DELVERS OF THE EARTH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2810, 22 January 1908, Page 79

OF THE EARTH.

(By- a Bankee.) "

' In the thirds- 1 "day? 1 or eon>*f. Cieabon-, when, although: the gradual, cooling, of -fchei earth was* slowly jwoeeeding, yet!, the .sur-~ , face waff still warm, and' heavy mistr still obscured the' direct raya^ ot the sun, generation after generation? orVc wiUliy- luxuriant and prolific ,vegetation- was accomplishing - the fqrtrktion of those' coal-measurea which! now form- the priceless- fuel: which is now so indispensable to civilised' countries. And! yet until 9. comparatively recent period inthe worldteo history that invaluable- heatproducer was' practically disregarded". To the ancients- it iff believed' to have beeni unknown.;' andt when in. the- dark "ages- ofi EngLancL an attempt was made to utilise it,. » royal- proclamation was issued fort bidding its.-uae. J * To those unaccustomed to descend into the degths 'of the eaftn ' a "-visit to a _ coal* mine is ai I somewhat startling; experience. Provided, with a "Davy" lamp, giving, less 'light than an eld. farthing .msh-light (electric light, however, ib< now doubtless employed), the visitor,, having- donned a "sou'wester" and a pea-jacket; accompanied by. a. guide, ""— steps " trpon, a. -T-square* * platform without any protecting^ sidesv and grips hpld! 'of ' the ; rope ,to , winch; "it ■< is attached. A* the word 1 pi" conupand. descent ' jommences. v Down,'. dow% ,eyer-' "down, 'into thei blackness of* 'darkness:- Sttll down, lower 'and. yet- loweo,, djßeper. and yet' deeper, for; an apparently interminable period — thougai j the descent l . probabty did; not actuaflyi ' occupy more than 'about tcccudrtex of an 'hour. At length the bottom "is "reached, and! • after 'a > long; wulk in Cimmerian, darkness, ankle' deep 'in ooal dwst, mostly albng^ naw row passages, the workings .are reached. On all sides black, grimy creatures, many! lying- on their, sides in the cleft of a" narrow seam, wielding a- short 1 pickaxe, and, as they remove the ooal; wriggling;, further, into the cleft; many, in Stygian-, darkness, burrowing into tHe depths atnd 1 fissures of am abysmally, black "chasms many hurrying^ ta ' and fro like" shadowy sprites or merry eatthgnomes holding' revel in ' the swarthy, lurid gloom, or delvingi for treasure midst th& flitting hither and 'thither af dim,' lustre* less sparkr of 'Hghfc_ And' -yet when, work is over axci they have? emerged- once- more into the light? of* day, all these ethtop-huedi du»ky. toilers are in » short time- transformed!" into healthy, clean, and honest-looking mortals: And surely in) the sighfi of Heaven it is- the same with, "ourselves. For when we emerge from th© darkness and gloom of unbelief arid the contamination- of, sin, and are- cleansed in the' atoning blood of tlie Saviour of the world- which He shed for; our redemption, we too-^ ate transformed" into' beings meeK to be associates and ' companions of the angels-- of light* in His-, realm* ol glory. birds were entered- for a- cock-crown-ing contest at. Silv-erfcon, Devon. The winner,-, a- ribisy -'fowl'/ crowed 1 SIT- times in 15lninutes.* , . , , " " • " • Wr' W. X -Bullet JJB'.,. sforefceepai", RendeLvhainV S'A., writer: — "Some liltio \ time ago-I' was called 'in to see' a. neighbouU ' who ■ waa suffering,- from" .severe cramps,, and who Teairy thought be "was past 1 Iwtfo X took ' ar battle o-fv Chamberlain's- Cjlicy Cholera* and Dianiheeaf Remedy with me,-. and 1 gave him. tfeee doses,, according; to directions, and' in' a few. hours he had) quite recovered. I bare- frequently two* ik in my own family, and am' so well eati3fi-3<J' as to -ite merits that I make a point- o£ selling it to my customers on a positiw" guarantee." lor sale everywhere^

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