The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-01-27

they readily received the impression of
coin thrust into them"
There is still higher spot on the upper
side of the crater from which the spectator
can look down upon the bottom of the
crater itself and see what is going on there;
and when the wind is blowing from the
onlooker towards the crater, he may sit for
hours watching the wonderful scene dis
PLAYED before him. 'The black shaggy
bottom of the crater is seen to be traversed
by many assures or cracks, from most OF
which curling jets of vapor issue quietly,
and gradually mingle with and disappear
in the atmosphere. But besides these
smaller cracks at the bottom Of the crater,
several larger openings are seen, which
vary in number and position at different
periods" These larger apertures may be
divided into three classes % Those that
emit steam in loud snorting puffs, like
locomotive engine; (2) those from which
masses of molten material are seen yelling
out, and sometimes flowing outside the
crater in lava-stream; and (3) those within
the walls of which viscid or semi-hquid
substance is seen slowly heaving up and
down. AS we watch the seething mass in
this third class of apertures, "the agitation
within it is seen to increase gradually, and
at last gigantic bubble is formed, which
violently bursts, when great rush of steam
takes place, carrying fragments of the scum
like surface of the liquid high into the at
mosphere." "
"If we visit the crater by night" con-
tinues our author, the appearances pre-
sented are found to be still more striking
and suggestive. The smaller cracks and
larger openings glow with ruddy light.
The liquid matter is seen to be red or even
white hot, while the scum or crust which
forms upon it is of dull red color Every
time a bubble bursts and the crust is broken
up by the escape of steam, fresh glowing
surface of the incandescent material is ex-
posed. If at these moments we look up at
the vapor-cloud covering the mountain, we
shall at once understand the cause OF the
singular appearance presented by Stromboll
when viewed from distance at night; for
the great masses of vapor are seen to be lit
up with vivid, ruddy glow, like that pro-
duced when an engine-driver opens the
door of the furnace and Eliminates the
stream of vapor issuing from the funnel OF
his locomotive" A more vivid picture
could scarcely be drawn Of the process OF
volcanic action, or one conveying to the
readers mind better antidote for the mis-
conceptions that prevail regarding it.
The three essential conditions on which
the production of volcanic phenomena
seems in Mr.. Judd's opinion, to depend,
are the following :-"First, the existence OF
certain apertures or cracks communicating
between the interior and the surface OF the
earth; secondly, the presence OF matter In
highly heated condition beneath the sur
face; and thirdly, the existence of great
quantities of water imprisoned in the sub
terranean regions-which water, escaping
as steam, gives rise to all those active phe-
nomena we have been describing.
The materials elected from volcanoes during
an eruption are not, as many may think, a
wholly useless collection of debris On the
other hand, much of what is thus thrown
ont is of considerable commercial vulue.
The volatile substances issuing from vol,
canic vents are at once deposited when they
come into contact with the cool atmos,
phere; others form new compounds with
one another and the constituents OF the at
mosphere; while others, again, combine with
the materials of the surrounding rocks and
form fresh chemical compounds with some
of their ingredients. The deposits which
are thus continually accumulating on the
sides and lips of volcanic assures, consist
of sulphates, chlorides, salammoniac, sui
phur. etc. At Vulcano, regular chemical
works have been established by Scotch
firm in the crater of the volcano, great
number of workmen benig engaged In col
lecting the materials which are deposited
around the assures, and which are renewed
by the volcanic action almost as soon az
they are removed. This work, as one may
readily suppose, is not at all times carried
on with safety; for In 1873, suddea out
burst of activity within the crater took
place before the workmen could escape, ant
several of them were severely burned b.
the explosions.
As the knowledge of nutural phenomen'
and natural products extends, man is da..
by day widening the area of his operations
and allowing smaller and smaller proper
ton of those products to go to waste; ye
it may not be without feeling of surpris
that many will learn, that even the seem
ing refuse of volcanoes is rich in constit
uents that are at once valuable and useful
To Young Business Men.
You are the architects of your own fol-
tunes. Rely upon your own strength
) body and soul. God never meant that yo
J should be fed and clothed by the hand {