The Mentor: The Story of Coal, vol. 6, Num. 6, Serial No. 154, May 1, 1918

A lyrical tribute opens the work, honoring the coal miner as the invisible engine behind factories, railways, ships, and even the war effort. The verses paint the miner’s labor as a force that keeps the wheels of industry turning and the front lines supplied, reminding listeners of the humble hands that fuel modern life. This reverent opening sets a tone that blends human story with the science of the resource.

The narrative then shifts to a clear, illustrated explanation of how coal formed deep in the Earth’s past. It outlines two competing geological theories—swamp‑filled lagoons versus ancient estuaries—while describing the towering ferns, giant horsetails, and massive lepidodendrons that once dominated the Carboniferous landscape. Rich details about the extinct flora and fauna, from giant insects to early reptiles, bring the ancient world to life, showing how layers of plant matter were compressed, heated, and transformed into the coal that powers our present.