124 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XXI. No. 526. 



successive changes various features of the 

 earth's surface have passed through, and 

 in noting the orderly sequence of events 

 produced by the moving agencies still ac- 

 tive in modifying and molding the earth's 

 features. This search culminates in the 

 study of the relation of life, and particu- 

 larly- of man to surrounding physical con- 

 ditions. While the explorer of new lands 

 gathers facts, the philosophical geographer 

 arranges those facts in orderly sequence, 

 interprets their meaning and deduces from 

 them hypotheses, which have for their pur- 

 pose the discovery of the laws of nature. 

 It is the formulating and elucidating of 

 these laws which constitutes the noblest 

 aim of geographical science. This philo- 

 sophical stage in the growth of geography 

 has but recently been entered upon, and is 

 the one which is to claim the greatest share 

 of attention in the future. 



From this as yet not generally recog- 

 nized point of view, it appears that fresh 

 fields for exploration surround us on every 

 hand. Some of the most important ad- 

 vances in geography yet made can be 

 claimed as the fruits of home study rather 

 than resulting from explorations in new 

 lands, although based on and supported by 

 extensive field investigations. 



Illustrations of this thesis are : the base- 

 level idea, which was given concrete shape 

 and stamped with a name by Powell, the 

 important principle embodied in the term 

 geographical cycle, coined by Davis, and 

 the laws of stream erosion, transportation 

 and deposition so admirably formulated by 

 Gilbert. These and other far-reaching and, 

 as it seems, universal and everlasting doc- 

 trines render transparent the clouds which 

 before shadowed familiar scenes and im- 

 part to them new significance. The lands 

 to be explored by the scientific geographer 

 encompass us on every hand, and the sea 

 has only just begun to yield up its secrets. 



'J'he gaining of geographical knowledge 



at first hand, or geographical research, 

 consists, then, of both journeying and 

 thinking, and the two are inseparable in 

 order to secure the highest results. 



To the question : What is to be done with 

 the fruits of geographical studies when 

 gathered? I could answer curtly: Give 

 them away. Sow the seeds of knowledge 

 broadcast in the minds of men, with faith 

 that some of them will germinate there 

 and multiply a thousandfold. In the har- 

 vest of the future, as we may be assured 

 from the principle termed mutation by 

 biologists, every seed will not have repro- 

 duced its kind, but new species will appear 

 and rank among the discoveries of the 

 future. 



As to methods of geographical research 

 pertaining to individuals, or combinations 

 of individuals, as in organized expeditions 

 or surveys, and the various ways of pub- 

 lishing the results of such undertakings, 

 attention is here invited to only one phase, 

 namely : 



TI^E FUNCTIONS OF GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETIES. 



Aids to Exploration and Research. — As 

 shown by the histories of geographical so- 

 cieties and most prominently by the records 

 of the Royal Geographical Society of Lon- 

 don, the mother of them all, they have been 

 most sympathetic to the adventurer and 

 explorer, and have aided in many instances 

 not only directly from their treasuries, but 

 perhaps still more efficiently through their 

 influence on legislation, in starting indi- 

 vidual travelers on their way and equip- 

 ping exploring expeditions. Incident to 

 such direct material aid have been more 

 or less successful attempts to train ex- 

 plorers for this work and furnish them 

 with instructions as to ways of conducting 

 it. The word 'unexplored' has not as yet 

 been erased from our globes, and many 

 mountain peaks are as yet unconquered; 

 the privilege of assisting in such tasks is 



