Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-01-25
BY REQUEST.
NIURY,S BIOGRAPHIES.

There is probably no department of
literature or science in which Americans
themselves would question the superior
itv of England, either as regards ave
rage quality or quantity of production.
The public documents of the States, in
deed. are. rs our readers well know, of
far more varied and general value and
interest than our OWN, and many scien-
titic and practical works of the highest
merit have been and are yearly publish
ed NJ the expense of the country. But
even though thus aided, there Is no
branch of study to which the entire re-
cent contribution of America Is any
thing like as important as our own.
And in no class of books, perhaps, Is
this inteiiority more manifest than in
those intended for the use Of schools
and colleges. But we must make one
important exception alike to the general
rule and the particular example. Upon
Geography and kindred subjects Amcn-
cans have written much and carefully,
stimulated and assisted no doubt 10y tie
energetic encouragement which the
Federal Government has constantly Civ
en- to exploration OF every KIND IN al
most every part OF the Western CONT
nent GtographerS proper. geologlsIs,
miueralonists. and naturaliStS have been
enabled to pursue their inquiries at the
public cost. and have been encourage 10
pain,taking investigation, and 10 the
publication Of ample records of their dis
coyeries by the interest which all classes
of Americans have always manifested IN
these subjects. 1t is no doubt TO their
recuiar situation. aS people OF high
civilization and unreStlng enterprise. IN
posspSSion of an immense, rich. and i'm
rertectly known territory, that this in
tercst is due and it has led apparent
" to a study of geography much more
general and thorough than Is common
in English schools As the demand
creates the supply, the American text
books of geography are often more COM
plcte, and certainly much better ralcnla-
ted to fulfill their purpose of instruction,
than our own. DR.. VI f. MInry's So
ries. one of which we have already had
occasion to notice. arc especially adapted
to excite the curiosity Of boys and glrls
and to make that which, ~ Taught to
our children. j. about the dulIcst and
most tedious of all dry matters of rou-
tine. the agreeable aud interesting sub
iect il OUGHT 10 be. The volume now
before Us is fitted to be the delight of
any schooroom in which the teacher is
not utterly and hopclessly uniit,o teach.
II contriveS 10 make tie geog' aphcal
definitions to which children SO rarely
learn to att, ch a meaning inteiligble at
sirht. by an illustration in which each
of the common terms Of physical geog
raphy-continent, island, sound, strait,
ocean. sea, mountain, lableland, &c.--is
clearly presented to the readers eye. IL
contains. not only the ordinary maps
which show the political dcmarcations
of mankind, but physical maps in which
the great natural features Of every re-
gion are shown with equal disilncincss.
And, finally. a multitude Of illustrations
attach a living interest and visible
meaning 20 the multitude OF names and
facts which form the drudcery Of gcog-
raphy presenting to the sight and in
telligence OF the pupil characteristic
scenes which his memory will ever after
associate with the names of capitals, the
course of rivers, the local scenery, flora,
fauna, history. and industrial occupa-
tions which the writers of English text
books expect him to learn 10y rote. We
can heartily recommend this volume,
aud its companions, to tie use OF every
family and to the junior classes Of every
school and W. are sure that where It
is adopted the geography lesson will be
come suddenly and surprisingly popu-
Saturday, R'rb~,( ,(LOndo",) J Nor.
%, 1871.