METHOD IN THE GROWTH OF CONTINENTS. 311 



ed between the rocky leaves of the mountains, were the 

 layers of carbon, changed from the poison to the comfort 

 of the coming man ! 



To recount the events of the following ages is to repeat 

 the story of the past. By-and-by the plastic hand of 

 Nature had moulded the continent to its destined features. 

 It seemed to need but man to be a finished work. But 

 the Creative Architect contemplated a higher finish than 

 human wisdom could have contrived. Now that the At 

 lantic and Pacific had completed those portions of the con 

 tinent in their more immediate vicinage, it remained for 

 the smaller sea which surrounds the pole to develop by its 

 pressures the northern slope of the land, and thus to be 

 come the remote agent in strewing the surface of the rocks 

 with an arable soil. The uplift of the arctic regions 

 brought on the reign of ice, and wintry devastation swept 

 over the late verdant landscapes. The downthrow of the 

 Arctic highlands ameliorated the climate, and Spring 

 again visited the icy fields. The movements of ice and 

 water left the surface covered with cubic miles of rubbish 

 produced from the destruction of the underlying rocks. 

 But the entire continent was destined to a new baptism. 

 The once forbidden ocean was readmitted to career in tri 

 umph over states that had long ago been reclaimed from 

 his dominion. Michigan disappeared beneath the wave, 

 and Ohio, and Pennsylvania, and New York, and Canada. 

 The entire northern and middle regions of the continent 

 sank down to a level lower than had been reached since 

 the deposition of the coal. Then, in due time, began the 

 last resurgence of the land. By degrees the finny waters 

 shrunk back nearly to their former lines. Now the river 

 channels were dug out ; and now the Niagara began anew 

 to plow its stupendous gorge. Unknown ages passed, and 

 man assumed the sceptre of the earth. 



