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PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY IN THE UNIVERSITY.
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Systematic examination of facts.—While the deductive geographical scheme is thus gradually extended, while its various elements are illustrated more or less completely by blackboard 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, introduced 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 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 middle of the course that his neglect of its beginning has left him hopelessly behind his better prepared or more persevering comrades; but it is much more disappointing to see how often collegiate 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, provided that he is well trained.

Laboratory work is an important element in the study, because there is otherwise no opportunity for deliberate and close observation 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

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