90 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



The rising glories of tlie new era far outshine the splendors of the 



past. 



" Then from the dawn it seem'd there came, but faint 

 As from beyond the hmit of the world, 

 Like the last echo born of a great cry, 

 Sounds, as if some fair city were one voice 

 Around a king returning from his wars. 



Thereat once more he moved about, and clomb 

 E'en to the highest he could climb, and saw, 

 Straining his eyes beneath an arch of hand, 

 Or thought he saw, the speck that bare the king, 

 Down that long water opening on the deep 

 Somewhere far off, pass on and on, and go 

 From less to less and vanish into hght. 

 And the new sun rose, bringing the new year." 



THE ICE AGE. 



By L. p. GEATACAP, Ph. B. 



SOME months ago we described very rapidly the principal features 

 of that widely-extended and enigmatical formation known as the 

 Drift, and in conclusion indicated an intention to consider the views of 

 geologists as to its cause, and in particular illustrate the paramount 

 claims to our acceptance of the so-called Glacial Theory. In this paper 

 those hypotheses are given, accompanied by a proof of the manifest 

 power of existing ice -streams, thus offering the most striking argument 

 for their colossal potency in times when their size and duration were 

 factors in their influence, fully commensurate with the continental rav- 

 ages we attribute to them. 



A great variety of theories have been submitted to the world as 

 possible explanations of the appearances we have reviewed, and, 

 though we cannot occupy ourselves with their discussion, it may be 

 interesting, from their singularity and number, to enumerate such as 

 have arisen. 



First is the theory of Deluc, who supposed the erratics to have been 

 thrown upward in the air by the same force that elevated the moun- 

 tains, and that in their promiscuous descent they rolled and tumbled 

 everywhere. 



Second in order is the hypothesis of De Buch and Escher, who 

 imagined that an immense deluge swept the bowlders along its surg- 

 ing course, and landed these blocks upon the acclivities of mountains, 

 through the stupendous impetus they had acquired in its midst. 



^ No. I. was published in The Popular Science MoNTm,Y for January, ISVS. 



