West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-05-30
~ HE BowsERs had jus, finished

~ 49, HC"SA-NS nau Just hnt>heu din-
W ner when package was delivered at
the house, and there was a look of
Pondetous profundity on Mr.. Bowser's
counienauee as he took charge of il and
made great show ot removing the wrapper.
Three books were finally brought TO light,
aud after glaneing At their titles, Mrs
Bowser observed
well, you must have got a new streak
on TO buy such works as these. They are
all on geology. wha, are you going to do
with them ?"
what am going TO do with them 2' he
repeated as he drew himself up and folded
his arms. perhaps I'm the sort of man to
pay $ apiece for books and use them for
COW feed. Those books were bought to be
read OF course, and ain impatient TO get
at their contents. may talk with you later
IN the evening, but do no, wish to be dis
turbed now"
Mrs Bowser sat down to some sewing,
and he selected one of the volumes and was
soon so deeply immersed that the breaking
OF two plates and the fall Of the teakettle in
the kitchen did not attract his attention. Al
the end of half an hour he suddenly rose up
and made his way out into the back yard,
and when he returned he had about a pint
OF earth in paper. Deposi,ing il on the
reading table, he passed out of the front
door, was absent ive minutes and returned
with another sample of earth. After making
comparisons, consulting his book and
gravely noddng his head, he said,
"Mrs. Bowser, don't suppose you have
the slightest interest in the science of
eeology-no woman hss--but, nevertheless,
you might turn to it for few minutes Just
for change. wouldn't exchange what
have already learned for any mans $1,000
in cash."
"What have you learned ?" she queried.
''Do you know how 'many periods there
have been in in this world Have you ever
paused TO reflect on the gigantic changes
that have taken place since this earthly
sphere was created ?"
"Not very much" she replied
''Of course not. Instead of ascertaining
that there has been post tertiary period, n
tertiary period, cretaceous, jurassic, ,triassic
permian and carboniferous period, you have
spent your time on novels. Instead of
posting yourself as to whether this is the
reptilian or the silurian age, you have been
on the rush to get pair of 6o-ccnt stockings
for 80 cents at bargain counter. can't
say that blame you, as the Lord did not
intend woman TO know much, but right here
and now is an opportunity for you to get an
idea or two"
81 shall be very glad. What are those
packages of earth for P''
81 wanted to give you an object lesson.
Here is the earth taken from the backyard
II belongs, as ! suspected, to the lower
silurian era and and is composed of calci-
ferrous sand rock"
cit looks as if it was composed of brick.
bats and sawdust," she said as she bent
over it,.
"Ihats because of your ignorance.
Woman, let wave of awe sweep over you
when tell you that this soil was created at
least 100, ooo, 600 years ago. Think of the
mighty changes in 100, ,ooo, 900 years -
The wave not only swept over Mrs.
Bowser, but so affected the family cat that
she shuddered from head to foot and wished
she was out on the back fence.
"And this other soil" said Mr.. Bowser
as he pointed to the second package, sis
from the front yard. Over a month ago
suspected that it belonged TO the permian
period, and now find that such is the case.
There was lapse of 10000, 900 years be-
tween the creation of the two soils"
"Why weren't both made at the same
time TO save cost and trouble ?" innocently
queried Mrs. Bowser
cam talking TO born idiot p ne in.
dignanily shouted. al suppose you think
this earth Of ours was created in the same
way man fills up mudhole. Let me tell
you that the earth grew foot by foot, instead
OF being dumped out Of cart, and that
right here where our house stands there was
pause in nature for millions of years"
"Why did she pause ?"
"She paused becausc-because-- She
paused because she--she-- Well, only the
Creator knows why che paused, but pause
she did, as the difference between these two
soils proves. Think Of yoG, sitting over
soil created millions and millions Of wears
ago When the soil vas growing its first
crop Of weeds, Niagara Falls wasn't two
feet high and elephants 20 feet tall we're
roaming over New Jersey as thick as feas on
a dog. II makes once neck cold to think
Of H.. What in thunder ails that cat ?"
81 think she dimly realizes what you are
talking about and is rejoicing that she
wasn't born in the jursssic period"
Mr.. Bowser didn't know exactly how To-
take the remark, but finally decided to pass
1t over for The time being. After swallow.
ing the lump in his throat he said
81 presume you have heard the word
'salina p
Eyes, few times" humbly answered
Mrs. Bowser
"And what does it mean ?"
at means salt or salty, doesn't it2"
at does, and ] shall give you due credit,
as there we're corniferous and Caskil
periods, SO also ives there a salina period.
u was during that period that the salt
springs and salt beds Of the earth were
created In digging for fshworms in The
alley The other day 7 thought I came
across evidences Of the salina period"
"You probably found a spot where some
butcher had dumped ont a barrel Of brine. "
was suggested.
81 probably didn't do any such thing !
Ihars lhe trouble with convcrslng ..iih