The weekly Butte record., 1861-06-08
The Bottom of the Sea.


Our investigations go to show that the
roaring wave and the mightiest billows OF the
ocean repose, not upon hard and troubled BEDS
but upon cushions of still water; that every
where at the bottom of the deep sea the solid
ribs of the earth are protected, as with gar
ment, from the abrading action of its currents !;
that the cradle Of its restless waves is lined by
stratum Of water at rcst or so nearly at rest
that it can neither wear nor move the highest
bit of drift that lodges there. The uniform
appearance of these microscopic shells, and the
almost total absence among them of any sedi-
ment from the sea or foreign matter, suggests
most forcibly the idea of perfect repose at the
bottom of the sea. Some of the specimens are
as pure and as free from sand as the fresh-faen
snow flake is from the dust of the earth In
deed these soundings almost prove that the
sea- like the snow-cloud with its fakes in
calm, is always letting fall on its bed showers
of these minute shells and we may readily
imagine that the wrecks which strew its bot
tom, are in process Of age, hidden under this
feecy covering, presenting the rounded ap-
pearance which is seen over the body of the
traveller who has perished in the snow-storm
The ocean, especially in and near the tropics,
swarms with life. The remains of myriads of
moving things are conveyed by currents, and
scattered and lodged in the course of time all
over its bottom. This process, continued for
ages, has covered the depths Of the ocean as
with mantle, consisting of organisms as deli
cate as hoar frost, and as light in the waters
as down is in the air. The tooth of running
waters is very sharp. See how the Niagara
has cut its way through layer after layer of
solid rock But what is the Niagara, with
all the fresh water courses Of the world, by tie
side of the great currents Of ocean. And what
is the pressure of fresh water upon river beds
in comparison with the pressure of ocean wa
ter upon the bottom of the deep sea ? 1t is
not so great by contrast as the cutters in the
street are to the cataract. Then why have
not the currents Of the sea worn its bottom
away? Simply because they have not been
permitted to get down to it.
VERDICT OF JURY OF BoYs-When Dr.
Nathaniel Prentice taught public school in
Roxbury, he was very mnch favorite but
his patience at times would get very much ex-
hausted by the infractions of the school rules
by the scholars. On one OCCASION in rather
worthy way, he threatened to punish with six
blows of a heavy ferule, the first boy detected
in whispering, and appointed some as detectors
Shortly after one of these detectors shouted
Master, John Zeigler is whispering."
John was called up, and asked if it was a
fact. John, by the way, was favorite both
of his teacher and schoolmates.)
" Yes" answered John. 4" 1 was not aware
what l was about. | was intent on working
out sum, and requested the one who sat next
me reach me the arithmetic that contained the
rule which wished to see"
The DR.. regretted his hasty threat, but told
John that he could not suffer him to whisper
or escape the punishment, and continued
:" wish l could avoid it, but cannot with
out forfeiture Of my word, and the consequent
loss of my authority l will, he continued,
"leave it to any three scholars you may
choose, to say whether or not omit the pun
ishment."
John said he was agreed to that, and imme-
diately called out G. s., T.. D., and D. P. D.
The doctor told them to return verdict,
which they soon did latter consultation) as
follows:
"The masters word must be kept inviolate;
John must receive the threatened six blows of
the ferule but it must be inflicted on voun-
tary proxies-and we, the arbitrators, will
share the punishment, by receiving each Of us,
two of the blows"
John who had listened to the virdict, step
stepped up to the doctor, and, with outstretch-
ed hand, exclaimed:
Master, here is my hand; they shan't be
struck blow. l will receive the punish
ment."
The doctor, under pretense of wiping his face,
shielded his eyes, and telling the boys to go to
their seats, said he would think of it. | be-
lieve he did think of it to his dying day, but
the punishment was never inflicted.
CANT GO THAT.-Some one was telling an
Irishman that somebody had eaten ten saucers
OF ice cream, whereupon Pat shook his head
So you don't believe it ?' With a nod, Pat
answered, behave in the crane, but not in
the saucers"
The following appears in the obituary of an
exchange:
Maria Brown, wife of Timothy Brown,
aged eighty-eight years. She lived with her
husband fifty years, and died with the conf
dent hope of better life"
q .Toho who wac tho yisnst man 2'