The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-02-02
The Beauty Of Coal.


"that after cutting slice 80
thin that IL should transmit light, IL
was found that in many parts of the
pure and solid coal. in which geologists
had no suspicion that they should DO
able to detect any vegetable structure,
not only were snnular rings of the
growth of several kinds of trees beauti-
fully distinct, hat even the medullary
rays. and, what IL still more remarks
BILE, in some cases even the spiral YES
sells could be discernei." Again in an
other place, 1.-THE high state Of preser-
walton in which many Of the objects oc-
cur. the perfect condition OF the leaves.
and other parts Of many Of the ferns.
The preservation in which many Of the
sharp angles Of numerous stems and
plants known to DO Of soft aud juicy
nature, with the surfaces Of u sagiiidrie,
marked with lines. streaks
and fittings 30 delicate that the mere
drifting of day would have inevitably
destroyed them. together with the Oc-
currenee Of certain fruits which are
found in heaps and clusters. together
with many other facts of like nature
leading to similar conclusions, convince
rs that these objects have never been
subjected to drift but were buried on
the spots where they lived and flourish
ed" We quote these evidences Of the
perfect preservation Of fragile plants
and Of fruits Of Q remote age as an im-
portant reason why further inquiry as
to Its cause should be made. II these
plants were suddenly immersed in a
fluid which excluded light and air and
preserved them while becoming solid, it
- analogous to the preservation of
plants and insects In gum copal, and
Does not require unusual arguments TO
obtain relief. The presence Of trees
upright where they grew and
imbedded In coal suggests q probability
of immersion In the same way. The
recent discoveries of immense deposits
Of petroleum In subterranean cavities or
streams suggests the theory which Is
here ofPered-that this mineral OIL"
a. 1t was first called. may be the origin
Of coal and not It's product Note the
thickness Of many strata of coal-some
are sixty feet thick and are of uniform
slate of limestone floors
and roofs; and coal also has stratifica-
ton closely resembling the stratifed
rocks which deserves attention. Petro-
leum. bitumen. and asphaltum are
clsssed together as OF similar nature.
although the first 10 q liquid and the
last named solid. II these substances
are, as we believe. elementary, (of tho
Same class as salt, sulphur. etc., the
Of this question will be COM
paratively easy. We find q great difR-
Guilty In believing petroleum to be q
product. II any species of
yielded more resinous or
oily products in former ages than do
those Of to-day. these products were
either drawn from the earth, water, or
air to supply the vegetation that held
them. II also seems unreasonable to
have so much vegetation derived from
the vegetable fibre. when the entire
growth Of vegetation of any soil or eli
mate appears inadequate to represent .
uniform body Of coal sixty feet thick,
Etiquette.
Etiquette Is not as strict as 1t once
was-as when. IL courtier sat on q
red-hot stove by mistake. he had to
roost there-audit is good form to COM
pliment your hostess when she gives
you nice dinner. The Chinese, who
think we are uncivilized. and that their
table demeanor is perfect-claiming all
things. AZ they do. will probably claim
they have taught Ia this. 1t Is simply
what the Kansas folks call dead com.
mon sense" In China no conversation
Is allowed except remarks upon the
food--compHmentary, Of course-as, for
to the host:
"Oh, Beaming Sun, essence Of gentili-
", deign to allow the miserable worm
At your feet to remark Casualty that
this chow-chow is primer or words TO
that effect.
In China all plunge chop-sticks. after
y flourish In the air, ut once, and it Is
horrid form to finish before anyone else
does.
In India, especially in Lucknow, they
are overwhelmingly polite. Two natives.
once upon q time, fell into ditch,
You think they aoundcred out In
They didn't anything Of the
kind. Politsnsss interfered; one said:
"When your honor rises, then may
get up"
mo your honor must get up first"
said the second.
"How can ! take precedence Of yonr
honore Neverr'
Neither would consent to violate the
laws Of good breeding. and fear they
are lying there yet.
People who ask you to take part In
amateur theatricals are not troubled In
this way: they sometimes act as II mis-
'ionary work were needed among them
they ask you TO take part and then
make ''super" Of you.-Qui&
A chap In Harrisburg 10 getting ready
q fight . duel whenever be 10 tnsulsed.
He can split bullets on the edge OF
Ratchet sixty feet away.
a Floating psbt-Ths yacht that
sn't paid Ton.