The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-18
FINE LECTURE BY
PROFESSOR FRYE.
He Talks to the Public School leach
ers of Richmond.
RICHMOND'S GOOD WATER POWER
The Distinguished GcoSrapher Speaks
on Subject of Deep Interest and
Greatly Plcascs His Audience Of
Scholarly People.

Yesterday forenoon at 10 o'clock, Mr..
| Alexis T.. Frye OF Boston, lectured be-
fore the city teachers OF Richmond and
| Manchester IN the assembly room OF
the Central school.
Mr.. Frye is the author Of the new
geography series now used IN Richmond,
and the purpose of his lecture was 10
| explain TO the teachers the principles on
which the books are founded and 10 sug-
gest methods of teaching the subject OF
! geography \ short sketch of the history
| of the science was given. showing how
| the travellers, navigators and soldiers Of
! ancient times had brought together the
| mass Of facts which made possible the
! discovery Of laws Of climate. astronomy.
! "arth-scuipture and related subjects
| that form the basis OF geography.
THE CENTRAL THOUGHT.
The central thought OF modern geo.
| graphy, said Mr.. Frye. is not simply
whore or how much or how many. but
rather the reason Tor geographic condi-
uons The mass OF facts accumulated
during PAST ages made % possible for
Carl Ritter. the great German geo
grapher. 90 60 back through the ceu-
turies. gather up The countless threads
Of research ana weave them into the
beautiful science Of geography. having
many examples OF this new phase Of The
subject by describing the processes bv
which the more deuseiy populated re-
sions of the earth were formed
lie described minuteiy the hard soil
plains of the yellow river valley Of
China. formed OF hne dust blown eaet-
ward from dry Central Asia. settling In
deep layers oyer the country. changing
% billy region into vast plain that sup
ports hity million people Next bee de-
scubed The delta plain Of China. sYp-
porting onc-hfth OF all the people on the
earth. and showing how eusy it is o. lead
school children 10 understand why such
regions support large populations Iu %
similar manner dee discussed the prairie-
of the United States. tho wide O'ai--
along many Of tho coasts OF tine world
tho rich bottom-lands along such river.
as tho Nile. 20 and Gauges and ex-
planned how each geographic feature i-
adapted 10 support lifs
THE HARBORS EXPLAINED.
Mr.. Frye claimed that che ola teach.
ing which gave the best harbOrs o.
rocky coasts and The poorer bsrbors g.
sandy coasts is not borne ont Ay facts
The true explanation is this. The great
seaports. not river ports. Of Tho world
are on harbors formed by THO sinking or
rough land partly beneath the seI This
accounts for the deep water of the har-
bors of New York san Francisco. Liver
pool Havana etc.
Tho speaker treated cities along the
same general plan. showing by several
examples that cities owe their growth %
natural causes. such rs surrounding grain
fields. forests mines. ETC., rs well as 90
location convenience for making ship
meuts.
The distribution Of plants. animals
people and governments WAS shown 40
follow sIch great natural features a- The
oceans. desert of Sahara. and plateau
of Thibot. Thus The Saharl Deser. s.ra-
rates tho black and the white races
The pleatoau OF Thibct stands between
the white people of India and the yellow
people of Eastern and Northern Asia
Tho brown people dwell ON the islands
southeast Of Asia. Governments were
shown 70 bo characteristics Of races.
with here and there am exception
With this central thought of leading
pupils 10 study the reasons for rc1-
graphic facts Mr. Frye explained some
methods of using the pictures. text and
maps that appear in his geographic ee-
ries, and b. closed his lecture hy appeal
ing 10 the teachers 90 view the modern
science as every sea of thought. where
i'm the toughest peIrl-divcr may dive fO
his utmost depth and return. not only
with wreck. hu with true orleuts."
RlCHMOND'S WATER POWER.
ln speaking of DID," gcogI phic condition
Of the Middle South Atlantic States SIR
Frye declared that This region is destined
20 become the great manufacturing and
i-trstrial section lof The Union. and
gave So as Dis opinion that The mleniG
cent w1ter-power at Richmond would in
fhe fast coming years be harncssad %
turn the countless wheels and ap.uJles OF |
profitable industries.
Mr.. Frye has just bccn on % lecture !
tour 90 several cities Of Ceorcia Too !
morrow ho is TO speak n Lynclbrre |
After visiting q few more cities in Nir-
GINA and States farther North lc uu !
return 90 Boston % resume bis literary !
wor1-
So pleased were the people with Dis /
lecture here they invited him DO return |
which DE will do at his earliest convcn-
ence.