madam how and lady why(豪夫人和怀女士)-第10章
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snap； and crack； with frightful roar and clang； then out of holes and
chasms in the ground rush steam； gasesoften foul and poisonous ones
hot water； mud； flame； strange stonesall signs that the great boiler down
below has burst at last。
Then the strain is eased。 The earth sinks together again； as the ball
did when it was pricked； and sinks lower； perhaps； than it was before：
and back rushes the sea； which the earth had thrust away while it rose； and
sweeps in； destroying all before it。
Of course； there is a great deal more to be said about all this： but I
have no time to tell you now。 You will read it； I hope； for yourselves
when you grow up； in the writings of far wiser men than I。 Or perhaps
you may feel for yourselves in foreign lands the actual shock of a great
earthquake； or see its work fresh done around you。 And if ever that
happens； and you be preserved during the danger； you will learn for
yourself； I trust； more about earthquakes than I can teach you； if you will
only bear in mind the simple general rules for understanding the 〃how〃 of
them which I have given you here。
But you do not seem satisfied yet？ What is it that you want to know？
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
Oh！ There was an earthquake here in England the other night； while
you were asleep； and that seems to you too near to be pleasant。 Will
there ever be earthquakes in England which will throw houses down； and
bury people in the ruins？
My dear child； I think you may set your heart at rest upon that point。
As far as the history of England goes back； and that is more than a
thousand years； there is no account of any earthquake which has done any
serious damage； or killed； I believe； a single human being。 The little
earthquakes which are sometimes felt in England run generally up one line
of country； from Devonshire through Wales； and up the Severn valley into
Cheshire and Lancashire； and the south…west of Scotland； and they are felt
more smartly there； I believe； because the rocks are harder there than here；
and more tossed about by earthquakes which happened ages and ages ago；
long before man lived on the earth。 I will show you the work of these
earthquakes some day； in the tilting and twisting of the layers of rock； and
in the cracks （faults； as they are called） which run through them in
different directions。 I showed you some once； if you recollect； in the
chalk cliff at Ramsgatetwo set of cracks； sloping opposite ways； which I
told you were made by two separate sets of earthquakes； long； long ago；
perhaps while the chalk was still at the bottom of a deep sea。 But even in
the rocky parts of England the earthquake…force seems to have all but died
out。 Perhaps the crust of the earth has become too thick and solid there
to be much shaken by the gases and steam below。 In this eastern part of
England； meanwhile； there is but little chance that an earthquake will ever
do much harm； because the ground here； for thousands of feet down； is not
hard and rocky； but softsands； clays； chalk； and sands again； clays； soft
limestones； and clays againwhich all act as buffers to deaden the
earthquake shocks； and deaden too the earthquake noise。
And how？
Put your ear to one end of a soft bolster； and let some one hit the other
end。 You will hear hardly any noise； and will not feel the blow at all。
Put your ear to one end of a hard piece of wood； and let some one hit the
other。 You will hear a smart tap； and perhaps feel a smart tap； too。
When you are older； and learn the laws of sound； and of motion among the
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
particles of bodies； you will know why。 Meanwhile you may comfort
yourself with the thought that Madam How has （doubtless by command of
Lady Why） prepared a safe soft bed for this good people of Britainnot
that they may lie and sleep on it； but work and till； plant and build and
manufacture； and thrive in peace and comfort； we will trust and pray； for
many a hundred years to come。 All that the steam inside the earth is
likely to do to us； is to raise parts of this island （as Hartford Bridge Flats
were raised； ages ago； out of the old icy sea） so slowly； probably； that no
man can tell whether they are rising or not。 Or again； the steam…power
may be even now dying out under our island； and letting parts of it sink
slowly into the sea； as some wise friends of mine think that the fens in
Norfolk and Cambridgeshire are sinking now。 I have shown you where
that kind of work has gone on in Norfolk； how the brow of Sandringham
Hill was once a sea…cliff； and Dersingham Bog at its foot a shallow sea；
and therefore that the land has risen there。 How； again； at Hunstanton
Station there is a beach of sea…shells twenty feet above high…water mark；
showing that the land has risen there likewise。 And how； farther north
again； at Brancaster； there are forests of oak； and fir； and alder； with their
roots still in the soil； far below high…water mark； and only uncovered at
low tide； which is a plain sign that there the land has sunk。 You surely
recollect the sunken forest at Brancaster； and the beautiful shells we
picked up in its gullies； and the millions of live Pholases boring into the
clay and peat which once was firm dry land； fed over by giant oxen； and
giant stags likewise； and perhaps by the mammoth himself； the great
woolly elephant whose teeth the fishermen dredge up in the sea outside？
You recollect that？ Then remember that as that Norfolk shore has
changed； so slowly but surely is the whole world changing around us。
Hartford Bridge Flat here； for instance； how has it changed！ Ages ago it
was the gravelly bottom of a sea。 Then the steam…power underground
raised it up slowly； through long ages； till it became dry land。 And ages
hence； perhaps； it will have become a sea… bottom once more。 Washed
slowly by the rain； or sunk by the dying out of the steam…power
underground； it will go down again to the place from whence it came。
Seas will roll where we stand now； and new lands will rise where seas now
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
roll。 For all things on this earth； from the tiniest flower to the tallest
mountain； change and change all day long。 Every atom of matter moves
perpetually； and nothing 〃continues in one stay。〃 The solid…seeming
earth on which you stand is but a heaving bubble； bursting ever and anon
in this place and in that。 Only above all； and through all； and with all； is
One who does not move nor change； but is the same yesterday； to…day； and
for ever。 And on Him； my child； and not on this bubble of an earth； do
you and I； and all mankind； depend。
But I have not yet told you why
