THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER. 83 
the ages, wearing the exact ‘image and super¬ 
scription ’ of the first ancestors. 
“ With this knowledge to increase the awak¬ 
ened interest, a study of living diatoms cannot 
fail to be one of great attraction, giving enlarged 
conceptions of the marvellous works of God. 
“ Returning again to the unsightly pond 
wherein so many wonderful and beautiful things 
have been found concealed, let a shallow place 
be selected where there is a plentiful infusion 
of vegetable growths. If the spot is noted 
carefully, a yellowish tinge will be found to 
prevail, quite distinct from the shade of the 
deeper waters. To a careless inspection no vis¬ 
ible cause for this difference will be found out. 
Dip where we may, however, and subject a drop 
of the water to the penetrating search of our 
instrument, and the golden hue is at once ac¬ 
counted for, and much to our astonishment. 
The discoloration is caused by uncountable mil¬ 
lions of exquisitely shaped and tinted minute 
shells or frustules, or leaf-like coverings, being 
in fact, the forms of living diatoms, minute 
homes of silica. What an array and perfection 
of geometrical forms and splendor of elaborate 
details! The deftest human lapidarian art may 
