Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-10-07

freak of nature. The average citizen
of the world has some conception of
an Earthquake, and most generally q
we'll defined idea of volcano. Heav-
ing plains, falling edifices, shaking
mountains, terrified humanity, make
up the idea conveyed by the word
earthquake. 1t Is synonymous with
horror and destruction. People shrink
from the thought of residence in a
country where such powerful elements
are working beneath them.
The Californian. however, has a
very mild idea of the terrible visitor.
In fact, he looks upon him with as lit
tie fear as do the school boy visitors to
the menagerie, upon tame elephant.
We might 60 so far as to claim that it
has come to be looked upon with a
feeling Of affection. The old "fogiesp
and sloths in the neighborhood have
their blood stirred up little by the
occurrence, and are temporarily
awakened to progress action. The
news gatherer has sensation to break
the monotony of his routine, and Mrs.
PILGARLIC is furnished with topic Of
conversation that for time at least,
protects the character of the neigh
bors. The delightful effects of an elec.
trio shock are had gratis, and many an
old renegade gets off a first-class pray
er in the midst of the confusion. Then
the entire population has the pleasant
surprise oil inspection that not even a
window pane has been broken, and
and can congratulate themselves and
one another on such miraculous de-
liverance. These earthquakes, too,
come so seldom that We suspect the
telegraphic reporters of occasionally
getting up one to attract attention,
and, solicit a little cheap sympathy.
| Certain it is that occasionally morn
ing journal has the startling headlines
announcing an earthquake just as it
went to press, and it is as much news
| to the people of the town as to parties
a thousand miles distant. Indeed, we
are prone to believe that some of the
less attractive localities get up earth
quakes to bring in visitors, and it may
be in the distant future that an occa-
sional slight shake will be one of the
leading recommendations of county.
and lands in the Earthquake belt' be
sought at high prices.
Seriously considered our people need
give themselves no alarm concerning
the subterranean fires. Though it is
impossible in the present state of our
knowledge concerning the sources of
volcanic action to say with certainty
that any particular section will never
be visited by extraordinary convul-
sions, we yet have pretty fair basis
for establishing the locality of volcanic
disturbance at least for few centu-
ries to come. The plow-share Of ruin
has been or Will be driven over the
entire face of the globe. At one peri
cd or another all countries pass
through the volcanic period. When
| the work of the secret force is finished
it removes to another locality. The
"yo!cano's torchn warns mankind OF
the existence of the dangerous ele-
ment. Where the fires have gone out
in those great crucibles of nature the
earthquake does not lurk. On this
coast we know that the subterranean
forces have been at work for untold
ages, and having ended their work
left the land fitted in all respects for
the abode of man. We can safely
claim that nature has finished this
country, and that we are henceforth
safe from the disturbing element. The
grandest mountain ranges in the world
have been raised up. The ocean bed
has been lifted up to the clouds. With
In the bowels of these grand monu-
ments of the power Of natures God
are buried treasures such as never be-
fore greeted the eyes of man, while
their rocky bones contain the material
to enrich rhe valleys for millions of
centuries to come. The salubrity Of
the climate and the fertility Of the
soil could not be improved. The prim-
tive races of the continent no doubt
gazed out from the summit OF the
Black Hills into the foaming billows
and saw the Sierras arising from the
seas This last, best addition to
North America having been finished,
the great power moved still towards
the setting sun, and is rearing a con-
| tinent in the center of the vast Pacific.
Kilauea shows its presence meath the
surface of the vasty deep. A few Gen.
turies more and new world will rise
from the waters, as did Australia.
California occasionally feels the pres
ence of these vast fires in the worlds
heart, but only feeble vibration of
| the convulsions far out in the Pacific.
Latest kilograms.