The sun,
while he seems to keep traveling in the heavens, never budges, but
it is the 'arth that turns round, and any one can understand, if
he is placed on the side of a mill-wheel, for instance, when it's
in motion, that he must some times see the heavens, while he is
at other times under water. There's no great secret in that; but
plain natur'; the difficulty being in setting the 'arth in motion."
"How does my brother know that the earth turns round?" demanded
the Indian. "Can he see it?"
"Well, that's been a puzzler, I will own, Delaware, for I've
often tried, but never could fairly make it out. Sometimes I've
consaited that I could; and then ag'in, I've been obliged to own
it an onpossibility. Howsever, turn it does, as all my people say,
and you ought to believe 'em, since they can foretell eclipses,
and other prodigies, that used to fill the tribes with terror,
according to your own traditions of such things."
"Good. This is true; no red man will deny it. When a wheel turns,
my eyes can see it - they do not see the earth turn."
"Ay, that's what I call sense obstinacy! Seeing is believing,
they say, and what they can't see, some men won't in the least give
credit to.
Pages:
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738