Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1908-01-22
FASCINATING GEOLOGY.
A Study That stirs the imagination
and Wonder of Man.

A Study That Stirs the Imagination
and Wonder of Man.
Perhaps the greatest era In the his
tory of geology" says a writer In the
London Times, was that in which the
eataclysnic conception Of terrestrial
changes gave place to belief that
such changes had, in large part at
least, been gradual and continuous and
produced by the slow operation Of
causes still In activity In all parts Of
the globe. The cataclysmic conception
( had its original source no doubt In the
Biblical narrative of the deluge and In
the extent to which the highly flgura-
| live language Of that narrative had
been impressed upon the minds of
many generations of men. 1t would
naturally be supported by the phenom-
ana of earthquakes and of volcanic
eruptlons. phenomena visibly and even
startingly productive Of great local
changes and seeming to afford at least
possible or conceivable explanations
If all other changes which had preced-
I'd them.
ut gradually came to be perceived
that these great and startling events
we're really insignificant both in their
character and In their extent when
they were compared with those
wrought by the simple influence Of
weather, by the splintering of rock
surfaces by the freezing of water with
In crevices. by the denudation occa-
stoned by rainfall and to be noted by
those who are observant In the tur-
bidity of every streamlet after
shower. by the gradual conveyance Of
river mud to the bed of the ocean and
10y the alterations Of land and water
shown by fossil remains to have oc-
Cured. not once only. but frequently, in
many parts of the globe. The fascind-
ton exercised by the pursuit Of thus
tracing back the lines of natures handi-
work has been strongly felt by many
Of the greatest intellects OF the CEN
fury, and hence 1t has followed that
geology has been studied with an ar
dor which, in spite Of the compare
tive newness of the pursuit, has al |
ready placed II In the front ranks of
science.
Those who are insensible TO its |
destinations or who are ignorant OF |
the truths which 1t has revealed have |
often been disposed to deny or dispute
its utility and to think that the time
devoted to 1t might have been better
employed. 1t might be sufficient to
say that geology furnishes the knowl-
edge which Is essential to the econom-
cal and successful extraction Of the
mineral treasures of the earth, of the
coal and iron which have done so
much to create and foster the pros
)erity of England or, as Professor w.
J. Sollas Of Oxford put 1t In his adj
lress, that it has conducted water to
our thirsty cities, has poured the gold
If Africa into the lap of commerce
Ind found diamonds to adorn the fair.
But these things, he declared, were
to the endeavors Of the
ociety to foster right thinking on the
mysterious problems presented by the
'lanet on which we dwell, and In this
,reat conception Of its work he will
ommand the assent of all who recog-
lie what has been In past time the
fleet of right thinking upon human
istory and its influence in raising
lanklnd to the level which its most
ivilized representatives have now at
aimed and from which they look for
;ard to still further advances. The
otaries of science have seldom been
timulated by mere utiltarianlsm; but,
s a matter of fact, utility has follow
d In their footsteps wherever these
ave been directed"