madam how and lady why(豪夫人和怀女士)-第9章
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began； and from them you can guess well enough for yourself what a town
looks like which has been ruined by an earthquake。 Of the misery and
the horror which follow such a ruin I will not talk to you； nor darken your
young spirit with sad thoughts which grown people must face； and ought
to face。 But the strangeness of some of the tricks which the earthquake
shocks play is hardly to be explained； even by scientific men。 Sometimes；
it would seem； the force runs round； making the solid ground eddy； as
water eddies in a brook。 For it will make straight rows of trees crooked；
it will twist whole walls roundor rather the ground on which the walls
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standwithout throwing them down； it will shift the stones of a pillar one
on the other sideways； as if a giant had been trying to spin it like a
teetotum； and so screwed it half in pieces。 There is a story told by a wise
man； who saw the place himself； of the whole furniture of one house being
hurled away by an earthquake； and buried under the ruins of another house；
and of things carried hundreds of yards off； so that the neighbours went to
law to settle who was the true owner of them。 Sometimes； again； the
shock seems to come neither horizontally in waves； nor circularly in
eddies； but vertically； that is； straight up from below； and then thingsand
people； alas！ sometimesare thrown up off the earth high into the air； just
as things spring up off the table if you strike it smartly enough underneath。
By that same law （for there is a law for every sort of motion） it is that the
earthquake shock sometimes hurls great rocks off a cliff into the valley
below。 The shock runs through the mountain till it comes to the cliff at
the end of it； and then the face of the cliff； if it be at all loose； flies off into
the air。 You may see the very same thing happen； if you will put marbles
or billiard…balls in a row touching each other； and strike the one nearest
you smartly in the line of the row。 All the balls stand still； except the last
one； and that flies off。 The shock； like the earthquake shock； has run
through them all； but only the end one； which had nothing beyond it but
soft air； has been moved； and when you grow old； and learn mathematics；
you will know the law of motion according to which that happens； and
learn to apply what the billiard…balls have taught you； to explain the
wonders of an earthquake。 For in this case； as in so many more； you
must watch Madam How at work on little and common things； to find out
how she works in great and rare ones。 That is why Solomon says that 〃a
fool's eyes are in the ends of the earth；〃 because he is always looking out
for strange things which he has not seen； and which he could not
understand if he saw； instead of looking at the petty commonplace matters
which are about his feet all day long； and getting from them sound
knowledge； and the art of getting more sound knowledge still。
Another terrible destruction which the earthquake brings； when it is
close to the seaside； is the wash of a great sea wave； such as swept in last
year upon the island of St。 Thomas； in the West Indies； such as swept in
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upon the coast of Peru this year。 The sea moans； and sinks back； leaving
the shore dry； and then comes in from the offing a mighty wall of water； as
high as； or higher than； many a tall house； sweeps far inland； washing
away quays and houses； and carrying great ships in with it； and then
sweeps back again； leaving the ships high and dry； as ships were left in
Peru this year。
Now； how is that wave made？ Let us think。 Perhaps in many ways。
But two of them I will tell you as simply as I can； because they seem the
most likely； and probably the most common。
Suppose； as the earthquake shock ran on； making the earth under the
sea heave and fall in long earth…waves； the sea…bottom sank down。 Then
the water on it would sink down too； and leave the shore dry； till the sea…
bottom rose again； and hurled the water up again against the land。 This is
one way of explaining it； and it may be true。 For certain it is； that
earthquakes do move the bottom of the sea； and certain； too； that they
move the water of the sea also； and with tremendous force。 For ships at
sea during an earthquake feel such a blow from it （though it does them no
harm） that the sailors often rush upon deck fancying that they have struck
upon a rock； and the force which could give a ship； floating in water； such
a blow as that； would be strong enough to hurl thousands of tons of water
up the beach； and on to the land。
But there is another way of accounting for this great sea wave； which I
fancy comes true sometimes。
Suppose you put an empty india…rubber ball into water； and then blow
into it through a pipe。 Of course； you know； as the ball filled； the upper
side of it would rise out of the water。 Now； suppose there were a party of
little ants moving about upon that ball； and fancying it a great island； or
perhaps the whole world what would they think of the ball's filling and
growing bigger？
If they could see the sides of the basin or tub in which the ball was；
and were sure that they did not move； then they would soon judge by them
that they themselves were moving； and that the ball was rising out of the
water。 But if the ants were so short… sighted that they could not see the
sides of the basin； they would be apt to make a mistake； because they
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would then be like men on an island out of sight of any other land。 Then
it would be impossible further to tell whether they were moving up； or
whether the water was moving down； whether their ball was rising out of
the water； or the water was sinking away from the ball。 They would
probably say； 〃The water is sinking and leaving the ball dry。〃
Do you understand that？ Then think what would happen if you
pricked a hole in the ball。 The air inside would come hissing out； and the
ball would sink again into the water。 But the ants would probably fancy
the very opposite。 Their little heads would be full of the notion that the
ball was solid and could not move； just as our heads are full of the notion
that the earth is solid and cannot move； and they would say； 〃Ah！ here is
the water rising again。〃 Just so； I believe； when the sea seems to ebb
away during the earthquake； the land is really being raised out of the sea；
hundreds of miles of coast； perhaps； or a whole island； at once； by the
force of the steam and gas imprisoned under the ground。 That steam
stretches and strains the solid rocks below； till they can bear no more； and
snap； and crack； with frightful roar and clang； then out of holes and
chasms in the
