Impressions 



giving weeds a chance to grow, we know very 

 little. 



One prominently outstanding fact is that at- 

 tempted histories, as yet, are continually con- 

 tradicted, as we see new exposures of the vari- 

 ous deposits. They are to be accepted as of no 

 greater value than that of being suggestive. 

 We can gather useful hints from the literature 

 of the subject, but little else. Yet, not an au- 

 thor but has laid down the * 'facts" as a judge 

 does the law that thus-and-so was the se- 

 quence of events from the fierce arctic condi- 

 tions of the glacial period to the present day. 

 This is not too strong a statement; for each 

 geologist, as he comes, contradicts his predeces- 

 sor, leaving the poor layman, as he grows older, 

 to find only confusion steadily worse con- 

 founded. Can it be, as in some other occupa- 

 tions in this life, geologists are at their best 

 when not discussing geological subjects! 



By actual count, taking notes of what was 

 said in the field at the time, in their presence, 

 I find that eleven men have expressed sixteen 

 opinions five of them strongly inclined to 

 their favorite explanation, but adding: "Or. it 



might have been that " 



111 



