To explain this we cite the following illustration:
Two bodies, each having a mass of 4
pounds, and one inch apart, are attracted toward
each other, so they touch. If one has twice the
mass of the other, the smaller will draw the larger
only one-quarter of an inch, and the large one
will draw the other three-quarters of an inch,
thus confirming the law that two bodies will attract
each other in proportion to their mass.

Suppose, now, that these balls are placed two
inches apart,--that is, twice the distance. As
each is, we shall say, four pounds in weight, the
square of each would be 16. This does not mean
that there would be sixteen times the attraction,
but, as the law says, inversely as the square of
the distance, so that at two inches there is only
one-sixteenth the attraction as at one inch.

If the cord of one of the balls should be cut, it
would fall to the earth, for the reason that the
attractive force of the great mass of the earth is
so much greater than the force of attraction in
its companion ball.

INDESTRUCTIBILITY OF GRAVITATION.--Gravity
cannot be produced or destroyed. It acts between
all parts of bodies equally; the force being
proportioned to their mass. It is not affected by