Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-05-06
THE SEVEN AGES OF THE WORLD.



, American we fully illustrated sci
. entific lecture entitled, "a Trip t,
the Moon," which was given at thu
Barnegie Music Hall, in this city, fo
several weeks in succession.
This interesting lecture has been
followed by another entitled "The
Seven Ages OF Our World, or from
| Chaos to Man," which IS illustrated
in much the same way. The lecturer
began his discourse by stating the
general belief of astronomers and
physicists, which IS to the effect that
the earth must have existed at one
time in a state of vapor, that is, it
was merely a nebula, that gravitation
asserted itself, drew the nebulous
particles nearer and nearer together
until finally the matter assumed the
shape Of sphere, that being the
form which permits Of the nearest ap.
proach of every particle of mass to-
wards the center OF attraction.
The first scene, entitled Chaos,
when FIRST presented, is merely mass
Of rushing vapors, accompanied by
surging and seething sounds, indcat-
ing great activity IN the chaotic mass.
Gradually, and while weird colors
play upon the vapors, it subsidies,
showing globe with an ustable crust.
The first land then appeared. After
an interval, representing millions OF
years, the Devon'an age was illus
trated by a scene in which were vol.
canic eruptions, electrical displays in
the form of lightning, and all of the
seething, rumbling sounds which ac-
company volcanic eruption. After
another interval representing a few
millions Of years, magnificent scene
was presented, representing the car
boniferous age, IN which huge moss
and rush-Iike plants were seen.
THIS was followed by scene rep
resenting the formation Of coal. The
dense poisoning gases upon the
earth at this age having been largely
absorbed by vegetation, the supply of
carbon in the atmosphere was SO far
dismissed that it was insufficient for
the support of these gigantic plants,
consequently they decayed and fell,
forming the foundations for the coal
beds which have been discovered in
the more recent days of civilization.
Next was presented Permian land
scape which was followed by another
scene representing the age OF rep
tiles, and showing the monsters of
the Jurassic time. Some of the crea-
lures shown, the lecturer said, must
have weighed twenty tons. Many
remains of the larger reptiles of this
age have been found in the western
portion of our own country. Then
followed landscape of the cretaceous
era and view at the bottom OF
chalk sea. Then the audience was
presented with view representing
the dawn of the modern world, show
ing a scene which the lecturer said
might we'll be located in Central
Park or some of the environs of the
city.
In the illustration OF the age of
glaciers he described the manner
in which the huge mammoths were
entombed IN crystal ice. Then was
given an illustration OF the homes of
the first men, the lake jewellers.
The last scene of the series repre-
sented the age of civilization, show
ing architecture in high state of
perfection, engineering works and
modern dwellings. In this and in all
other scenes the artistic work is very
effective, and the mechanical and
light effects are striking and some
times startling.
The discourse delivered by Mr..
Garrett P. Serviss was not only ex-
tremely interesting and entertaining
but highly instructive.