGTH (or Line), which is the First Dimension of
Extension. The I-sound continued or prolonged gives the idea of Length.
But broken into Least Units of the same quality of Sound, we have
individualized Vowel-Sounds of this quality, each one of which is a new
_Centre_; like the successive _Points_ of which a _Line_ is composed.

An individual sound, I, has relation, therefore, to _Centre_ and to
_Point_ generally. As such it stands representatively for the _Soul_ or
_Identity_ or _Central Individuality of Being_--for that which gives to
anything its distinctive character, as existing in the _Point_ or the
_Unit_, or the _Atom_, or in any Individual Object or Thing from the
Atom up to a World and to the Universe as a whole. _Identity_ is,
perhaps, the best single term furnished by our Language to signify this
basic idea. _Individuality_ approximates the meaning. It is the
_pivotal_ notion of Being itself, and has relation, therefore, to
Ontology, the Science of Abstract Being. _Essence_ and _Essential Being_
are terms which may also be used in defining it. The Reader should
understand, however, that with reference to this Sound, as to those to
be hereafter considered, there is no term or terms in any Language which
will indicate their meaning _exactly_. The analysis of Ideas upon which
UNIVERSOLOGY is based is more fundamental than any which has preceded
it. Its Primary Conceptions are, therefore, broader and more inclusive
than any former ones which existing terms are employed to denote. In
explaining the meaning of these First Elements of Sound, then, as
related to the First Elements of Thought, all that is now attempted is
to convey as clear a notion of this meaning as is possible with our
present terminology, without any expectation that the _precise_ meaning
intended will be at once or entirely apprehended.

The sound E (_a_ in m_a_te) is likewise a slender, abstract-like,
middle-mouth sound; but differs from I in the fact that it is produced
by _flattening_ the opening for the Sounding Breath instead of retaining
it in a roundish position. The angles of the mouth are drawn asunder, as
if pointing outward to the sides of the head, and the sound is, as it
were, _elongated in th