The Somerset reporter., 1890-09-25
Interesting Facts About Their Construo-
tlon and Their Use.

ZION anu Ahelr Use.
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 was necessary,
and so special maps were invented and
manufactured for the use Of the eyeless.
They are all Of the kind known rs the
"dissected MAPS" and are Of wood-are
really carved blocks. All land stands
In relief, the mountains are in ridges,
the rivers are long depressions, the state
lines are elevated. Each state Is sepa-
rate block, aud 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 ap-
proximate number Of population. In
one map cities Of less than 10000 inhab-
itants were indicated by pin heads fat
on top, and those of 10000 to 90, 900 by
hemispherical. Flat tack heads showed
the localities Of cities having 10000 to
10000, rounded tack heads from $4,000
to 100000. Tack heads fiat and square
indicated cities between 100, 0OOand 300
900. Tack heads round, but with de-
preston on the top, showed cities Of
greater size.
Bounding" the states is an easy mat
ter to the pupil. Taking Missouri, for
example, the child requested to do tho
work began by placing the hand fat on
the block to get general idea of Its po-
sition; then the forehnger Of the right
hand found the northwest corner, ran
rapidly along the elevated Iowa line, fol-
lowed the Mississippi down to Kansas,
went too far and passed to Helena, where
q pause was made, the name read and
the mistake discovered; returned, found
the line, traced 1t to the west along the
limits Of Pemiscot and Dunklin
counties, missed 1t again at the st. Fran
els river, recovered it, went north, found
the line at Butler county, ran 1t to the
corner Of Mcdonald county, thence
along the western boundary to the start
ing point and then gave the whole re-
,ult orally without moments hesita-
lion.
BY means Of these dissected mans 4
'air idea u also gained by the pupils Of
he respective sise Of various countries
md stateA When asked to compare
Ohio with Texas the boy laid the Ohio
block on the Texas map, measured It of,
turned 1t this way, that way, carefully |
Keeping the count with his fingers on the
pace already covered. and finally an
bounced that Texas, according to hi |
dea, was about i've times = large = |
Dido, , calculation close enough 70 TIE |
ruth 10 excite wonder at The accuracy |
ather than criticinm Of IL Lacked exact |
~. Diassctsd msps Of svesy ccntinant
~ provided, and . largo g1c6e, nade q |
u principles which undsrlie u ON
tuctina q IL msps enables ~ pupils
. onin = fair osnzal idsa q u dAspe
n geographical Anatmss a or 49,
3ooHElghv, II noGt SCHOOLS, b - =
\ ~ - ~ ata1T - AiGtoey, "a = /
tnole1 ~ 80 81 ss1ina q nsoninG.
lDs1ngnp ~ - : 6uh5eot vhAA |
lS4 - - 49,
S ~ L. casho.