Town Geology

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Charles Kingsley. Town Geology

PREFACE

I. THE SOIL OF THE FIELD2

II. THE PEBBLES IN THE STREET

III. THE STONES IN THE WALL

IV. THE COAL IN THE FIRE

V. THE LIME IN THE MORTAR

VI. THE SLATES ON THE ROOF

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My dear readers, let me, before touching on the special subject of this paper, say a few words on that of the whole series.

It is geology: that is, the science which explains to us the rind of the earth; of what it is made; how it has been made.  It tells us nothing of the mass of the earth.  That is, properly speaking, an astronomical question.  If I may be allowed to liken this earth to a fruit, then astronomy will tell us—when it knows—how the fruit grew, and what is inside the fruit.  Geology can only tell us at most how its rind, its outer covering, grew, and of what it is composed; a very small part, doubtless, of all that is to be known about this planet.

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No, you lift up the cover, and slip the paper in, and let the cover fall on it again.  And so, even in that case, the paper has got into its place first.

Now why is this?  Simply because in laying one thing on another you only move weight.  In thrusting one thing under another, you have not only to move weight, but to overcome friction.  That is why you do it, though you are hardly aware of it: simply because so you employ less force, and take less trouble.

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