PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY IN THE UNIVERSITY. 89 



Systematic examination of facts. — While the deductive geo- 

 graphical scheme is thus gradually extended, while its various 

 elements are illustrated more or less completely by black- 

 board diagrams, diagrammatic models, and lantern slides, 

 an acquaintance with the facts of the subjects is gained at the 

 same time chiefly through the laboratory work of the course. 

 This is for the most part devoted to the examination of maps 

 and many other illustrations of actual geographical forms, intro- 

 duced systematically to represent the kinds of construction and 

 the stages of development that may be compared with similar 

 kinds and stages in the deductive scheme. I regard it as 

 essential that the two sides of the work should advance together. 

 The theoretical considerations of the deductive scheme and the 

 inductive observation, description and generalization of the facts 

 of nature continually react on each other to mutual advantage. 

 They call different mental faculties into exercise. Neither one 

 can be developed alone to the best advantage. It is true that 

 *the consideration of the two sides of the work at the same time 

 leads to mental confusion on the part of untrained or careless 

 students, but this does not seem to me unfortunate. It is, to be 

 sure, rather disappointing for a young fellow to find in the mid- 

 dle of the course that his neglect of its beginning has left him 

 hopelessly behind his better prepared or more persevering com- 

 rades ; but it is much more disappointing to see how often col- 

 legiate instruction is degraded by allowing it to fall to the reach 

 of students who do not know how or who do not care to know 

 how to follow its proper quality. In work of the kind that I am 

 describing, mental confusion soon overtakes those who are 

 poorly trained for mental effort. I do not find that it makes 

 much difference what subjects a student has been trained in, pro- 

 vided that he is well trained. 



Laboratory work is an important element in the study, because 

 there is otherwise no opportunity for deliberate and close obser- 

 vation of geographical facts. Even if shown in the lectures, they 

 cannot be clearly seen, and there is no time then for close study. 

 No text book or atlas contains illustrations in sufficient variety 



