The record-union., 1893-10-06
NEW STATE GEOGRAPHY,
Opinions of Leading Educators on
Its Merits.
A Book That VIII Compare Favora bly,
With Amy Geography Published
by Private Firm.

The Advanced Geography of the State
series has been completed and distributed
to the pupils of the public schools
throughout the State. 1t takes the place
of and comes into direct comparison with
the best biographies put upon the mar
ket by Eastern publishers, succeeding in
this county Harper's Geography, uni
versally conceded to be one of the best
ever published. A careful examination
Of it proves that it need not fear the test
Of critical comparison with any hereto
fore published, and thoroughly estab-
fishes the fact that the State of California
can and does produce textbooks the peer
of any produced by private firms.
While the book is an excellent compile
ment to the smaller geography, the plan
differs somewhat. The new book opens
with the most complete set of hemi-
spheric maps ever published in any
work. Local geography, combining OBJ
ject and observation lessons, interWoven
with bits of physical geography in it's
most attractive form, follows, explaining
changes in the surface of the earth, both
in land and water. 1t deals largely with
climate as tempered by wind. moisture,
heat and cold, and affecting the Droduc-
tions and people, devoting many times
the space ordinarily allowed to the sub
ject.
The maps are very fine and the latest
made, mbracing physical, relief, isOther-
NAL and commercial maps, that are in
themselves an education. The maps of
Eurasia, embracing the continents
usually known as Europe and Asia, is a
new departure and an excellent one. A
most exhaustive and almost absolutely
perfect index completes the book, in
which can be found, singly and grouped
together, every subdivision of any sub
ject treated of.
Favorable criticisms from many Of the
prominent educators in the State have
been received, and all speak of it as fine
work.
private letter from an experienced
teacher in the southern part of the State,
says: Il have thoroughly examined the
book and used some part OF it already.
1t is the best of the State textbooks IN
execution and also the best in method.
A friend of mine who is a geography
enthusiast and has copies of nearly all
the standard school biographies, has
given ii a critical examination, and is
OutspOken in praise of its merits. But
one defect has been observed here and
that is in the map of San BenIto County,
which is evidently outlined from the
first description of the county in 1874,
but since then the lines have been
changed, including Panocne and New
Idria in this county.
1.-The plan of printing the township lines
is an excellent one. and a number of the
settlers have traced their boundaries by
it. The engraving is splendid in design
and execution. They are new as we'll as
more than usually instructive.
"A DUDil must cultivate the IMAGINATION
10 comprehend geography. The teacher
is compelled to use illustrations, and they
are of great value. For example: 1 can
do more in a single lesson with the illus
tration of North America on page IL in
intoxicating the idea of the nature of the
climate. productions, people, etc., that by
four weeks of description"