madam how and lady why(豪夫人和怀女士)-第7章
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not be warned by the smoke that came out of the top； or by the slag and
cinders which lay all about them； till the mountain blew up； and destroyed
them miserably。
Then I think that they ought to have expected an earthquake。
Wellit is not for us to judge any one； especially if they live in a part
of the world in which we have not been ourselves。 But I think that we
know； and that they ought to have known； enough about earthquakes to
have been more prudent than they have been for many a year。 At least
we will hope that； though they would not learn their lesson till this year；
they will learn it now； and will listen to the message which I think Madam
How has brought them； spoken in a voice of thunder； and written in letters
of flame。
And what is that？
My dear child； if the landlord of our house was in the habit of pulling
the roof down upon our heads； and putting gunpowder under the
foundations to blow us up； do you not think we should know what he
meant； even though he never spoke a word？ He would be very wrong in
behaving so； of course： but one thing would be certain；that he did not
intend us to live in his house any longer if he could help it； and was giving
us； in a very rough fashion； notice to quit。 And so it seems to me that
these poor Spanish Americans have received from the Landlord of all
landlords； who can do no wrong； such a notice to quit as perhaps no
people ever had before； which says to them in unmistakable words； 〃You
must leave this country： or perish。〃 And I believe that that message；
like all Lady Why's messages； is at heart a merciful and loving one； that if
these Spaniards would leave the western coast of Peru； and cross the
Andes into the green forests of the eastern side of their own land； they
might not only live free from earthquakes； but （if they would only be good
and industrious） become a great； rich； and happy nation； instead of the idle；
and useless； and I am afraid not over good； people which they have been。
For in that eastern part of their own land God's gifts are waiting for them；
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
in a paradise such as I can neither describe nor you conceive；precious
woods； fruits； drugs； and what notboundless wealth； in one word
waiting for them to send it all down the waters of the mighty river Amazon；
enriching us here in the Old World； and enriching themselves there in the
New。 If they would only go and use these gifts of God； instead of
neglecting them as they have been doing for now three hundred years；
they would be a blessing to the earth； instead of being that which they
have been。
God grant； my dear child； that these poor people may take the warning
that has been sent to them； 〃The voice of God revealed in facts；〃 as the
great Lord Bacon would have called it； and see not only that God has
bidden them leave the place where they are now； but has prepared for them；
in their own land； a home a thousand times better than that in which they
now live。
But you ask； How ought they to have known that an earthquake would
come？
Well； to make you understand that； we must talk a little about
earthquakes； and what makes them； and in order to find out that； let us try
the very simplest cause of which we can think。 That is the wise and
scientific plan。
Now； whatever makes these earthquakes must be enormously strong；
that is certain。 And what is the strongest thing you know of in the world？
Think 。 。 。
Gunpowder？
Well； gunpowder is strong sometimes： but not always。 You may
carry it in a flask； or in your hand； and then it is weak enough。 It only
becomes strong by being turned into gas and steam。 But steam is always
strong。 And if you look at a railway engine； still more if you had ever
seenwhich God forbid you shoulda boiler explosion； you would agree
with me； that the strongest thing we know of in the world is steam。
Now I think that we can explain almost； if not quite； all that we know
about earthquakes； if we believe that on the whole they are caused by
steam and other gases expanding； that is； spreading out； with wonderful
quickness and strength。 Of course there must be something to make
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
them expand； and that is HEAT。 But we will not talk of that yet。
Now do you remember that riddle which I put to you the other day？… …
〃What had the rattling of the lid of the kettle to do with Hartford Bridge
Flat being lifted out of the ancient sea？〃
The answer to the riddle； I believe； isSteam has done both。 The lid
of the kettle rattles； because the expanding steam escapes in little jets； and
so causes a LID…QUAKE。 Now suppose that there was steam under the
earth trying to escape； and the earth in one place was loose and yet hard；
as the lid of the kettle is loose and yet hard； with cracks in it； it may be；
like the crack between the edge of the lid and the edge of the kettle itself：
might not the steam try to escape through the cracks； and rattle the surface
of the earth； and so cause an EARTHQUAKE？
So the steam would escape generally easily； and would only make a
passing rattle； like the earthquake of which the famous jester Charles
Selwyn said that it was quite a young one； so tame that you might have
stroked it； like that which I myself once felt in the Pyrenees； which gave
me very solemn thoughts after a while； though at first I did nothing but
laugh at it； and I will tell you why。
I was travelling in the Pyrenees； and I came one evening to the
loveliest spota glen； or rather a vast crack in the mountains； so narrow
that there was no room for anything at the bottom of it； save a torrent
roaring between walls of polished rock。 High above the torrent the road
was cut out among the cliffs； and above the road rose more cliffs； with
great black cavern mouths； hundreds of feet above our heads； out of each
of which poured in foaming waterfalls streams large enough to turn a mill；
and above them mountains piled on mountains； all covered with woods of
box； which smelt rich and hot and musky in the warm spring air。 Among
the box…trees and fallen boulders grew hepaticas； blue and white and red；
such as you see in the garden； and little stars of gentian； more azure than
the azure sky。 But out of the box…woods above rose giant silver firs；
clothing the cliffs and glens with tall black spires； till they stood out at last
in a jagged saw…edge against the purple evening sky； along the mountain
ranges； thousands of feet aloft； and beyond them again； at the head of the
valley； rose vast cones of virgin snow； miles away in reality； but looking so
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
brilliant and so near that one fancied at the first moment that one could
have touched them with one's hand。
