The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-04-26
OF CYCLES ACONE
Paper on a Civilization Back
Thousands Of Years.
BABYLON AND OTHER CITIES
Prof. F. A. Hosmer's Essay and Re-
View-Recent Explorations-Dr.
w. Maxwell on Geology.

The Social Science Club had one Of
the most notable gatherings of it's his
tory at the home of Rev. D. P. Birnie
last evening. There were present
about twenty-five gentlemen. The pa
per of the evening was by Prof
Frank A. Hosmer, president of Oahu
College and his subject was early
Civilization in the Valleys Of the Tigris
and Euphrates." Other speakers were
DIR. Walter Maxwell and Rev. NJ. L.
Berger, d. D.
DR.. Maxwell exhibited a sample of
pure kaolin, which is found on Oahu
and also on Kauai This material is
found to be more pure than the fine
clays from which the most exquisite
Dresden and Royal Worcester chinas
are made. 1t is almost a snow white,
and it is extraordinary how such a
body could be derived from the black
lava. DR.. Maxwell also showed
sample of iron ore, of which he has
found quantities on Kauai and Oahu,
and in which the analyses show over
eighty per cent of oxyd of iron. 1t
manufacture of iron. DR.. Maxwell
stated that his publication on the
''Lavas and Soils of the Hawaiian ISL
ands" explained how these wonderful
bodies are being founded from the de-
composition of the lavas.
In addition to dwelling on these
bodies, which in their time will come
to have a vast industrial value, DR..
Maxwell made a statement, and gave
data, indicating the locality within
the earth from whence the boiling
IaYals come. BY comparison Of the
specific gravities of the earth as a
globe; of the earth's crust and of the
lavas themselves, he concludes that
the lavas come from only a small
depth beneath the crust, and that they
have not any connection with the pro-
found internal depths of the globe.
This is a question of high scientific
interest.
DR.. Maxwell said that at Kilauea he
had condensed the steam coming from
the floor of the crater and from the
sulpher banks. In the water thus OBJ
tanned there had not been found trace
Of saline matter. This proved con-
clusively that the fires had no connec-
tion whatever with the ocean. 1t is a
legend with the natives that eruptiOnS
of the several volcanoes of the group,
or rather of Hawaii, are invariably
preceded by heavy rains. In cOnclus-
ion, DR.. Maxwell dWelt upon the fact
that the Islands afforded the best geo.
logical field in the whole world for
the study of lavas and the develop
ment of soils from the molten masses.
Upon the Island of Hawaii may be
seen the new lava at Kilauea and in
old caves in Hamakua and Hilo dis
tricts may be seen developments thou
sands of years old.
There was the keenest interest in
Professor HOsmer's essay. A map had
been prepared making a graphic show
ing of the country now being rediscOv-
cred. Says DR.. Peters of the valley of
the Euphrates: Along this ancient
highway connecting the east and the
west lie the carcasses of nations that
have traversed it-BabylOnian, Assy- |
rian, Hebrew, Persian, Greek, Parthi-
an, Syrian, Palmyrene, Roman, Arab
and Turk-carcasses Of stone and brick
and clay broken and dismembered oft
times and heaped together in ineXtri-
cable Onfusion-though ever and
anon the lifeless body of some ancient
city, embalmed in desolation, still pre-
serves it's shape, defiant Of the hand of
time"
Professor Hosmer continued for 80
minutes after this extract from a re
cent publication. saying, in part: THE
traveller can feel no common emotion
as he visits these shapeIess mounds
the scenes of great and solemn events. !
From this valley, Abraham went forth
with his family, his servants, his flOcks
and his herds. Here NebuchadnezzaT
bOasted Of Great Babylon which he
had builded by the might Of his power |
and for the honor of his majesty. !
Hither captive Judah was led-'by the !
rivers Of Babylon, there they sat down: !
yea, they wept when they remembered |
Zion In these halls, now desOlate, |
Daniel remained true to the faith of
his fathers, rose to a governor of the |
realm and fOretold the fall of Nebu- |
chadnezzar Here XenophOn came |
with the ten thousand in the famous |
expedition Of the younger Cyrus and |