way of
thinking any astronomer could detect the effect of such
friction on the action of meteors. They should certainly be
consumed much more rapidly than if they merely struck thin
air.

That, however, is a minor point and I wouldn't even mind
conceding it to Mr. Meek. The point I now wish to make is
much more important and in my mind establishes the falsity
of Mr. Meek's premises. In the July issue of Astounding
Stories, page seven, paragraph four, sentences fourteen and
fifteen, he states that the Heaviside Layer is composed of a
liquid of high viscosity. By definition a liquid is more
dense than a gas. Therefore the Heaviside Layer, according
to Mr. Meek, is denser than the atmosphere of the earth
since the former is a liquid and the latter is a gas. The
increased refraction of light as it entered our atmosphere
would then be noticeable. Astronomers can even now detect
refraction due to the air. The sun remains visible for some
time after it has actually descended below the horizon, due
to refraction. If there was a denser substance than air
surrounding the earth the refraction would be much greater.
Finally, how could the atmosphere support a denser substance
like the Heaviside Layer? I'd sure make for cover if I
really believed that such a menace existed right over my
head.

Sorry to take up your space so much by an argument, but your
comments on my letter really called for a defense. Hope you
can find room for this.--Philip Waite, 3400 Wayne Ave, New
Your, N. Y.

Dear Editor:

Since Mr. Waite has so generously admitted the validity of
my answer to his criticism as regards meteors, I can do no
less than admit that he scored one against me in his second
argument. I used the word liquid. It was careless diction.
Had I used the phrase "composed of a SUBSTANCE of high
viscosity, of low specific gravity and with a coefficient of
refraction identical with that of air," there would have
been no argument. I am sure that Mr. Waite will admit after
reflection that such a substance could be held in position,
if its specific gravity were low enough, by a combination of
gravity and centrifugal force, somewhat in the same manner
as the ring of Saturn is held in place. Of course, any idea
that the layer rested