madam how and lady why(豪夫人和怀女士)-第55章
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Yesthat is the famous Suspension Bridgeand a beautiful work of art
it is。 Ay； stare at it； and wonder at it； little man； of course。
But is it not wonderful？
Yes： it was a clever trick to get those chains across the gulf； high up
in the air： but not so clever a trick as to make a single stone of which
those piers are built； or a single flower or leaf in those woods。 The more
you see of Madam How's masonry and carpentry； the clumsier man's work
will look to you。 But now we must get ready to give up our tickets； and
go ashore； and settle ourselves in the train； and then we shall have plenty
to see as we run home； more curious； to my mind； than any suspension
bridge。
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And you promised to show me all the different rocks and soils as we
went home； because it was so dark when we came from Reading。
Very good。
* * *
Now we are settled in the train。 And what do you want to know first？
More about the new rocks being lower than the old ones； though they
lie on the top of them。
Well； look here； at this sketch。
A boy piling up slates？ What has that to do with it？
I saw you in Ireland piling slates against a rock just in this way。 And
I thought to myself〃That is something like Madam How's work。〃
How？
Why； see。 The old rock stands for the mountains of the Old World；
like the Welsh mountains； or the Mendip Hills。 The slates stand for the
new rocks； which have been piled up against these； one over the other。
But； you see； each slate is lower than the one before it； and slopes more；
till the last slate which you are putting on is the lowest of all； though it
overlies all。
I see now。 I see now。
Then look at the sketch of the rocks between this and home。 It is
only a rough sketch； of course： but it will make you understand
something more about the matter。 Now。 You see； the lump marked A。
With twisted lines in it。 That stands for the Mendip Hills to the west；
which are made of old red sandstone； very much the same rock （to speak
roughly） as the Kerry mountains。
And why are the lines in it twisted？
To show that the strata； the layers in it； are twisted； and set up at quite
different angles from the limestone。
But how was that done？
By old earthquakes and changes which happened in old worlds； ages
on ages since。 Then the edges of the old red sandstone were eaten away
by the seaand some think by ice too； in some earlier age of ice； and then
the limestone coral reef was laid down on them； 〃unconformably；〃 as
geologists sayjust as you saw the new red sandstone laid down on the
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
edges of the limestone； and so one world is built up on the edge of another
world； out of its scraps and ruins。
Then do you see B。 With a notch in it？ That means these limestone
hills on the shoulder of the Mendips； and that notch is the gorge of the
Avon which we have steamed through。
And what is that black above it？
That is the coal； a few miles off； marked C。
And what is this D； which comes next？
That is what we are on now。 New red sandstone； lying
unconformably on the coal。 I showed it you in the bed of the river； as we
came along in the cab。 We are here in a sort of amphitheatre； or half a
one； with the limestone hills around us； and the new red sandstone
plastered on； as it were； round the bottom of it inside。
But what is this high bit with E against it？
Those are the high hills round Bath； which we shall run through soon。
They are newer than the soil here； and they are （for an exception） higher
too； for they are so much harder than the soil here； that the sea has not
eaten them away； as it has all the lowlands from Bristol right into the
Somersetshire flats。
* * *
There。 We are off at last； and going to run home to Reading； through
one of the loveliest lines （as I think） of old England。 And between the
intervals of eating fruit； we will geologize on the way home； with this little
bit of paper to show us where we are。
What pretty rocks！
Yes。 They are a boss of the coal measures； I believe； shoved up with
the lias； the lias lying round them。 But I warn you I may not be quite
right： because I never looked at a geological map of this part of the line；
and have learnt what I know； just as I want you to learn simply by looking
out of the carriage window。
Look。 Here is lias rock in the side of the cutting； layers of hard blue
limestone； and then layers of blue mud between them； in which； if you
could stop to look； you would find fossils in plenty； and along that lias we
shall run to Bath； and then all the rocks will change。
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* * *
Now； here we are at Bath； and here are the handsome fruit…women；
waiting for you to buy。
And oh； what strawberries and cherries！
Yes。 All this valley is very rich； and very sheltered too； and very
warm； for the soft south…western air sweeps up it from the Bristol Channel；
so the slopes are covered with fruit…orchards； as you will see as you get
out of the station。
Why； we are above the tops of the houses。
Yes。 We have been rising ever since we left Bristol； and you will
soon see why。 Now we have laid in as much fruit as is safe for you； and
away we go。
Oh； what high hills over the town！ And what beautiful stone houses！
Even the cottages are built of stone。
All that stone comes out of those high hills； into which we are going
now。 It is called Bath…stone freestone； or oolite； and it lies on the top of
the lias； which we have just left。 Here it is marked F。
What steep hills； and cliffs too； and with quarries in them！ What can
have made them so steep？ And what can have made this little narrow
valley？
Madam How's rain…spade from above； I suppose； and perhaps the sea
gnawing at their feet below。 Those freestone hills once stretched high
over our heads； and far away； I suppose； to the westward。 Now they are all
gnawed out into cliffs；indeed gnawed clean through in the bottom of the
valley； where the famous hot springs break out in which people bathe。
Is that why the place is called Bath？
Of course。 But the Old Romans called the place Aquae Solisthe
waters of the sun； and curious old Roman remains are found here； which
we have not time to stop and see。
Now look out at the pretty clear limestone stream running to meet us
below； and the great limestone hills closing over us above。 How do you
think we shall get out from among them？
Shall we go over their tops？
No。 That would be too steep a climb； for even such a great engine as
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this。
Then there is a crack which we can get through？
