Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-13
THE EARTHQUAKE.
1t is to the Earth What lightning
is 10 the Air.


Editor Morning NelCS: An earthquake
Is no more to the earth than "lightning"
is to the atmosphere. The one we see
continually and have become accustomed
to 1t. The other we feel quite as often,
but from the very nature OF things we fall
| to recognize the phenomenon.
Electricity is the life of the universe.
The sun Is merely the centre OF our sys-
| tenn, and, contrary to the general suppo-
| sition. does not consist of any organized
matter or form, but is in reality the most
| active form OF electric life. Our earth,
then, is as one cell in the great electric bat
| terry. Consequently An earthquake should
be regarded as favorable, iDasmuch as it
proves conclusively. so far as we are able
| understand, that the earth is still alive
and active. Now if all the volcanoes,
boiling springs, earth shocks and even tue
tides were to become mOtiOnless, then
would we have great cause for alarm lest
at any moment our little world should he
dissolved by conflicting currents, and, as
grand meteOric shower, be hurled INTO
space. But she still lives. Her pulse is
regular, and from any stopp9ge of the
pores her means of respiration sbe hap
pens to "cough' let US not imagine TOO
much.
1t Is but natural that any undue accu-
mutation OF matter will produce reverse
currents, and, as the globe justas certain
ly RESPONDS from as attracts to the centre,
the only alternative is TO clear the OBJ
stIncton. The earthquake" is the means
which nature employs and this, in my
humble estimation. she does. is in the
form Ofan electric explosion. The recur.
renee or repetition of the shocks can easi-
ly be accounted for on the generally ac-
copied theory that the centre of our globe
is in a molten or liquid state. Take, for
Instance, a pot of molten metal. The vi
brations respond exactly, when agitated,
to that of the earthquake
will not attempt to criticise the mis-
taken ideas of any one on this wonder
fully interesting subject, but would mildly
suggest that we must always look further
than the effect for the cause. Local land
slides would produce q local disturbance
CT the earth's surface, and possibly tidal
waves, but it could not, in the very nature
of things, keep up the shake.
AS to the lapse of time between concur.
rent shocks and the duration of each, they
will remain for the inventor To his
his genius must we look for the instru-
menU that will indicate the exact dis
lance from the earJh's surface and the
approximate power of the original eXplo-
sion
The more general the disturbance the
less probability will there be OF danger
Gus return. This is clearly Indicated by
reference to those districts in which the
earthquake Is of frequent occurrence. and
where often very severe and fatal shock
covers comparative small area. Such
shocks would seem to Indicate the cause
to be near the earth's surface, while that
through which we have just passed was a
deep-seated and a very terrific CONFUSION.
AS to the send" of the world let no
one have any fears about that. The same
power that can destroy, has and Will
keep alive. All history has proven moth
ing as regards the age OF this world ex-
cept thatlt is quite old, and has been
right here ''from the earliest recollec-
tiOns." Any prediction respecting the
end OF this planet is "simply an express
sion of human ignorance"
The twenty-nnth will come and go,
The ii les will always ebO and flow,
While counties ages, yet unborn,
VIII hail the beauteous golden morn
HARD-LICKS,