Geology as a means of culture — A. Winchell. 113 
of them — demands such imagery and metaphor and lucidity and 
-earnestness as belong to the higher ranges of polite literature. 
If a good use of la^iguage be one of the results of culture, here 
are examples for imitation, and here are opportunities for scholas- 
tic exercise. 
In commencing this discussion, I proposeed to confine my 
treatment to intellectual culture, but the friends of geology 
might well charge me with remissness, if I should fail to remind 
the reader again, of the moral and. spiritual improve?nent Mvhxch. 
comes from such contemplations as I have pointed out respect- 
ing the unity of the realm of nature, and the revelation of 
Supreme Intelligence which we read everywhere in the plans 
and methods of nature. 
I could not say more within reasonable limits of space. 
Enough I hope, has been said to establish the proposition that 
the study of geology is suited for utiiversal culttire. In its var- 
ious grades and departments it calls into exercise every power 
of intelligence^ and even comes into moving relations with the 
ethical susceptibilities. What more is universal culture? What 
more is symmetrical culture? Who can claim any discipline of 
intelligence as not reached by the influence of geological learn- 
ing? I shall not institute comparisons in detail. I leave it to 
my readers to seek out other lines of study capable of a wider 
•or more profitable culture. Their efforts will but enforce the 
truth of my conclusion. 
I am not so unreasonable as to maintain that geology is the 
only science to be studied ; or that other sciences or literatures 
do not afford particular kinds of culture to a greater extent than 
geology. I only desire the truth to be discerned and acknowl- 
edged, and acted upon, that geology is a study capable of culture 
more diversified than is found in the pursuit of those studies 
often prescribed exclusively for their cultural value. 
I have presented geology simply as a means of culture. I 
have not considered it as a meafis of useful knoivledge. An 
■elucidation of the utilitarian side of geologic study would show 
that in geology we possess the means of uniting general culture 
with the attainment of useful knowledge. Thus is doubled the 
claim of geological study upon our regards as educators and 
promoters of the best civilization. 
