The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-01-16

lduus lnC lOTeblS ana bne nlltOVS WOulu WlJOer
away. All material objects would crumble
away, and all the children of the earth would
grow emaciated, deformed, and die of. Alt
would become dry, silent, and dead.
Water is indispensable to all life, both vege-
table and animal. But water has not only done
great things for navigation, but as a steady
drink for nourishment to all living things il Is
indispensable. 1t Is as necessary TO the cedar
upon the mountain-tOp a. TO the ivy that clngs
TO the wall; as necessary TO the mastodon that
pastures upon forests as to the animalcula that
floats in the oceans deep. ALI things are nv NJ
made TO grow, to have life, and be Gro Wned
with beauty. This water, to give all these things
lie, IS supplied by the@ea All the waters in
all come out of the sea.
An impression has prevailed that the rivers
nlled the sea; but 1t is Just the 1t is the
flow of the sea that fills the rivers. You hear
and have read OF orators exclaiming "Britannia
rules the waves,n or of the quaint saving OF the
Yankee, that I'VE have but to turn the Missis
s1ppi river into the Mammoth Cave, and the
British navy would be houndering in the mud"
The rivers made the sea, but it is the sea
which make the rivers. All of the waters of the
river have once been in the clouds, and clouds
are but the condensation OF the invisible vapor
which floats in the air; and when all this vapor
has been lifted into the air by the sunbeams, it
forms in clouds, and the winds wait them over
the land to refill the rivers and refresh the earth
hoWs the earth, because its superhuitY goes
floating Off into the air to the same amount
which the ocean receives from the rivers. For
every Mississippi and Amazon which flows into
the sea, so to speak, another Mississippi and
Amazon run out of II.
The "old cceanD is the nursing mother to all
living things on the globe. All the cities,
nations, and COntlnents-all living things-Uhe
trees and beauteous flowers which brighten this
world, the trees on the hill-tops ana the deli
cate and many-tinted flowers on the wayside
all walt upon the sea for their nurture and lfe
Thus 1t is made generous gtver to the Gourish
ment OF the whole world. Without IL all nature
would return to dust. Bountiful and beautiful
mother ocean, let man never forget what he
owes to thee. So the sea is the great beneiactor
OF the world, because it is the generous Sama-
ritan which heals all, and gives life anew. We
should feel very grateful; perhaps we should
feel more gratitude If we should be far sepa-
rated from it. The ocean is the great regulator
OF the climate of the world. Natural science
teaches that were it not for the sea, that In the
tropics the deserts would be one perpetual ire,
and in the polar regions everything would seem
and De a desert of perpetual frost Then there
would be but one in the three regions fit for the
habitatiOn OF man. The one would be on fire,
the other locked up in the icy hand of the ice
king, and the middle one, combining some OF the
qualities OF both the others, would present the
only place where humanity could abide.
Whereas now, by the tempeTing influence of
the ocean, the whole world is fit Tor the homes
or men, and all over it can be found thousands
OF varying forms OF life.
The manner in which the sea influences the
temperature OF the globe cannot be precisely
down with all their intense tery heat into the
depths of the ocean, raise the temperature of
the water 10 about Sc degrees, causing an eX-
panse of the water. The water,s rising aud
swelling by this great heat moves right and
left to al quarters to ind its level. These heated
waters flow northeastward, in what is called
the "Gulf Stream" which Is a mighty river of
warm water III the middle of the ocean, three
thousand miles long, with a current switter
than that OF the "kather of Waters"
This Gulf Stream separates by actual contact
L.. - noDI - tIn
OF The North Atlantic. II sends these vast ice
bergs, swept along by the winds, across the
lines 10 the centre OF the ocean. And similar
current passes down the opposite side OF the
earth, III some places 1000 miles in breadth.
I This large, warm body OF water detache5 other
large masses Of ice rom the polar regions, and
sends them to and across the equinoctlal line
Thus the warmth conveyed Oy these streams
tempers The freezing climate OF the polar regions,
and in their turn forward gigantic icebergs to
cool and make fresh the torrd region. Thus
they serve a three-fod purpose OF benedcence
They bear to the irigld zone the superhulty of
heat, and to the torrld the superiulty OF cold
and ice; and in addition to all this, these warm
| currents cause counter currents towards every
quarter. bring from all portions of the earth
their different temperatures, which, united
make all lands fit TOR human habltaton.
Old mother ocean had been in the ice trade
LONG before man had been born, or even thought
OF such a manner OF business 1t does its bust
ness in grand way, not in little bits. 1t does
not charter vessels with cargOes OF ice or deliver
il in little carts, through little microcosm, OF
small city. But she has her great ice houses far
north and far south, and she draws whole trains
OF lceberes in her train. So she moves away
from the ournlng heat of the tropical climate
TO the colder regions OF the north, carrying
warmth to the inhabitants ce-bound land and
bringing back soitness and health, thus distribu
ting the beauties OF spring, the glorles OF sum-
mer time and the GOODNESS of winter, TO all parts
OF the globe.
The ocean is the great purifier OF the globe
Did you ever think of the fact tnat the only
possible drainage is by water? What would
become of us if it were not for the benehcenc6
OF the sta? The proportion OF decay would
soon make this eartb's surface one vast recepta'
| Gle OF corruption, whose stagnant air would
soon and swiftly breed pestilence. But for the
beneficial drainage office of the sea- such would
be the result. The sea is as essential to us fol
carrying away the decayed matter as for bring
ing in materials OF lie. Nothing could save us
II the great deep did not act as purifier of the
corrupt earth. And il it Is asked If the wind!
are not a means of publication, answer "No;'
for there ls no place TO deposit their burden
which will accumulate in their hands, and nj
all their breath with poisonous etiiuyia, anC
carry destruction In every part of the world a
once. But the rains have come from the sei
Tor the purpose OF purifying the winds anC
Cmptying their hands of their burdens. Tht
rain is ever ready for this grand purifying
ONCE.
The sea becomes the grand scavenger of tht
world II Is not one of the Street Commission
ers, who 90 on the general principle, as lait
down in Dickens "Bleak House" where is por
trayed the ''Circumlocution Office in whicl
the great study was "How not to do it," II w
we've lett to the tender mercies OF the sanltar
officers, we would not, nor could not live III ou
cities. The sea is the great purifier OF nature
which never betrays ITS trust. Where no san
5 tary company could 90, no Street Commls
, sioner would go, its million eyes ar