PREFACE 



THE author's Physiography for High Schools was intended as 

 a basis for a year's work in secondary schools. Since many such 

 schools give but a half year to this subject, there has been a call 

 for a briefer book along the same lines, adapted to a half year's 

 course, and this call has led to the preparation of this shorter text. 

 As compared with the larger book, a few topics have been omitted, 

 but more have been abbreviated and simplified. The plan and 

 purpose of the book remain the same, and are set forth in the 

 Preface to the fuller edition, a part of which is here quoted : 



"This book has been prepared with the purpose of letting the 

 beginner into the method of the science with which the book deals, 

 as well as with the purpose of conveying information to him. It 

 has been prepared with the conviction that the child likes to reason 

 and to follow reasoning, and that reasoning and following reasoning 

 contribute more to his mental growth than the accumulation of 

 great numbers of facts. It has been written with the conviction 

 that the growth of the pupil is more important than facts about 

 physical geography. To those who hold other views, this volume 

 will not appeal. 



" The illustrations of the book should be regarded by the teacher 

 as vital, and should be studied and interpreted as carefully as the 

 text itself. These illustrations may well be supplemented by other 

 diagrams, photographs, lantern-slides, etc., and should be supple- 

 mented by trips to points of interest out of doors, and by such 

 exercises in the laboratory as help (1) to develop new principles, 

 or (2) to illustrate and enforce the principles already developed 

 in the class-room. In the judgment of the writer there is little 

 place for laboratory work, in connection with this subject, which 

 does not contribute to these ends. 



