The powers of the atmosphere,
great as they are and mighty for destruction as they may become, are at
times surpassed by those which abide within the earth, deep laid in the
so-called everlasting rocks, slumbering often through generations, but
at any time likely to awaken in wrath, to lift the earth into quaking
billows like those of the sea, or pour forth torrents of liquid fire
that flow in glowing and burning rivers over leagues of ruined land.
Such is the earth with which we have to deal, such the ruthless powers
of nature that spread around us and lurk beneath us, such the terrific
forces which only bide their time to break forth and sweep too-confident
man from the earth's smiling face.
THE SUBTERRANEAN POWERS
The subterranean powers here spoken of, those we had denominated earth's
demons of destruction, are the volcano and the earthquake, the great
moulding forces of the earth, tearing down to rebuild, rending to
reconstitute, and in this elemental work often bringing ruin to man's
boasted fanes and palaces.
No one who has ever seen a volcano or "burning mountain" casting forth
steam, huge red-hot stones, smoke, cinders and lava, can possibly forget
the grandeur of the spectacle. At night it is doubly terrible, when
the darkness shows the red-hot lava rolling in glowing streams down
the mountain's side. At times, indeed, the volcano is quiet, and only
a little smoke curls from its top. Even this may cease, and the once
burning summit may be covered over with trees and grass, like any other
hill.
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