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The logical method in geography.—Success in the study of geography, as in other subjects, depends largely on the share of mental light with which the facts are illuminated. For example, during the two weeks in which my class in physical geography has recently been occupied with the tides, a long roll of tracing linen has been hanging on the laboratory wall, containing copies of a half month of tidal curves at Honolulu, Boston, Philadelphia, Port Townsend (Oregon), and Point Clear, on the Gulf of Mexico. The essential facts of tidal oscillation are thus exhibited with great clearness, thanks to the kindness of Mr. Christie, of the U. S. Coast Survey, by whom the original records were selected, and under whose direction the copies were made for me. While these curves were illuminated only by the light that came in through the laboratory windows, the facts were but imperfectly perceived. The more peculiar variations of the curves involved in the diurnal inequality of tidal amplitude and interval could not be discovered by eyesight alone, at least
- ↑ Note.—Although it was the author's intention to prepare this essay for publication as one of the "Studies for Students" of this Journal, it has been unconsciously addressed as much to teachers as to scholars. This is perhaps excusable because of the little attention generally paid to physical geography in our colleges. The chief object of the essay is to present the plan of the author's course in this subject, with the hope that it may be tried by others, and modified or extended as experience shall advise. It may be added that a selected list of our governmental maps of use in teaching has been prepared by a sub-committee of the Conference on Geography of the National Educational Association, and that its publication may be expected at an early date; that a list of grouped sheets of foreign topographical surveys, with descriptive notes, is in preparation by the author, and that a list of selected photographs and lantern slides is in contemplation. With these aids it will be easier than it now is to experiment on systematic geography in the universities.
W. M. D.
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