New-York tribune., 1873-02-11

PhDnioians az their first point OF p,peless ,
h from The coasts OF Tuscany FORMS as IL were one
stage on the way Corsica the BasrJ ear t Sse " r
t Grna, pritain which sometimes appear above tne
Channel ike floating nlr9Se' tSe' inhabitants Of the
nase Shore % and this is the reason why after
having been 40 often invader NM h royngunrcioI cm.
has Intimately become the prinolpi gOherolai q e -,
norium Of me whole world Islands those peafs f mo no
the sea-" the features 70 narmine asneets and
globe owes OF its most nds arc heevise the
fhanka 10 commerce. these is,ih,a Co. - ,reat part
cause which nations are Rittep loved to repeat,
M Is difficult 10 imagine now W ,,,Lo GLANDS
tory would have .nd Tss" Great Britain had
formed a part OF Europe. the niS"n natioh' th they
, II we're shut themselves mp, ana so Keep saIey
tho treasures by their intelleo'uI % ,',,nd Tho
gues.e, ' ,cb has made the modern world what u rs
stepped ancient barbarsm t.S 49, the aorth il so
% the whole OF its circumference would never nave
become known, and mankind Wouid s'iii io"i''" ~
seSeycheess before the navigation Of the main sea
had connected with another an g d PDipvs , @ INF
snrace OF the globe islands could not M auy lHPo % '
nloce In tine history OF mankind, unless thcy VI, Ia
ated in immediate neghperhoOMd pa Ul M ~ y i and
depending so 10 speak, on land WIN tlch palps a 80
numerous population. Islands standing alone lr % Guy
IN Ino ~ nbabit Them even the very facilities they
o for VOYAGES the stimulus OF the wind as it passes
Tin, toerd other countries tho fascinations OF the
,oves 0tb tbe mirage moving them, the indstlhct
shapes appearing beyond the hOfzOii oillHs 10 .no
'i,ds eya bapny regions far aWay-a become cause
OF inferSy as regards social developments for when
b isIander leave their little country to visit dis
aut Land tbey seldom return 70 their native soil. The
want OF center of attraction round which the lhhaOt
ants can gravitatc keeps them ia state OF sOlOh anu
,rrnitive barhari.m lust as IN some OF the lower
gansms in which head is wanting lie IL spread gen
orally the whole body; but II is not concenratd ia
any one part, and cannot be very intense 1hus u 5
that those wonderful isles OF Oceanca, numerous SO
fn climate have remained beyond the pale Of tue ciyi
cation OF the world: scarcely TWO centuries ago they
were still almost entirely unknown. H.,
At the present time the regions best suited
for fln rfrpp q
wide continental plains which LOOK OUT over
pelagoes These fertile regions, which also, IN most
cases, have formerly been gus now iled up WIN ma
rine or huviae alluvium, attract numerous p0pula-
ton These countries wCh level soils the spots where
agriculture develops ITSELF and the adiacehJ poit5 are
those TO which commerce Is directed, where commodities
are exchanged, aud where learn to know men, and
thought minglcs with thought Nearly al th1 iulghest
ces are founded on the points where the seIshOre and
agricultural regions come in contact; crowds gather
there all the great interests OF humanity are
there united By a singular contrast, agricultural
population, which Is the most scdentary, and Dy lts
mode fe less regular than tue return OF lhe sea
sons and to be greatest slave 10 routine ia
often found IN Immediate cOutac5 with the maritime
class the unsettled, the quickest ih acllOl' ana
the foudest OF travels aud adventures Ih3 JuTiapOs
ton of men so different in manners Is one OF he most
important facts in the history OF human progress.
Ihere arc maritime nations whose lfe Is one cOntlnu-
Gus voyage having made ~ IL were, thc ocean thGt
home Thus the NOrnlans, who called themselves tAe
tt,nes of the sea" were IN tie habit VI sailing rOm
shore TO shore, carrying with them terror ana uesruc
On and cOuQuerng nations as they passed aOnsi lne
reG1barsng IN their ght vessels and crossing tue vast
tract of sea they discovered the continent Of America,
which, after their tine, remained 800 years wholly uh
known similar case Is presented by the llIdtes OI
the Supda Archipelago whose countless boats lhe' tDe
waters OF the Pacific aud VINO. although maSsicred III
numbers never cease multiply as II they surdng from
The waves. And where do those who are born ON the
shores OF England pass the greater part OF ther htsI
On the deck under the mast ainid the Rigging anu thC
waves scanning clouds and the blue Sky. Maritime
peoples always intrepid; they engage IN 700 many
terrible conflicts with storms gusts Oh vino, ana 0esh
under ITS thousand aspects for mem ever 70 rehDe DC
fJrc their feOW-neu they are endowed with cuoHt'5
and perseverance. for their struggle against II1 tlr-
tnents must oftcu be severe Onei aud, IN olucI
10 conquer nature In all its Jury, tney require the
courage OF reelection more than tAat 0f enIhuslial'
Their ideas are calm and energetic but cOmmOupact,
like the sea they sail upon theJ rarely suggest 10 ht
either grace gentcucss but strength aud Sometimes
violence As child Of the ocean, the sailor presents lh
his life something like reflection or tle mighty Do"a
on which be has been Graded since MS infancy.
Although chid ey devoted to scientific exposition,
the present work is by no means Of an abstract or
forbdding character, but clothes its treasures OF
information in popular form. While it affords a
rich fund Of accurate and substantial knowledge 1t
furnishes the materials for agreeable recreation to the
intelligent reader who has not sacrificed the love OF
truth to the pursuit of amusement. Tho admirable
illustrations Of the volume greatly enhance both its
interest and value