The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-14
MAPS FOR THE BLIND.
Interesting Facts About Their Con
struction and Use

6tructiOn and Use.
From the Globe Democrat
A map for the blind is a curiosity. Blind
people are fond Of history, and as history
cannot be properly learned, or, indeed,
learned at all without some knowledge of
geography, and to learn the latter without
map is impossible, something of the kind
as necessary, and so special maps were III
vented and manufactured for the use of the
eyeless. They are all of the kind known as
the ''disseoted maps and are of wood-are
really carved blocks. All land stands in re-
lief, the mountains are in ridges, the rivers
are long depressions, the state lines are
elevated. Each state is separate block,
and the pupil is taught to fit the blocks to-
gether and thus prepare for himself map
of the whole country.
The name of each state is marked, some
times on the back, sometimes on the front
of the block, and tie observer will notice,
all over the surface Of the blocks, small
aggregatlons of what, to him, are meaning
less dots. These are the names of rivers,
towns and cities. Cities are designated by
pin or tack heads, aud the size and shape of
these show the approximate number Of
population. In one map cities Of less than
10000 inhabitants were Indicated by pin
heads fiat on top, and those of 10000 TO
10000 by hemispherical. Flat tack heads
showed the localities of cities having 20, 600
to $4,000, rounded tick heads from SO, 900 to
100000. Tack heads fat and square indi-
Gated cities between 100000 and 100000,
tack heads round, but with depression on
top, showed cities of greater size.
bounding" the states is an easy matter
to the pupil. Taxing Missouri for example,
the child requested TO do the work began by
placing the hand fiat on the block, TO get a
general idea OF its position; then the fore
finger CT the right ha ID found the north
west corner. ran rapidly along the elevated
Iowa line, followed the Mississippi down to
Arkansas, went too far and passed TO Helena,
| where pause was made, the name read,
and the mistake discovered, returned,
found the line. traced it to the west, along
the southern limits of Pemiscot aud Dunk
lin counties, missed it again at the st.
| Francis river recovered il, went north,
found the line at Butler county, ran it to
the corner of Mcdonald county, thence
along the western boundary to the starting
| point, and then gave the whole result orally
| without moments hesitation.
by means OF these dissected maps a fair
idea is also gained by the pupils Of the re-
| spectlve size OF various countries aud ates.
Nhen asked TO compare Ohio with Texas
the boy laid the Ohio block on the Texas
map, measured ii off, turned il this way
that way, carefully keeping the count with
MS myers on the space already covered
and finally announced that Texas, accord
ing to his idea, was about five times a,
large as Ohio, "a calculation close enough tc
the truth TO excite wonder at the accurac
rather than criticism Of its lack Of exact
ness. Dissected maps of every continen,
are provided, and q large globe, made on
the principles which underlie the construc
tion Of the maps, enables the pupils TO gair
fair general idea Of the shape anC
geographical features OF our pl.net Geog.
Apply, In 20 ost schools, is used as an aid x
the study Of history, aud is studied, rot n
a collection Of meaningless ma nes, but as
subject which throws lndispe sable light OF
tho deeds aud words 4 mankind.