Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-04-27
NO. XXlV.'
Geological Cabinet:
BY JOSIAH HoLBRooK.
(Concl,ided.

No. %, Fossils, More than 5000 differ
i ent kinds of animals are changed lnte
stone, or petrifed { the greater portion o.
the species now extinct, or unknown in a
4 living state. Some animals thus petriGed
:. were larger than elephants others are mi.
croscoplc, or too small to be seen by the
: eye alone. Microscopic animals .t!iAs fos-
, silized, and now forming ehaik,dIiR Hall,
.. &C., were once alive. and possessed Of ths
; power of action and enjoyment. -
!. The fossil called theelilly encrinite, OF
stone lilly, has been found to. contain more
than 100 900 bones or joints. On some
portions Of the Erie Canal rocks composed
of diffsFent kinds Of eicrinites are so abun-
dant as to be used for the walls Of canal
locks. = They receive fine polish and make
beautiful marble.
Six hundred different kinds Of fossil, or
pe1riied plants, hare been discovered. In
some cases large trees, ahd even forests,
are changed into stone. Many kinds Of
plants, especially ferns, are found in slate
and other rocks s6out coal mines.
I No. %. Coral. .Myriads Of insects have
been at work for thousands Of years in for,
ming rocks and islands in many parts of the
world. They have built from the depths
of the sea large masses and ranges Of rocks,
many thousand miles IN extent. Their
work is generally in a circular form, fire.
quently surrounding islands. They lsave
openings sufficient for ships 10 enter and
space enough between their work and the
Islands for a safe harbor to ships when en-
tered. The rock thus formed IS called CO.
raj; the ranges encircling islands, coral
reefs; andthe insects engaged in the work,
coral insects Of which numerous kinds are
known, but are all small. 81 't' 49, ~
No. 25. Lava. A volcano is a burning
mountain. More than three hundred have
been discovered upon the earth. Some Of
them are constantly throwing out fire;
smoke, ashes, and melted rock others burn
for a time, and then cease, or perhaps
break out in new place. Some Of these
volcanoes have thrown masses Of melted
matter, which has passed off in streams TO
Fthe surrounding country, coy ering surface
larger than some of our States. The mat
ter thus thrown from volcanoes is called Ia
va ; and the hole or opening from which it
is thrown is called a crater. The highest
volcano is IN the Andes mountains, more
than 1900 feet high, which sometimes
throws out matter 6, 600 feet above its sum-
mt. In some cases the quantity of matter
thrown from volcano is greater than the
whole mass of the mountain from which it
is thrown. In 1888 two streams Of lava
flowed from volcano in Iceland one fifty
miles long and twelve broad, and the other,
forty miles by seven averaging one hun
drsd feet ii thickness, destroying twenty
villages and nine thousand inhabitants
Most Of the islands in the Pacific Ocean,
and many in other parts of the world, are
volcanoes. Some islands have risen from
the midst of the sea in modern times by
the power of volcanoes, 80 81
REMARKS. As a"frSt lesson for chill
dren tile Geological Cabinet here describ-
ed is probably the best that can be proyi-
ded. 1t is certainly fitted both to interest
and instruct young minds before they can
comprehend any book which is Or can be
prepared for them. The lesson is taken
from "THE BOOK" studied with eager Curl
osity by every child the first moment be
opens his eyes upon the light of heaven;
and is hence an introduction to continued
lessons through life from the same book, stu
died in the same practical, delightful way
as here commenced. ~ 2e~,
While this is successful and delightful
Introductory lesson in "GoD's OLDER Vol
uME," the book of creation, ttTefeAfc0. &
desire and furnishes aid in learning the
books of men. Children in such q course
never fail to learn to spell, read, write, &c,
almost without knowing it; as they are
sought for as instruments in their work,
They thus not only learn how to read, but
to understand what they reads absolutely
essential to making good reader, .....
Such knowledge, thus acquired, also gives
independence of mind under all crcumstan-
ces desirable--for arepublican, indispensa:
6le it is the very essence of republican
ism. AS the elements of the earth are al
so the elements of soils, a knowledge of
them is especially important for farmers
and Hence ought to be learnt by every far
mer's sons, and daughters too. The Geo
logical Cabinet is Of course peculiarly ap.
propriate for country schools not less SO
| for families. 1t becomes dotbly important
| in the country, from the ease OF increasing
It by collections made oy children, not on
ly for their schools and families directly.
but for exchanging with other schools and
families in other places and countries
Thus ".National Iaterchanges' of the most
enlightened pacific character may be estab-
lished among all sections and classes of the
human family-a tendency tc a "UNIvER-
SAL BROTHERHOOD" on earth,
Connected with this Fist Lesson in Gc-
ology are others on Geometry. also pecn-
|liaafly flied to young minds. For such les
sons s; ; simple figures are prepared, showing
the elements OF forth, as exhibited in end
less and beautiful variety in objects around
lis. These figures, such as squares, trian-
oles. hexagons, SC, are drawn on slates
and on paper also formed of paper cut and
c;o,mbined into various shapes, showing the
different crystals structure Of leaves and
wood, work of bees and other insects also
the work of human hands in architecture,
and all kinds of mechanism thus making
Geometry, like its sister science Geology,
a source of endless instruction and delight,
if used as first lessons in primary education:
Connected with tosh these sciences, ics-
hecially Geometry, Drawing is indlspensa-
BILE; while. like both the others, it is high
" DELIGHTFUL. Not only Drawing masters,
buf WHITING. masters, now almost uniform:
IL aayoacate tie sentiment Of "Draring be-
| f9s+Es Wraiiaag''-a sentiment doubted by no
one who ever tried it. l.
Hence, Geology, Geometry, and Draw.
ing, separately, and still better together,
| E:s.g q