94 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



rections from the school as a center, a considcraLIe stock of miscella- 

 neous information regarding the surrounding region will eventually 

 be acquired by the pupils. Before they are ready to pass outward to 

 a yet more extensive geographical survey, it will be desirable for them 

 to pursue a similar course to that which they followed before quitting 

 the consideration of the parish. They will be asked to arrange in 

 summary form the information they have gathered, so as to compile a 

 geographical description of another definite area of ground. In the 

 United Kingdom, and generally in English-speaking countries, the 

 next area after the parish for purposes of this kind is the county. 

 And what now remains to be accomplished is to do for the native 

 county what has already been done for the native parish. 



The teacher is now in a position to consider the most important 

 step that his scholars have yet taken in their geographical training. 

 They have now to realize the relation borne by their own surround- 

 ings to the whole country. As before, this step must be taken delib- 

 erately upon a map, which ought to be a large, clearly engraved wall- 

 map of the country, not overloaded with details. The first use of such 

 a general map of the country probably requires a greater mental effort 

 on the part of young learners than we usually suspect. It affords, 

 however, according to the method of instruction here advocated, an- 

 other and excellent opportunity of training the sense of proportion in 

 geography. The faculty of readily appreciating the relation between 

 the map and the area it represents ; of recognizing the actual value of 

 the distances expressed upon the map ; of realizing from the engraved 

 lines of water-course what must be the general disposition of the 

 ground, should be sedulously cultivated from the very commencement 

 of the employment of general maps of countries. 



When the broad features of the country and the meaning of the 

 more frequent geographical terms have been mastered bj' an attentive 

 examination of the wall-map, there remains only the final step in the 

 elementary stage of tuition, which is to pass outward from the coun- 

 try and realize its position upon the surface of the earth, I have al- 

 luded to the way in which the idea of the shape of the earth is to be 

 impressed upon the minds of the learners. It is at the present stage 

 of their training that this can most conveniently be accomplished. 

 They have gradually had their ideas of geographical space extended 

 from their own immediate surroundings, and are now prepared to 

 realize the conception of the size and form of the whole planet. The 

 simpler kinds of proof of the globular shape of the earth will be given, 

 and the lesson will be illustrated from the school globe, which must 

 now be brought into constant use. Having grasped the notion that 

 they are living on a huge ball, the scholars will next be asked to find 

 out upon the globe the position of their own country. Some little 

 time should be spent in comparing the representation of the country 

 there with that shown on the large wall-map already used. The out- 



