The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-07-16
Geology as a Pastime.

OF all outdoor pastimes geology de-
serves TO become the most popular Next
to literature il opens up the widest fields
OF fascinating thought. Although child
may rejoice in them, and a sage cannot
exhaust its pleasures, by some odd per-
Nersity we still associate geology with
shriyelled-up specimens OF humanity and
all manner of ugly pre-Adamite remains
from mites to monster Yet fossils are
little more than the words which suS-
Rcst some very ancient pictures and
splendid ideas. Most of us know that,
over and over again, Britain arose from
out the azure main hard and barren, to
be carved and softened, and covered with
verdure.
Aarthq uakes, volcanoes, floods and fur
rowing ice worked their will upon our
islands and by these and many other
vicissitudes they now contain the richest
geological records that found in the crest
of this whirling earth. We live in an
age of exhibitions and excavations but
the greatest treasure house OF ancient
lore, although IL lies near every door, we
rarely enter In stones there are not only
sermons, but romance and poetry and
mystery. If we believed this, and that
these pleasures are free as the air we
breathe there would spring up In every
one OF its objects, and in every town
we should have many such societies.
A single individual may create one II
he or she have a little intelligent en-
thusiasm and perseverance. Much may
be done by the aid OF textbooks, even II
there Is no field geologist to give IL
start. Caste should be excluded as "A
thing unworthy OF the kingdom OF knowl-
edge. Such a club or society" l know,
and IL has grown up within recent years.
Its members are men ana women, old
and young, rich and poor, learned (some
renowned), and unlearned, so II lacks
neither color nor vitality. ldleness,
physical and especially intellectual. is a
foe to fear, and as geological rambling is
it's vowed enemy, we shall combine pleas
ure with duty by joining the 'stonebreak-
ers." There is hardly a stone we tread
upon that has not an interesting story
to tell. This bit of sandstone, with its
angular grains, speaks of the waste of
an older land. OF extinct torrents and
rivers al work carrying them down 10
a lake or away 20 sea; TO be spread out
with beautiful care; then. with their
sun-cracks and rain marks, perhaps they
gradually sank into the depths, heat and
pressure hardened them, and as rocks,
they once more arise, with the impress
upon them OF plants and animals that had
passed away millions OF years before.
Another piece of sandstone, not so com
mon as the first. tells a different tale.
Great windstorms swept over thed ry.
sandy land when those grains were laid
down, and that Britain was an ancient
Sahara we can tell from the rounded
grains. A specimen OF limestone sug-
gests clear, deep water, and the activity
OF plants and animals; slate tells OF earth
shrinkage, and schist OF terrible shear
age while granite visits the light from
~. Aar, he MI xya ct ri
of basalt and pick up lava we may get
visions of terra firma as a troubled sea
which cannot rest.
How and where 10 begin geology need
cause no trouble; the shore, a mountain
top a quarry, or railway cutting may
contain the secrets OF countless age and
give UP little today and more tomor-
row. The recent ice age might make an
interesting start. and II we happen 20
live in Edinburgh, a walk round Arthur
Scat or 90 the back of Blackford Hill
takes us 20 fine examples OF the polish
ing and growing power OF Ice
Then one OF the party, perhaps, may
tell OF what wonders that moving ice
sheet wrought-how Il ploughed out lake
basins and. valleys perched rocking
stones. transported enormous blocks hun
dreds OF miles--how In fact. ~ changed
the face of the whole land. Or again
almost anywhere south OF the Grampians
we might begin with the carboniferous
age since II is 20 geology very much
what the Elizabethan age Is 10 our his
tory and literature. The coal measures
were then laid down. luxuriant forests
covered the land and pressed forward
into the lsses. strange amphibians baskod
upon their shoes. volcanoes caused val
leys and hills 20 tremble and gorgeous
sunsets nightly lit up the west Yet
man was absent and should be for mil
lions OF years 10 come
All this, and very much more we can
easily translate from the shores of Fourth
and elsewhere. Step by step. and IN this
lies It's charm. geology leads reveaiinelv
hack 20 tho chill. gray dawn OF life and
there points 20 primeval sea of gas
wherein Garth and sea were one. Look
ing on that picture. and then on the
tccming millions OF today oven the
lonely and sad must thrill with expan-
sive 10Y In presence of the mystery and
might % ever-uufolding ife.-People's
Journal Of Dundee.