The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1899-07-06

we are TOO apt to take things for
granted. We know there is such
thing as iron, and suppose every one
else knows what it is, and that ends our
IL quiry. Suppose you were asked to
define grass, what would the reply be?
You would say, "Why, grass is grass"
Everyone knows what grass is. Web
ster defines it as "herbage and plants
eaten by cattle" But suppose you had
never seen any grass, that definition
would not be very satisfactory for there
are many kinds of herbage. The def
milton is not discriminating enough.
If was to tell you that grass was green
whiskers growing upon the face of the
earth, would not that convey just as
much intelligence? We want to know
exactly what these various things be-
longing to nature are, and the study of
geology will teach us this.
This is too profound and deep study
to give much of an idea in the short
space that is allotted to me in the
columns of THE MIRROR: but we will
make start now, sort of prelude,
as it were, and in my future papers
would be pleased to continue the SUBJ
Ject and take you with me in thought
to mountain, where we will get an
idea of how, according to the leading
geologists, it was formed, and what lies
hidden within its depths. All of which,
l assure you, you will find deeply in.
terestlng. At an other time we will
journey to a coal mine and make a
study of this most interesting pheno-
mena, and to the copper fields, and to
the sea and lakes. By taking up this
very interesting study in this way, and
by treating these various topics under
separate heads, we will all, 1 think, be
very much benefited, and finally ascer-
tain if the earth is or is not comet
Perhaps no subject has come down to
the philosophers of the present day so
incumbered with false theories, false
reasonings, and whimsical vagaries, as
geology. 1t is true, that a few writer's
of early date have reasoned correctly
from the facts then known, but the
great mass of authors upon this subject
seem to have had no other object in
view but to establish theories founded
on plausibilities, and without the aid of
facts or observations.
From the earliest antiquity men have
been inquisitive in relation to the origin
and duration of the earth, and the mu.
tation which it has already undergone,
or is likely to undergo in the future.
and in the absence of knowledge con.
corning the earth's structure, or of OBJ
servations on the phenomena, which
its surface exhibits, it was easier to,
found theories and reasons for ignor-
ance, than to take long excursions in
order to observe facts, from which to
reason correctly and to draw just con-
clusions
Apparently from the remotest records
of history, philosophy has assigned to
this earth perpetual series of muta-
tions, either by fire or water, or both.
Some supposed that the world was oc-
casionally destroyed and again renova-
ted under new aspect, and that new
creation of men and animals took place
after every such renovation. The
Egyptians believed that the Gods, by
such awful judgments, arrested the
career of human wickedness and puri-
fed the habitation of men from his
own guilt. By such destruction and
renovations the Egyptian priests assign
certain periods of time for the destruc-
tion and renovation of the world. Ac-
cording to Orphens, the supposed dura-
tion was 10000 years. Cussander
estimated it at 100000 years. However
be that as it may with respect to the
knowledge which the ancients possessed
of geology, nothing of Importance can
be said. The Creek naturalists and the
Arabian philosophers have recorded
some few geological facts, and some
Latin writer's have noticed some phe-
nomena connected with earthquakes
and volcanoes, especially the rising of
islands out of the sea; but the geologist
will find no facts or speculations con-