The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-13
Geography as She is Wrote.

One OF the latest school biographies pub
llshed in this country emphasizes the idea
prevalent in quarters of Information. that
there is room for considerable improvement
in many Of the geographical text books.
Tho particular book now in view is
called an Advanced Geography" and. to
Its credit be it said. its author advo-
cates many methods Of teaching which
arc approved by the geographers Of TO-
day. The text. however. is literally sprin
kled with nuggets of information and gems
of illustration which would add gray
hairs to the heads Of RITTER. PErERMANN.
and GUYor were they alive to fathom the
possibilities OF IN Advanced Geography
II 1891. Not few Of the edifying remarks.
IN notes. to aid teachers to impart color
sand vivacity to the lessons.
The information that 1.-The rumble Of the
lNiagaral Falls can be heard forty miles
away. and the trembling Of the earth fifteen
miles. The spray is visible seventy miles
away" probably comes under the head i'm
portant il true" Perhaps the atmospheric
conditions OF western New York make it
possible to hear tremble in that region at
an unusual distance. Then we are told that
buClO may DS a olS Al Ohc uuluO
Cape Farewell lat the south end OF Green
land]. for generally those who go beyond
this cape northward bid farewell to this
llfe." melancholy state OF things that will
he best appreciated by the Danes and
whalers who spend all or a large part Of
their lives north OF the cape.
Few people, perhaps. know how the Zuy
der Zee got its name. There is no longer
o., 1sl; 30
an old.time author. Zuyder Zee was so
named because Dutchman while crossing
with load OF cider was overtaken by a
storm and had to throw his cargo overheard.
He called out: The zuyders in the zee.'"
Dr. GANZENMULLEk. the German geogra-
pher. who has given much time to the deri
walton OF place names. has not yet added
this gem to his collection.
It is interesting to be informed that the
dancing girls of Siam can pick up bits of
straw with their eyelids. and do other
curious tricks" that 1.-The Annmese are
called tho big-toed race because the big toe
on each foot Ia very lnrge and flat and some
distance from the other toes" that the
Arabs Of Egypt think all Americans are
Yankee Doodlcs:" that some OF the tribes
o. Central Africa insert pegs into the sides
Of their lips. nostrlls. and other parts OF
their bodies, until often ono man is pinned
up in hundred different places" and that
sand columns waltz over tho Sahara Iees-
ort like living creatures" which recalls the
graphic remark OF a reporter ut his first fire
the other day. when he saw ladder. and
wrote that the fireman ran up 1t like a
human squirrel"
But 1t will gricve the natives OF New
Guinea. proud OF their Papuan. Malaynn.
= Oh Polyneslan blood. to read in their "Ad.
vanced Geography that E" they are negroes
OF small stature and salute by pinchlng
noses;" and tho wild Indian OF our Western
Territories will be all the wilder who'd no
learns for the first time in his life that This
head Is shaved except one spot on top" We
arc also informed that the warriors are
called by such names as Laughing Water
aud Dropping Lily. When the Hampton
students read this they will harbor strong
suspicion that tho Sweet Singer Of Michi-
gan has gone into the business Of writing
school Biographies.
Wo arc asked TO contrast the horid.
fresh-looklng faces OF the Inhabitants of
England and Ireland with the wrinkled. old
looking countenances OF the people OF Arr
zona." OF oourse there arc exceptions to
all rules. and we are therefore informed
that Arizona has some fair, young looking
old inhsbitants N. while the British Isles have
some old-looklng young people," 1t would
be really tantahzing II some explanation
we're not offered for the premature decay Of
the unfortunate inhabitants Of Arizona.
The enigun is solved for us on page 49,
where we aye iliosmod that Arizona "forms'
a portion OF tie ,h6ttSst and dryest region