按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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
26
… Page 27…
MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
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 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？
27
… Page 28…
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
28
… Page 29…
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