Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-01-23
FASCINATING GEOLOGY.
A Study That stirs the Imagination
and Wonder Of Man.

- Stooy mat sire 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
cataclysmic conception Of terrestrial
changes gave place TO a belief that
such changes had, In large part at
least, been gradual and continuous and
produced by the slow operation Of
causes stilI 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 fgura-
tive language Of that narrative had
been impressed upon the minds OF
many generations of men. It would
naturally be supported by the phenom-
ena Of earthquakes and of volcanic
eruptions, phenomena vislbly and even
startlingly productive Of great local
changes and seeming to afford at least
possible or conceivable explanations
Of all other changes which had preced-
ed them.
at gradually came to be perceived
were 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 a
shower, by the gradual conveyance Of
river mud to the bed Of the ocean and
by 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 fascina-
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 1t In the front ranks OF
contemporary science.
Those who are insensible to its
destinations or who are ignorant Of
the truths which it has revealed have
often been disposed to deny or dispute
its utility and to think that the time
devoted to it might have been better
employed. 1t might be sufficient to
say that geology furnishes the knOwl-
edge which is essential to the econom-
| ical 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
perity Of England or, as Professor w.
J. Sollas of Oxford put 1t In his ad-
dress, that 1t has conducted water to
our thirsty cities, has poured the gold
of Africa into the lap Of commerce
and found diamonds to adorn the fair.
But these things, he declared, were
subordinate to the endeavors Of the
society to foster right thinking on the
mysterious problems presented by the
planet on which we dwell, and In this
great conception of it's work he will
command the assent of all who recog-
nize what has been In past time the
eject Of right thinking upon human
history and its influence in raising
mankind to the level which its most
civilized representatives have now at
tained and from which they look for
ward to still further advances. The
vOtaries of science have seldom been
stimulated by mere utIlitarianism; but,
as a matter Of fact, utility has follow
ed in their footsteps wherever these
have been directed"