October 30, 2025 • 15 mins
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter twenty two, Sunday below Ground. I awoke on Sunday
morning without any sense of hurry and bustle attendant on
an immediate departure. Though the day to be devoted to
repose and reflection was spent under such strange circumstances and
(00:23):
in so wonderful a place, the idea was a pleasant one. Besides,
we all began to get use to this kind of existence.
I had almost ceased to think of the sun, of
the moon, of the stars, of the trees, houses and towns,
in fact, about any terrestrial necessities. In our peculiar position,
(00:50):
we were far above such reflections. The grotto was a
vast and magnificent hall. Alone on its granitic soil, the
stream flowed placidly and pleasantly. So great a distance was
it now from its fiery source, that its water was
(01:13):
scarcely lukewarm, and could be drunk without delay or difficulty.
After a frugal breakfast, the professor made up his mind
to devote some hours to putting his notes and calculations
in order. In the first place, he said, I have
a good many to verify and prove, in order that
(01:37):
we may know our exact position. I wish to be able,
on our return to the upper regions, to make a
map of our journey, a kind of vertical section of
the globe, which will be, as it were, the profile
of the expedition. That would indeed be a curious work, Uncle,
(02:01):
But can you make your observations with anything like certainty
and precision? I can. I have never, on any occasion
failed to note with great care the angles and slopes.
I am certain as to have made no mistake. Take
the compass and examine how she points. I looked at
(02:26):
the instrument with care east one quarter southeast. Very good,
resumed the professor, noting the observation, and going through some
rapid calculations, I make out that we have journeyed two
hundred and fifty miles from the point of our departure.
(02:49):
Then the mighty waves of the Atlantic are rolling over
our heads. Certainly, and at this very moment, it is
possible that tempests are raging above, and that men and
ships are battling against the angry blast just over our heads.
(03:10):
It is quite within the range of possibility, rejoined my uncle, smiling,
and that whales are playing in shoals, thrashing the bottom
of the sea. The roof of our adamantine prison be
quite at rest. At that point there is no danger
(03:34):
of their breaking through. But to return to our calculations,
we are to the southeast two hundred and fifty miles
from the base of Sneffels, and according to my preceding notes,
I think we have gone sixteen leagues in a downward direction.
(03:56):
Sixteen leagues fifty miles, I cried, I am sure of it.
But that is the extreme limit allowed by science for
the thickness of the Earth's crust, I have replied, referring
to my geological studies, I do not contravene that assertion
(04:19):
was his quiet answer. And at this stage of our journey,
according to all known laws on the increase of heat,
there should be here a temperature of fifteen hundred degrees
of raheumor there should be, you say, my boy, in
(04:41):
which case this granite would not exist but in a
state of fusion. But you perceive, my boy, that it
is not so, and that facts, as usual are very
stubborn things over rule all theories. I am forced to
(05:03):
yield to the evidence of my senses. But I am
nevertheless very much surprised. What heat does the thermometer really indicate,
continued the philosopher twenty seven six tenths, so that science
(05:23):
is wrong by fourteen hundred and seventy four degrees in fourteenths,
according to which it is demonstrated that the proportional increase
in temperature is an exploded error. Humphrey Davy here shines
forth in all his glory. He is right, and I
(05:46):
have acted wisely to believe him. Have you any answer
to make to this statement? Had I chosen to have spoken,
I might have said a great deal. I in no
way admitted the theory of Humphrey Davy. I still held
out for the theory of proportional increase of heat, though
(06:08):
I did not feel it. I was far more willing
to allow that this chimney of an extinct volcano was
covered by lava of a kind refractatory to heat, in fact,
a bad conductor, which did not allow the great increase
(06:29):
of temperature to percolate through its sides. The hot water
jet supported my view of the matter. But without entering
on a long and useless discussion or seeking for new
arguments to contravert my uncle, I contented myself with taking
(06:51):
up facts as they were well sir, I take for
granted that all your calculations are correct, but allow me
to draw from them a rigorous and definite conclusion. Gone,
my boy, have you say, cried my uncle good humoredly.
(07:12):
At the place where we now are, under the latitude
of Iceland, the terrestrial depth is about fifteen hundred and
eighty three leagues. Fifteen hundred eighty three and a quarter. Well,
suppose we say sixteen hundred in round numbers. Now, out
(07:36):
of a voyage of sixteen hundred leagues, we have completed sixteen.
As you say, what then, at the expense of a
diagonal journey of no less than eighty five leagues exactly,
we have been twenty days about it, exactly twenty Now
(08:00):
sixteen is the hundredth part of our contemplated expedition. If
we go on in this way, we shall be two
thousand days, that is about five years and a half
going down. The professor folded his arms, listened, but did
(08:22):
not speak, without counting that if a vertical descent of
sixteen leagues cost us a horizontal of eighty five, we
shall have to go about eight thousand leagues to the southeast,
and we must therefore come out somewhere in the circumference,
(08:45):
long before we can hope to reach the center. Bother,
your calculations, cried my uncle, and one of his old rages.
On what basis do they rest? How do you know
that this passage does not take us direct to the
(09:07):
end we require? Moreover, I have in my favor, fortunately
a precedent. What I have undertaken to do, another has done,
and he having succeeded. Why should I not be equally successful?
I hope indeed you will be still. I suppose I
(09:31):
may be allowed to You are allowed to hold your tongue,
cried Professor Hardwick, when you talk so unreasonably as this,
I saw at once that the old doctoral professor was
still alive in my uncle, and fearful to rouse his
(09:51):
angry passions. I drop the unpleasant subject now, then, he explained,
consult the manner met, What does that indicate a considerable
amount of pressure? Very good? You see then, that by
descending slowly, and by gradually accustoming ourselves to the density
(10:14):
of this lower atmosphere, we shall not suffer well, I
suppose not, except it may be a certain amount of
pain in the ears. Was my rather grim reply. That
my dear boy, is nothing, and you will easily get
(10:35):
rid of that source of discomfort by bringing the exterior
air to communication with the air contained in your lungs.
Perfectly said I, For I had quite made up my
mind in no wise to contradict my uncle. I should
fancy almost that I should experience a certain amount of
(10:59):
satusy faction in making a plunge into this dense atmosphere.
Have you taken note of how wonderfully sound is propagated?
Of course I have. There can be no doubt that
a journey into the interior of the earth would be
an excellent cure for deftness. But then, Uncle, I ventured
(11:24):
mildly to observe, this density will continue to increase. Yes,
according to a law, which however, is scarcely defined, it
is true that the intensity of weight will diminish, just
in proportion to the depth to which we go. You
know very well that it is on the surface of
(11:48):
the earth that its action is most powerfully felt, while
on the contrary, in the very center of the earth,
bodies ceased to have any weight at all. I know
that is the case. But as we progress, will not
the atmosphere. Finally, assume the density of water. I know
(12:11):
it when placed under the pressure of seven hundred and
ten atmospheres, cried my uncle, with imperturbable gravity. And when
we are still lowered down, I ask, with natural anxiety. Well,
(12:32):
lower down the density will become even greater. Then how
shall we be able to make our way through this
atmospheric FuG Well, my worthy nephew, we must balance ourselves
by filling our pockets with stones, said Professor Hardwig. Faith Uncle,
(12:55):
you have an answer for everything, was my only reply.
I began to feel that it was unwise of me
to go any farther into the wide field of hypotheses,
for I should certainly have reviewed some difficulty or rather
(13:17):
impossibility that would have enraged the professor. It was evident, nevertheless,
that the air under a pressure which might be multiplied
by thousands of atmospheres, would end by becoming perfectly solid,
And that, then, admitting our bodies resisted the pressure, we
(13:42):
should have to stop. In spite of all the reasonings
in the world, facts overcome all arguments. But I thought
it best not to urge this argument. My uncle would
simply have quoted the example of sack Neussom, supposing the
(14:05):
learned Icelander's journey ever really to have taken place. There
was one simple answer to be made. In the sixteenth century,
neither the barometer nor the manometer had been invented. How
then could Sacknussom have been able to discover when he
(14:27):
did reach the center of the earth. This unanswerable and
learned objection. I, however, kept to myself, embracing up my courage,
awaited the course of events, little aware of how adventurous
yet were to be the incidents of our remarkable journey.
(14:49):
The rest of this day of leisure and repose was
spent in calculation and conversation. I made it a point
to agree with the Professor in everything, But I envied
the perfect indifference of Hans, who, without taking any such
(15:09):
trouble about the cause and effect, went blindly onwards wherever
Destiny chose to lead him. End of Chapter twenty two.
Chapter twenty two, Sunday below Ground. I awoke on Sunday
morning without any sense of hurry and bustle attendant on
an immediate departure. Though the day to be devoted to
repose and reflection was spent under such strange circumstances and
(00:23):
in so wonderful a place, the idea was a pleasant one. Besides,
we all began to get use to this kind of existence.
I had almost ceased to think of the sun, of
the moon, of the stars, of the trees, houses and towns,
in fact, about any terrestrial necessities. In our peculiar position,
(00:50):
we were far above such reflections. The grotto was a
vast and magnificent hall. Alone on its granitic soil, the
stream flowed placidly and pleasantly. So great a distance was
it now from its fiery source, that its water was
(01:13):
scarcely lukewarm, and could be drunk without delay or difficulty.
After a frugal breakfast, the professor made up his mind
to devote some hours to putting his notes and calculations
in order. In the first place, he said, I have
a good many to verify and prove, in order that
(01:37):
we may know our exact position. I wish to be able,
on our return to the upper regions, to make a
map of our journey, a kind of vertical section of
the globe, which will be, as it were, the profile
of the expedition. That would indeed be a curious work, Uncle,
(02:01):
But can you make your observations with anything like certainty
and precision? I can. I have never, on any occasion
failed to note with great care the angles and slopes.
I am certain as to have made no mistake. Take
the compass and examine how she points. I looked at
(02:26):
the instrument with care east one quarter southeast. Very good,
resumed the professor, noting the observation, and going through some
rapid calculations, I make out that we have journeyed two
hundred and fifty miles from the point of our departure.
(02:49):
Then the mighty waves of the Atlantic are rolling over
our heads. Certainly, and at this very moment, it is
possible that tempests are raging above, and that men and
ships are battling against the angry blast just over our heads.
(03:10):
It is quite within the range of possibility, rejoined my uncle, smiling,
and that whales are playing in shoals, thrashing the bottom
of the sea. The roof of our adamantine prison be
quite at rest. At that point there is no danger
(03:34):
of their breaking through. But to return to our calculations,
we are to the southeast two hundred and fifty miles
from the base of Sneffels, and according to my preceding notes,
I think we have gone sixteen leagues in a downward direction.
(03:56):
Sixteen leagues fifty miles, I cried, I am sure of it.
But that is the extreme limit allowed by science for
the thickness of the Earth's crust, I have replied, referring
to my geological studies, I do not contravene that assertion
(04:19):
was his quiet answer. And at this stage of our journey,
according to all known laws on the increase of heat,
there should be here a temperature of fifteen hundred degrees
of raheumor there should be, you say, my boy, in
(04:41):
which case this granite would not exist but in a
state of fusion. But you perceive, my boy, that it
is not so, and that facts, as usual are very
stubborn things over rule all theories. I am forced to
(05:03):
yield to the evidence of my senses. But I am
nevertheless very much surprised. What heat does the thermometer really indicate,
continued the philosopher twenty seven six tenths, so that science
(05:23):
is wrong by fourteen hundred and seventy four degrees in fourteenths,
according to which it is demonstrated that the proportional increase
in temperature is an exploded error. Humphrey Davy here shines
forth in all his glory. He is right, and I
(05:46):
have acted wisely to believe him. Have you any answer
to make to this statement? Had I chosen to have spoken,
I might have said a great deal. I in no
way admitted the theory of Humphrey Davy. I still held
out for the theory of proportional increase of heat, though
(06:08):
I did not feel it. I was far more willing
to allow that this chimney of an extinct volcano was
covered by lava of a kind refractatory to heat, in fact,
a bad conductor, which did not allow the great increase
(06:29):
of temperature to percolate through its sides. The hot water
jet supported my view of the matter. But without entering
on a long and useless discussion or seeking for new
arguments to contravert my uncle, I contented myself with taking
(06:51):
up facts as they were well sir, I take for
granted that all your calculations are correct, but allow me
to draw from them a rigorous and definite conclusion. Gone,
my boy, have you say, cried my uncle good humoredly.
(07:12):
At the place where we now are, under the latitude
of Iceland, the terrestrial depth is about fifteen hundred and
eighty three leagues. Fifteen hundred eighty three and a quarter. Well,
suppose we say sixteen hundred in round numbers. Now, out
(07:36):
of a voyage of sixteen hundred leagues, we have completed sixteen.
As you say, what then, at the expense of a
diagonal journey of no less than eighty five leagues exactly,
we have been twenty days about it, exactly twenty Now
(08:00):
sixteen is the hundredth part of our contemplated expedition. If
we go on in this way, we shall be two
thousand days, that is about five years and a half
going down. The professor folded his arms, listened, but did
(08:22):
not speak, without counting that if a vertical descent of
sixteen leagues cost us a horizontal of eighty five, we
shall have to go about eight thousand leagues to the southeast,
and we must therefore come out somewhere in the circumference,
(08:45):
long before we can hope to reach the center. Bother,
your calculations, cried my uncle, and one of his old rages.
On what basis do they rest? How do you know
that this passage does not take us direct to the
(09:07):
end we require? Moreover, I have in my favor, fortunately
a precedent. What I have undertaken to do, another has done,
and he having succeeded. Why should I not be equally successful?
I hope indeed you will be still. I suppose I
(09:31):
may be allowed to You are allowed to hold your tongue,
cried Professor Hardwick, when you talk so unreasonably as this,
I saw at once that the old doctoral professor was
still alive in my uncle, and fearful to rouse his
(09:51):
angry passions. I drop the unpleasant subject now, then, he explained,
consult the manner met, What does that indicate a considerable
amount of pressure? Very good? You see then, that by
descending slowly, and by gradually accustoming ourselves to the density
(10:14):
of this lower atmosphere, we shall not suffer well, I
suppose not, except it may be a certain amount of
pain in the ears. Was my rather grim reply. That
my dear boy, is nothing, and you will easily get
(10:35):
rid of that source of discomfort by bringing the exterior
air to communication with the air contained in your lungs.
Perfectly said I, For I had quite made up my
mind in no wise to contradict my uncle. I should
fancy almost that I should experience a certain amount of
(10:59):
satusy faction in making a plunge into this dense atmosphere.
Have you taken note of how wonderfully sound is propagated?
Of course I have. There can be no doubt that
a journey into the interior of the earth would be
an excellent cure for deftness. But then, Uncle, I ventured
(11:24):
mildly to observe, this density will continue to increase. Yes,
according to a law, which however, is scarcely defined, it
is true that the intensity of weight will diminish, just
in proportion to the depth to which we go. You
know very well that it is on the surface of
(11:48):
the earth that its action is most powerfully felt, while
on the contrary, in the very center of the earth,
bodies ceased to have any weight at all. I know
that is the case. But as we progress, will not
the atmosphere. Finally, assume the density of water. I know
(12:11):
it when placed under the pressure of seven hundred and
ten atmospheres, cried my uncle, with imperturbable gravity. And when
we are still lowered down, I ask, with natural anxiety. Well,
(12:32):
lower down the density will become even greater. Then how
shall we be able to make our way through this
atmospheric FuG Well, my worthy nephew, we must balance ourselves
by filling our pockets with stones, said Professor Hardwig. Faith Uncle,
(12:55):
you have an answer for everything, was my only reply.
I began to feel that it was unwise of me
to go any farther into the wide field of hypotheses,
for I should certainly have reviewed some difficulty or rather
(13:17):
impossibility that would have enraged the professor. It was evident, nevertheless,
that the air under a pressure which might be multiplied
by thousands of atmospheres, would end by becoming perfectly solid,
And that, then, admitting our bodies resisted the pressure, we
(13:42):
should have to stop. In spite of all the reasonings
in the world, facts overcome all arguments. But I thought
it best not to urge this argument. My uncle would
simply have quoted the example of sack Neussom, supposing the
(14:05):
learned Icelander's journey ever really to have taken place. There
was one simple answer to be made. In the sixteenth century,
neither the barometer nor the manometer had been invented. How
then could Sacknussom have been able to discover when he
(14:27):
did reach the center of the earth. This unanswerable and
learned objection. I, however, kept to myself, embracing up my courage,
awaited the course of events, little aware of how adventurous
yet were to be the incidents of our remarkable journey.
(14:49):
The rest of this day of leisure and repose was
spent in calculation and conversation. I made it a point
to agree with the Professor in everything, But I envied
the perfect indifference of Hans, who, without taking any such
(15:09):
trouble about the cause and effect, went blindly onwards wherever
Destiny chose to lead him. End of Chapter twenty two.
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