1 68 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



more exposed than either of the others, and less distinctly a separate 

 natural unit, was correspondingly slower in her national development, 

 and may still be regarded as existing largely on a military basis. 



Separation and Accessibility. — Separation which amounts to isola- 

 lation, however, is a handicap, rather than a benefit, to the best national 

 progress, for the reason that intercourse with other localities offers 

 opportunity for distinct stimulus through contact with new ideas. To 

 be of maximum value to a nation, therefore, the physical position must 

 afford ready accessibility for peaceful intercourse. For this reason, the 

 character and quality of the national boundaries are in many ways 

 factors of prime importance in the whole course of economic progress 

 and national welfare. 



Britain again affords an excellent example. So placed that her 

 doors were effectually closed to serious interference with her internal 

 development, Britain could, however, from her station opposite the con- 

 vergence of the great European highways of communication, profit 

 readily from intimate contact with continental ideas. History shows 

 that the people of Britain were not the pioneers in commerce, in ex- 

 ploration and discovery, in colonization, or in the development of 

 manufactures: all important lines of activity wherein Britain excelled 

 in later years, and whence came much of the importance of the British 

 nation in the affairs of the world. In each case Britain got the stimu- 

 lus through her accessibility for peaceful association with continental 

 neighbors, and in each case the superiority of the British position for 

 continuity of internal evolution, readily enabled her to outstrip all 

 others. This same quality of standing somewhat aloof offers a per- 

 fectly natural reason for the long-continued preeminence of British 

 influence in the direction of international affairs among the European 

 nations. 



China, by contrast, is not to be regarded as a backward nation, 

 because of some inherent lack of ability in her people, but rather as a 

 nation long suffering from too great separation, and consequent lack of 

 new ideas, in much the same way as a single individual, isolated, suffers 

 from lack of stimulus. Japan, much smaller, both in area and in popu- 

 lation, and much more readily accessible, shows in her recent rapid 

 developments the effects of intercourse with, and stimulus from, the 

 outside world. China may be expected to show similar results in the 

 future as her greater barriers of isolation are overcome. 



Accessibility by Sea. — Eeady accessibility from the sea is more 

 important than accessibility by land. It depends on a favorable com- 

 bination of coast line, surface configuration back of the coast, and 

 climate. Access from the sea means an open route between many 

 nations: a route which is on the whole more easily travelled than the 

 land for the peaceful intercourse of commercial relations, and more 



