Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-02-16

in mind that the oceans form but thin film
of water in comparison with the diameter
and the mass of the globe; and that they
are spread over its surface in the most deli
cate equilibrium AS the water in level,
shallow platter rushes to one side and
overtlows when the platter is tilted in the
slightest degree, so displacement of but
a mile or two in the position of the earth's
centre of gravity is sufficient to draw the
waters of the sea after it, southwark or
| northward, as the case may be, in an over
whelming "cyclcal deluge"
1t now remains for us to think of the
next great deluge, that of NJ. Adhemar, #
we may name it after the scientific proph-
ct who predicts it. This deluge is not to
occur, indeed, until about A. d. 5000,
and the prospect of it win hardly affect
real estate at present. Still, the causes
which are to produce a second deluge not
less general than that of Noah, are even
now actively at work. Little by little the
northern polar cupola of ice increases,
and NJ Adhemar suggests that astrono-
mers should look for the shadow Of its
gigantic outline upon the moon, during
favoring lunar ecllpses. The southern ice
diminiehos. The waters now massed upon
the south of the equator begin gradually
to transport themselves to the north. The
shores of the northern continents are
gradually submerged while in the south
the waters recede and diminish. Through
thousands of years these changes go on
slowly, as geologists note them at the
present day. But, at last, the northern
glacier having reached it's greatest eXten-
sion, and the southern its minimum, the
latter becomes sufficiently loosened from
the grip of its icy bands by the accumu-
lating heat of the sun, to break up sud
denly. "The instant of its breaking up"
says Mr.. Walker, from whose resume of
the subject we quote, sounds the knell
os universal cataclysm. AS soon as the
fragments of the great southern ice-moun-
tains are separated into floating icebergs,
drifting at the mercy of the waves, the
attraction of the northern glacial mass
becomes predominant, and the center of
gravity of the globe, suddenly traversing
the plane of the equator, passes into the
Northern Hemisphere, dragging after it,
in a mighty torrent, almost the total mass
of waters whose velocity creates hurri-
cane, accompanied probably by lightning
thunder, terrific earthquakes, and volcanic
eruptions voming forth flames and stones
thousands of feet high" A new distribu-
ton of the land and sea takes place Poly
nesia becomes new archipelago Aus
tralia is joined to New Guinea; and even
Wilkes mythic Anthracite Continent
might appear above the receding waters.
The Southern Ocean, rushing down upon
the Northern Hemisphere, will strip the
forests from their beds and bury them in
vast strata for the coal-mines of the future.
Nearly all life upon the north of the
equator will be destroyed, unless science
shall have enabled us, by employing bal
looms, or by embarking in transports yet
more capacious than Noah's ark, to es-
of the oceans. "a few tribes of families"
says Mr. Walker, Escaping to the highest
table-lands and mountain-ranges of the
earth, may survive-only to fail back al
most Immediately into a state Of torpid
barbarism. ."-APpieton's Journal.