PREFACE 



THE series of readings contained in the present volume give in 

 somewhat expanded form the substance of a course of illustrated 

 lectures which has now for several years been delivered each 

 semester at the University of Michigan. The keynote of the course 

 may be found in the dominant characteristics of the different earth 

 features and the geological processes which have been betrayed 

 in the shaping of them. Such a geological examination of land- 

 scape is replete with fascinating revelations, and it lends to the 

 study of Nature a deep meaning which cannot but enhance the 

 enjoyment of her varied aspects. 



That there is a real place for such a cultural study of geology 

 within the University is believed to be shown by the increasing 

 number of students who have elected the work. Even more than 

 in former years the American travels afar by car or steamship, and 

 the earth's surface features in all their manifold diversity are thus 

 one after the other unrolled before him. The thousands who each 

 year cross the Atlantic to roam over European countries may by 

 historical, literary, or artistic studies prepare themselves to derive 

 an exquisite pleasure as they visit places identified with past 

 achievement of one form or another. Yet the Channel coast, the 

 gorge of the Rhine, the glaciers of Switzerland, and the wild scenery 

 of Norway or Scotland have each their fascinating story to tell 

 of a history far more remote and varied. To read this history, the 

 runic characters in which it is written must first of all be mastered ; 

 for in every landscape there are strong individual lines of char- 

 acter such as the pen artist would skillfully extract for an outline 

 sketch. Such character profiles are often many times repeated in 

 each landscape, and in them we have a key to the historical record. 



An object of the present readings has thus been to enable the 

 student to himself pick out in each landscape these more significant 

 lines and so read directly from Nature. In the landscapes which 



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