The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-04

to the last illness of the distinguished author, che
had just revised his manuscripts. the charts had
been engraved and the proofs had passed under
his eye and the work OF the artists and printers
| was well advancedr-that "the present work Is
therefore the matured work Of the untiring brain
and hand that had so long aud nobly toled In the
field OF scientific research" that the work Ia az
length given Ito the educational public as grand
contribution to science and education" aud that
to sive the work a dress betting its high merit
neither eno. nor expense has been Spared In It's
publication. The fine whte paper, the clear aud
beautiful type and the exquistey finished charts
and pictorial engravings, and the handsome head
lines which mark the divisions aud numerous sub
divisions oil the book attest rhe truth OF the pub
lishers' statement touching its mechanical eXecu-
ton, paper, engravings, Typography and printing.
1t Is work OF high art and skilled labor, OF which
the publishers and the country may justly be
proud.
In the arrangement Of the subjects discussed
therein this work is first divided into six parts:-
Earth, Features OF the Land, Meteorological
Phenomena Phenomena and Life OF the Sea, the
Life and Products OF the Earth and the Anne lean
Continent. Next we have the subdivisions Of
these main chapters wnicn, we may say, embrace
everything lin the heavens above, in the earth be-
meath and in the waters tand fresj under the
earth" For example, under the general head Of
"the Earth'' we are given the Earth as Planet
Size. Distance and Motions Of the Sun and Planets
the Earth's Notions the Earth's Dimensions and
Weight, Velocity OF the Earth's Notions, Effect OF
Rotation upon Weight Evidences OF the Earth's
Sphericty. Change OF Temperature with Distance
from the Earth's Centre, Range Of Human abita-
ton, Distribution or Land and Water, Northern and
Southern Hemispheres Compared, the Antlpodes
&C. Next, In considering the Crust Of the Earth
q ta nj o.
ments, the Lessons Taught by Geology, the Earth's
Internal Heat Rocks, Volcanic Rocks, the Ages OF
Volcanic and Puonlc Rocks, the Metamorphic
Rocks, the Aqueous Rocks, Historical Geology;
Silurian Age, or Age OF hOusks; DevOnlan Age, or
Age OF Fishes; Rep'ilian Age; tertiary, or Age OF
Mammals; tine Glacial Epoch. ! he various ages
and stages through which little planet has
passed. as infalibly recorded in the different lay
ers of lts crust, are presented so SIMPLY and
clearly that the dullest scholar may comprehend
Them an thus be qualified to read on the sides OF
q clin or In the ascent OF mountain the history OF
our globe through millions Of years. Taking next
the division on Meteorology, the phenomena Of
heat and light climate day and night summer
and winter, winds, deserts and circulation OF air,
storms, Gains and fogs, dew and clouds, rains ana
rivers, glaciers ald Icebergs. maanetism and cleo
tricty-all these things so lucdly explained, in
the simplest terms, as to open the prolOundest
mysteries Of science to the general understanding
And so of all the numerous matters presented in
the volume.
The charts, carefully drawn, beautifully en-
graved and skiliully colored, OF the highest
order of workmanship, and to indicate their value
1t will suffice to say that among them are chart
indicating the dis ributi0n OF rain over the earth
and the rainess districts; chart OF the winds; a
chart showing tue currents of the sea and the
Of md ri Ipho ri a
chart OF the principal vegetable growths and chief
staples; chart Of the regions producing cotton.
sugar cane, coffee and tea, and OF the distribution
OF plants by altitude above sea level; chart OF
the distribution OF birds, beasts and fishes chart
showing the geographical distribution OF minerals;
chart showing the distribution OF the races OF
men, and a chart showing the principal industrial
pursuits Of different countries Such charts, or
most OF them. are to be found In Othera tlases;
but in this volume they have the peculiar merit of
dstlnctness OF presentation which requires no
research to grasp the details. Though given in a
small compass the subjects winch they are intended
TO Illustrate are visible at glance. For exam.
pie, In the chart delineating the currents of the
sea and the drainage of the land. we take in at
glance the confguration OF the continents, their
drainage, interior and exterior, and those ire
mendOus rivers OF the sea which circle round the
North and South Atlantic and the North and the
South Pacific and the Indian Ocean, and those
great currents which 1Ow out from and into the
Polar regions North and SOUTH and the calm basins
IN the heart of each Of the oceans named, around
which these ocean rivers roll, and within which
the surface OF the calm waters Is covered for
leagues with seaweeds seldom rutled by passing
storm. In this single chart are presented the re-
suits, the fixed facts" discovered from the OBJ
servations, explorations and researches Of seamen
and NJ pCion I'm thajr NIL data
a thousand volumes.
Turning next to the Astounding pictorial Illus
tratlons OF this delightful volume, they unsur-
passed as specimens of beautiful engraving,
even by the admirable works Of the
London Art Journal. Take as speci-
men of the engravings OF this geography
that of "A Scene in the CarboniferOus EpOch," or
that of view OF 'The Grand Canon and Lower
Falls of the Yellowstone in the Yellowstone Ma
tional Park" and the critical reader will be sats
fed upon this point. There Is an old axiom which
informs us that "tnere is no royal road to mathe.
mates y but from the attractiveness OF this book,
among others lately introduced into our schools
and libraries, there evidently Is q more pleasant
road through every field OF learning than the old
rough and unpaved tracks travelled over down to
the living generation. But IN this Golden Age OF
printing and engraving even our dictionaries,
with their pictorial Illustrations, are ma lie attrac
tive. How much more inviting taen, may be made
by these modern Examinations o work devoted to
the wonders of the wonderful little globe which
we lnhabit and its sublime SURROUNDINGS
And yet, after ALL the chief attraction OF this
charming book is the simple and lucid style in
which the profoundest scientific treatment OF the
subject ia given to the student, BLENDED with
dominating faith IN the Creator. We will
give brief extract or two from the book
IN support OF this statement. Professor Maury, in
his observations on the ''Surian Age, or Age Of
Moiusks, +" in speaking of our globe, says-''Snce
first it's surface cooled there has been constant
growth in thickness from the azolc rocks, and
constant advance to the higher forms OF lie. Alter
each period of slow change or violent disturbance
we find in no case o return to lower types, hhd