Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1848-05-20
From the american Partizan
GEOLOGY FOR SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES.
Y JOSIAH HoLBRooK.

BY JOSIAH HoLBRooK.
Geography, geology, and geometry, all de-
rived from the Greek word ge, signifying
earth; or the wbrld GRAPHIC, meaning to write
or describing the earth. Logos, meaning
word, or discourse, added forms geology, or
discourse about the earth. nctron, mean
ing measure, added makes gemotry or mea-
suring the earth. These three sister sciences
then, describe, analyze, and measure the
earth Geography tells the places, and geo.
logy the ingredients of mountains, islands,
and continents. The one tells where the
Andes mountains are, the other what they
are. The one is, essential to full knowledge
of the other.
After Witnessing the great intelligence and
interest evinced among the small children in
the New York Public Schools, the editor of
the Tribune enquircs-U'bat more rational or
appropriate starting point in the race after
kno,cledgc can be selected than the elements Of
our globc.n at the same time adding, ''that
every person in the world evidently ought to
know what the world is made of; especially
as the information can be acquired at an ear
ly age, with the greatest ease and delight.
Ten simple minerals are the elements Of
all mountains, rocks, and Soils and are hence
called the "GEoLoCAL ALPHABET These
minerals, variouslv combined, form about 25
and the rocks which they compose, can be
learned by any child of three years in a
week, if not in day. The knowledge thus
Obtained is of the most substantial, as well as
and interesting, because very young children,
not only may, but do, both learn and prepare
this fundamental lesson of knowledge for
themselves. The first time a little child picks
up pebble, he learns the most importan,
lesson that ever is or can be learned in this
very important science. The pebble is one
/ and the most important letter in the Geolo
! gical Alphabet. 1t is called quartz, and j:
the only mineral found every where. 1t en-
tiers more largely into rocks mountains, atit
soils than any other; and also forms, unde
different colors and textures, nearly all tn,
gems used as ornaments and articles of com
merce in all ages of the world. The twelv,
precious stones placed in the breast-plate o
Aaron the high priest, were varieties o
quartz as were those named in the book O
Revelations, as forming the streets of th
New jerusalem. Quartz is also essential il
the manuiactory Of glass.
Quartz tho frs, and most i'm Dortnpt lpt
ter in the Geological Alphabet also one 0
the most instructive and interesting things il
the world, is found every where, we invit
every child in every school and family TO loo
very hard and scratches glass. 1t also has
great many colours, and is sometimes beauti
fully crystalized, with six sides, Frequent
the middle of the crystals is sixsided prisr
| and the two ends siX-sided pyramids. Grea
quantities of quartz crystals are collected b
children at Little Falls, New York and sol
TO travellers under the name of Diamonds
Red quartz with fine texture is called Ja
5 per; when purple, it is called Amithyst;
clouded, Agate; if yellow, Comedian, or pc
haps Topaz; when of pearly lustre, it
called Opal. Every child who gets a spec
4 men of quarz, or learns the first letter of III
e Geological Alphabet will be nearly certai
to procure and learn the whole, and I'M sho
5 time have a beautiful and instructive .Fdmi
d Museum,' for the entertainment of hirnse
d and his friends.