The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-11-27

| in New York, and that the Columbian
| Gardens and Smithsonian Institute are
| in Washington City, and so on Gd iafini-
tUne. We ought to have seen some, else
we cannot tell the pupils naturally and
pleasantly. Having seen much, we have
footing whence to lead the eager, wad-
ing children into the waters all around.
Without such knowledge we could not
illustrate the lessons. The bare 1ues-
tons as found in most biographies are
to say the least, insipid Moreover the
mind acts by association. This is its
strongest law. By means of this we
may insure correct and rapid exercise
of memory. This mere personal ac~
quaintance with but part of the world
will not suffice; we must know much
we have not seen, Ignorance may be
bliss; but in the school room it is bliss
unpardonabIe. We must know inter-
esting truths and beliefs; thus, the
mythical stories about the Mediterrane-
an Isles, and the prophetical announce
ments and denunciations of places, as OF
Tyre and Sidon. We must know his
as that of the Black Hole in Calcutta,
and the story of the "South Sea Bub'
ble." We may thus teach the lessons
and train the memory.
This teaching by association is the on
~ road to success with pupils above tf~
teen years of age. By incident and adj
venture we must interest the young; by
truth stranger than fiction we must
awaken the older. But as to the
simple conversation. Explain every
thing easily, and by means of the near
est, and never seem at loss. If no
globe be near, make one of your own
hands. leaving Asia on one side and the
United States on the other. Take an
apple and make hemispheres Do not
talk about it as though it were difficult;
children catch your spirit. They learn
easily what the teacher knows well and
handles Familiarity. Moreover the pupils
are first to see if the teacher does not
know a thing; there is no hiding it. Sec
Ond and more important, are charts aud
blocks. Let us see how map and chart
fit round block, and we are taught
good deal. But we are children, only
little older. Lastly: We must be able
to explain the questions and answers
Nothing so discOurages the pupil as not
to understand its lessons. just make II
clear and the work is done. A lesson
understood is half learned; but the child
must think it has done the work; 1t
must seem to itself to have learned it:
then will it be pleased to study, enjoy
and remember. 70 what end all this?
The greatest good is, it will lead to the
study of Physical Geography. Thereby
to know the shape of the earth, or the
situation of a river, or the location of a
city is nothing. We must learn why
this is true. What is the climate of Ger
tain localities, and what its effects are
on man and beast. We must learn De-
scriptive Geography first, and then we
may study Physical Geography. We
do not understand this latter; hence our
need to study it.
- 81, ln Drit spl
Quarterly, noticing tho late work of
Prof. GuizOt on Physical Geography,
said: This is the greatest book of the
age, because there is none ike il or com
parable with it. 1t Is most valuable be-
cause most needed" Why such lan~
guage? Simply this: We have no Phys
zeal GeOgrapheTS, save one, and he cau~
not do all the work OF his branch. lie
prepares the government weather re-
ports Even he can predict weather on
~ one day ahead. We ought to see the
Importance of this subject, and contrib
ute and unite III trying TO start some
youth thusward. We may so teach De
scriptive Geography Us to arouse and
quicken some youth thus inclined. We
can do a good work just here, and ought
TO do our best. There is more need here
than in other scientific ranks. Humboldt
and Agassiz are dead, and Guizot is fee
BILE. Why shall America tail to produce
another Humboldt? We look to foreign
countries for such men, because they
train the mind more than we do. We
stop too soon.
This suggests that III this one day all
the sciences ought to be taught. We
ought to simplify their truths and teach
them. ''See that all our children study
science" ought to be our chief senteu &c
now. Modern slepIicism clothes herr
self in the edrb of science, so-called and
thence draws her subtlest and most veX
ing shafts. We must train up q race of
youths VINO are shielded against such
weapons by the strong and mighty
shield vi truth. Science must be taught.
To do this or any part OF this as we
ought, we must study science. We
must always study more than our pu-
pits. They must never outstrip US.
NJ Ich more ought we 10 know and to
teach during their short tutelage all
that is requisite to success in life. GeOg-
raphy is the best to begin with, because
ali children expect to be taught. With
such needs We must be even we'll armed
and valiant. "Non9 but the brave de-
serve the fair" said the knight, and we
also; only the good servant will deserve
the laurel or the crown.