The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-02-06

mcns from all parts OF tic world. This, for
instance. comes from the abbey of Fcohanp;
that from the temple OF Venus Athor; tlis
from the tower of Georges dAmboise, at
Ruurnj aud this other from the ancient tombs
of Upper Egypt Who knows il part of il
has not formerly loatcd in the atmosphere
around the pharoahs.
But of what are these various specimens
Of dust c,inposcd? Their constituents may
be- divilcd into two grulris--onc having a
mineral origin. and the being derived from
organised nature.
The organic constituents are not very va
ricd in character they are merely the dcbris
OF rocks reduced to impalpablc powder by
the mechanical forces ever active IN nature
--hcut and COLI. raii and wind, aluvial
rocks in the plains and valleys plutonic
rocks in mountains uf igucullS origin.
The organic remains aro present, on the
contrary. in the greatest diversity. In H.
lustratlun nf this let IFS. il possible imagine
that by some supernatural power, all the
existing animals and plants were suddenly
removed trolD the surface of the earth, and
that in the midst of this vasl void one soli
tary naturalist were placed only living
inhabitant remaining on the globe. Let us
now suppose that there still remains in his
breast somc taste for study. and let us place
III his hands powerful microscope.
Does lc desire to know what plants for
mcrly iourishcd on tho soil which lac tramp
lea under foot what species of animals were
they which formerly inhabited thcsc vast
deserts. lie; him gather II pinch Of dust
from that column which IL standing in the
midst oG the universal ruin.
lie plac X it unlcr an adequate magnify.
ing power, and there bcholds the relics Of
all organised beings, from the parasitic lich-
on to the must perfect plant; from the low
eat zo"plIytc mp to . man.
SC, first. these infinitely minute worms,
these rot,icrr, with bodies terminating in
tw" ciliry crowns, like little wheels; these
skclltol,s ui infusorir, those strange animal
cuIT, which are capable of splitting up
spontaneously into several living pieces.
Alou% VITA these Hoophytcs he secs the
remains ui the more highly organised be-
in%s; some fragments of hard and horny
wings recall to ha mind those wng-shcaths,
or clyira, under which certain insccts-nanl-
ed on this account cclcoptcra hide their
membranes and transparent wings; some
! fine scales remind him also Of the lcpidop-
| terra or butterflies; from these gos6amcr fill
/ amcnts he recognises the floating web OF
/ the spider. and, lastly, the hairs from count
,'"S Va'ie'i's "' ica'hcrS ann SKINS trst',y
|" nun '0at i'i' ar was proplcd WIN hiruS
/ ahm l'e c,r,h WIN hlalhinllrla.
! ne """''S oi the vegetable kinGdom arc
not less numerous. see Tor instance, these
/ fragments "I cclIuicS ana pointed, striped
or lhddcr-iormcd vessels. These remnants
"i spiral vessels are characteristic oi plants
| wan ono or more sccd-lohcs or cotylcdons
! u the remains 81 woody fibre arc not 50
| plentiful, "n the other hand there are grains
nl pollen, TUFTS IRON composite llowcrs, and
the sharp sp'cnlic or darts OF the stinging
nrttlr to hc met with III abundance; and
lastly, the illamcnts ot cotton, tinted blue
red, or green, arc satisfactory evidence OF
/ human industry.
b'lt tiL't winch more especially deserves
| attention. IL the rctnarkahlc abundance ol
S'"ch Er"n,'''s IN the IN the ariel dust; and
II must nor h' imagined that this starch has
!"S' any "i us rr"pCrtlcS--it stu diss"lvcs
III n"l''n% wator-solut'on OF soda still caus
,S !, =" "'iIaS' , lit volume" immediately
,,Hu',rh a ,t uI,,r :" v'o''! ''''. W9oit pace"
" ,"','r' " ~, W"I"' ~ mas re-
''' "', .t ,'cS ~ '''c '''"9t recently
! t''F'," "'n''n' Nc''"'' ",''' 1t "c sup