Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-10-08
ABOUT GEOLOGY.

the eartn crust anu thc ulOuc Vi lC4 =
nation of its rocks. 1t is a pleasant
and profitable study. and to the man
who has married rich and does not
no Il 10 work the amusement of bust
inc geology with the bible, or busting
the bible with geology, is indeed 3
great boon.
Geology goes hand in hand with
zoology, botany, physical geography
and other kindred sciences. Ia ider-
INV, chropody and theology are not
kindred sciences.
Biologists ascertain the age of the
earth by looking at its teeth and count
inc the wrinkles on its horns. They
nave learned that the earth is not only
of Great age, but that it is still adding
TO its age from year 10 year
1t is hard to say very much of a
Great science in so short an article. and
that is one great obstacle which am
constantly running against as q scien-
list. | once prepared Il paper in as
tronomy entitled "rhe Chronological
History and Habits of the Spheres
It was very exhaustive and weighed
four pounds. | sent it to a scientific
publication that was supposed to be
working for the advancement of our
race. The editor did not print it, but
wrote me u crisp and saucy postal card
requesting me to call with draw and
remove my stuff before the board of
health got after it. in five short years
from that time he was corpse. As
write these lines | learn with ill-con-
ecaled pleasure that he is still corpse.
An awful dispensation of Providence
in the shape of large, wilted cucum-
Der laid hold upon his vitals and crush
ed him With an inward pain. He has
since had the opportuning by actual
personal observation to sec whether
the statements made by me relative to
astronomy were true. His last words
we're: Friends, Romans and coun-
trywomen beware of the Cucumber. 1t
will w-up." 1t was not original, but
it was good.
The four great primary periods Of
the earth's history are rs follows, viz,
to-wit:
J. The Eozoic or ] am of life.
u. The Pa.1c zoic on period of ancient life.
III The Mcsozoic on middle period OF life
~. The NeCzOic or recent period of life.
These are all subdivided again, and
other words more difficult to spell are
introduced into science, thus crowding
out the vulgar head VINO cannot afford
to use high priced terms in constant
conversation.
Old timers state that the primitive
condition of the earth was extremely
damp With the onward march of
time, and after the lapse OF millions of
years, men found that they could get
along with less and less water, until at
last we see the pleasant, bIissful state
OF things. Aside from the use of wa
ter ut our summer resorts. that fluid is
getting to DO less and less popular.
Aud even here at these resorts it is
generally favored with some foreign
substance.
The earth's crust is variousy esti-
mated in the matter OF thickness. Some
think it is $500 miles thick, which
would make it safe to run heavy trains
across the earth anywhere on top of
second mortgage, while other scien-
lists say that if we 70 down one-tenth
OF that distance we will reach place
where the worm dieth not. | do not
wish to express an opinion as to the
actual depth or thickness of the earth's
crust, but | believe it is none too thick
to suit me.
Thickness Of the earth's crust is a
mighty good fault. We estimate the
age OF certain strata of the earth
formation by means of a union OF our
knowledge Of plant and animal life,
coupled with our geological research
and good memory. The older sci
ontists IN the field OF geology do poC
rely solely upon the tracks OF the had
rasaurus or the cornucopia for their
data They simply use these things to
refresh their memory.
wish that i had time and space to
describe some OF the beautiful bacteria
aud gigantic worms that formerly in
haOlted the earth. Such an aggrega-
ton Of actual, living Sirian mon
stcrs, any one Of which would make
man fortune to-day, if it could be
Kept on ice and exhibited for one sea-
son only. You could take q full-grown
nastodcu to-day, and with no calliope,
no Autographs, no bearded lady, no
clown with four pillows in his panta-
looms and no iron-iawed woman, you
-N"''t ~ hClusa VIC GOutlubuL anu sue
eesstully compete with the skating
rink
There would be but one difficulty.
Your expenses would not be heavy.
The mastodon would be willing to
board around and no one would feel
NE turning mastodon out of doors
Ii he seemed to be hungry, but he
might get away from you and frolic
away so far in one night that you
couldn't get him for a day or two even
il you sent a detective for him.
II 1 had a mastodon / would rather
take him when he is young, and then l
could make a pet OF him SO that he
would come and eat out of my hand
without taking the hand off at the
same time. A large mastodon weigh
ing hundred tons or so, is awkward,
700. lsuppose nothing is more pain
tul IMAM 10 be stepped on by an adult
mastodou.
hope 40 some future time to write
paper tor the Academy of Science
on the subject OF Deceased Fauna,
= ossiliterous Debris and Extinct
,J,ohes, showing how, when and why