4 ON A PIECE OF CHALK I 



to no result, save that of entangling the inquirer 

 in vague speculations, incapable of refutation and 

 of verification. If such were really the case, I 

 should have selected some other subject than a 

 " piece of chalk " for my discourse. But, in truth, 

 after much deliberation, I have been unable to 

 think of any topic .which would so well enable me 



to lead you to see how solid is the foundation 



. m 



upon which some "oTTne most startling conclusions 

 of physical science rest. 



A great chapter of the history of the world is 

 . written in the chalk. Few passages in the history 

 of man can be supported by such an overwhelm- 

 ing mass of direct and indirect evidence as that 

 which testifies to the truth of the fragment of the 

 history of the globe, which I hope to enable you 

 to read, with your own eyes, to-night. Let me 

 add, that few chapters of human history have a 

 more profound significance for ourselves. I weigh 

 my words well when I assert, that the man who 

 should know the true history of the bit of chalk 

 which every carpenter carries about in his 

 breeches-pocket, though ignorant of all other 

 history, is likely, if he will think his knowledge 

 out to its ultimate results, to have a truer, and 

 therefore a better, conception of this wonderful 

 universe, and of man's relation to it, than the 

 most learned student who is deep-read in the 

 records of humanity and ignorant of those of 

 Nature. 



