Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-21
MIGHTY Is SCIENCE.
AN INTERESTED OBSERVER DEscANTs
UPON ITS IMMENSE POSSIBILITIES.
IL Mara IubabItedf "A Singular and Inn
portant Discovcsy-Footprints In
n Meteoric Stone.
written for the Dispatch.)

n Meteoric Stone.
written for the Dispatch)
| AS time masses what vast field or
enquiry Is disclosed! How brilliant anu
grand are the trophies that are now
streaming from the flagstaff OF science!
The very streets along which Achilles
/ dragged the body Of the fallen Hector
are being exposed to light; almost the
very walls OF the palace Of Beishazzar
upon which he read the memorable WORDS
| Meme! Meme! Tekel Upharsin! have been
found: the inscriptions upon the monu-
ments of Egypt are read every day by
learned scholars showing a civilization
I and refinement certainly over 5000 years
old which we'll might stagger belief.
The knowledge Of astronomy shown TO
have been understood by these ancient
people perhaps surpassed that or the
present time, and the great pyramid Is
now supposed to be a repository OF
! science. the object Of which was to pre-
serve for future generations the knowl-
ledge that was receding before the adj
vance OF barbarism. The comparatively
modern cities OF Herculaneum and Pom
peii are being unearthed and so thor
oughly explored that the words OF the
elder Pliny who witnessed these destruc-
lions and fell himself a victim to his
love of science seem but TO have been
written a few days since. The fact that
| the American continent was discovered
| long before the days Of Christopher Co.
lumbus is now admitted. and the I'M
| earthing Of the ruins Of abandoned cities
/ in Central America and the western por-
| ton Of the United States OF America
| fosters the idea that the celebrated island
/ Of Atlantis was not a myth and not
dream. Who built these immense cities
long ages ago? Who Inhabited them?
| Time will tell, because each age builds
upon the knowledge OF the past, and
science now boldly predicts that at the
very thought OF which our father would
| have shuddered.
POWER OF ELECTRICITY.
Who knows the power, the immense
capabilities OF that great and marvellous
| factor, electricity? Who has ever been
able to understand how a shadow can
be made to live In a daguerreotype and
photograph? Who now attempts TO an
swer those daring scientific spectators.
who. with the truths OF mental telepathy
TO endorse Them now boldly declare that
the soul can be proved to exist entirely
apart from the body? Who can solve
the problems OF hypnotism. or electro
biology, OF mesmerism? Who can COM
prehend the uniformity. the regularity,
and the sameness Of the qualities Of all
substances existing on the earth and on
the planets? Who can doubt spectrum
analysis?
Who is not lifted into high and
mighty and noble range Of thought by
the superb and splendid congratulations
OF that brilliant genius, Camille Flam-
marion, who boldly states that the planet
Mars is probably inhabited by a race
OF human beings who are far In advance
OF us in science AMI knowledge? Who
that has watched and studied the I'M
mense canals stretching entirely across
the planet Mars can doubt that IL Is in
habited by intelligent human beings? In
all probability they have been trying
for years TO communicate with us, and
are disturbed that we do not understand
their signs and symbols! There Is great
wisdom in the suggestion OF Camille
Flammarion that the people of the earth
at the next transit OF Mars should first
erect an enormous square covering many
square miles, dotted with the most power
full electric lights; then a larger circle;
then a still larger triangle. These three
simple things will be enough. and II Is at
least probable that the Marsians Will
reply In similar manner. Who Is there
that does not feel his soul expand with
noble aspra tons at the bare contempla-
ton OF such a tremendous idea? What
are the few millions that this square and
circle and triangle will cost compared
with the glorious the immortal possibili-
tiao Of tha Inf hn
read the splendid astronomical literature
| OF Camille Flammarion, and the closing
, chapters Of Sir John Lubbocks work
| on prehistoric times, predicting, in years
| to come. the astounding advancement OF
| scientific knowledge.
A STARTLING DISCOVERY.
These reflections were suggested TO the
| writer by a chance discovery; so startling
| and so important in its character that
! he would not venture to relate 1t, except
from the fact that It Is capable of actual.
direct. positive. and immediate physical
proof which will 10 shown TO any who
doubt its truth. / am not at liberty now
| to name the exact locality. because the
astonishment expressed by the writer
aroused the commercial instinct of the
parties who mad a proprietary interest
| in the object discovered. and hence
silence was imposed for an obvious rea-
| son.
While riding with a pleasant companion
a short time since on well-travelled
! public road In one Of the largest and
most populous counties in the State OF
| Virginia, he remarked to the writer that
| we would soon pass a most singular for
! nation, which always had for him
very great interest. Almost before he
had finished talking he directed tht
driver TO stop the carriage, and remarked
There it is" He pointed to a large
rock on the roadside. 1t seemed to me
To be beyond all question u meteoriC
rock. and would weigh. 1 suppose. tive
or three tons. 1t is about three feet high
and four feet broad. My companion said
Look at those seven well-dehned track.
OF human foot imbedded deep in tn,
rock. / did. and tine tracks are per
fectly plain and manifest, and are i'm
bedded about three fourths OF an inch IL
the rock. and appear TO be the tracks Of
child from TO 10 years Of age. Tn,
heel. toes. and instep; indeed. the entr,
shape of the foot is perfectly plain
having gone on that night TO the end o.
my journey. / was so struck with thes,
tracks in a solid rock. one of them OF
tn side, showing where the rock IN,
peeled off as the step was made. that
went back there the next morning witt
powerful magnifying glass for NOR
careful examination to satisfy myscl
that these tracks had not been cut il
this rock by human hands.
ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENT.
made the examination, and / am alb
solutely confident that the tracks w.r
made by child walking on the rocl,
There can be no possible doubt Of II
The rock Is very hard. and is meteori
In its general character. There are, per
hais. two acres or "a little more of tn
same Kind OF rocks in the same locality
different entirely and absolutely from IN
formation that surrounds them. Tha
formation Is elate: indeed. the slate Tor
nation extends for many miles aroun
these rocks.
1t Is pan and manifest that thes
rocks got there by some freak Of nature