The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1890-08-23


JOHN HAY.
MAPS FOR THE BLIND.
Interesting Facts About Their Oonstruc-
ton and Use.
A map for the blind IS 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 a map is impossible.
Something of the kind was necessary,
80 special maps were invented and
manufactured for the use of the eyeless.
They are all of the kind known as the
.sdissected maps" and are of wood ARE
really carved blocks, says the Globe
Democrat. All land stands in relief,
the muurta ins are in ridges, the rivers
are long depresslons, the state lines are
elevated. Each state is a separate
block, and the pupil Is taught to fit the
blocks together and thus prepare for
himself map Of the whole country.
The name of each state is marked,
sometimes on the back, sometimes on
the front Of the block, and the observer
will notice, all over the surface Of the
blocks, small aggregations of what to
him are meaningless dots. These are
the names of rivers, towns and cities.
Cities are designated by pin or tack
heads, and the size and shape Of these
show the approximate number Of pop
ulation. In one map cities of less than
10000 inhabitants were indicated By pin
heads fat on top, and those Of 10000 to
10000 by hemispherical. Flat tack
heads showed the localities of cities
having 10000 to $4,000, rounded tack
heads from $4,000 to 100000. Tack
heads fiat and square indicated cities
between 100000 and zoo, 900. tack heads
round, but with depression on the top
showed cities of greater size.
ssBounding" the states is an easy
matter to the pupil. Taking Missouri.
for example, the child requested to do
the work began by placing the hand flat
on the block, to get general idea of It's
position; then the forefinger Of the
right nand found the northwest corner,
ran rapidly along the elevated Iowa
line, followed the Mississippi down to
Kansas, 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 and Dunklin counties, missed
it again at the St. Francis river, recov-
cred it, 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 respective size of various countries
and states. When asked to compare
Ohio with Texas the boy laid the Ohio
blocks on the Texas map, measured it
off, turned it this way, that way. care
fully keeping the count with his fingers
on the spate;alreadv covered, and finally
announcedithat Texas, according to his
idea, was about five times as large as
Ohio. calculation close enough to the
truth to excite wonder at Its accuracy
rather than criticism of it's lack of ex-
actness. Dissected maps of every con-
tinent are provided, and a large globe,
made on the principles which underlie
the construction Of the maps. enables
the pupils to gain fair general idea of
the hape and geographical features Of
our planet. Geography. in most schools,
is used as an aid to the study Of history,
and is studied, not as collection of
meaningless names, but as q subject
which throws INDISPENSABLE light on the
deeds and words of mankind.