The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1910-11-12
sung THEIR LESSONS
Geography Set to Music an Old
Time Teaching Scheme.
A PLAN or YANKEE ORIGIN.


Singing geography was popular
fad in the educational line iD New
York in olden days. particularly in up
state school districts It was Of Yan.
kee origin. 1t was never made part Of
the common school system Of the state.
but was taught outside the regular
hours.
A set Of wall maps known as Pei
toms outline maps was used. There
We're no names Of geographical dipi-
sions or places on them. The instruc-
tor would 90 over the map on which
the lesson was found, pointing out
with pointing rod the different coun-
tries. cities, rivers, lakes or whatever
might be the subject in hand. and at
the same time the name of each di-
vision. place or body Of water would
be mentioned In song. The teacher.
usually man, would lead the class
chorus as he pointed and IL the sub
1ect happened to be political divisions
the song would run like this. to the
tune Of sBonny Doom"
Let North America be first
In our descriptive rhyme rehearsed
Its northern bound the arctic waves.
Its east the Atlantic ocean laves
The gulf OF Mexico we see
Upon its southern boundary.
Its western and southwestern sides
Are washed BY the Pacific tides.
The geographical verses were con
tanned In the pupils text book called
''The Key to Peltons New and I'm
proved Series Of Outline Maps.
Among other things the following Is
found in the preface Of one cf these
old time volumes:
"With respect to the versification, il
is merely necessary to say that the de
sign has been to put all the important
geographical localities on the globe, in
connection with much valuable matter
IN form which can be most easily
committed 10 memory. and it is conf
IDENTIFY believed that the cxhilarating
effect of harmonious sounds will great
ly facilitate the acquisition Of this
knowledge. and care has been taken
that none but popular and approved
airs be inserted in the work.
"Auld Lang Syne" appears to have
been regarded as an especially pop
ular and approved" air and was often
used. In the very first lesson the pu-
pills were taught TO describe the earth
by singing the following to this tune;
The earth is a large bah or globe
Whose surface has been found
And but one-fonrth dry ground
Two hundred millions OF square miles
l1arth's surface does embrace
Eight hundred million people here
All find dwelling place.
Tongue twisting names did not EN-
barrass the geographical vcrsifier. al
though the enunciation Of all the pu.
pills probably was not perfect when.
for example, in the lesson on Asia
they sang to the air Of "Bruce's Ad.
dress" such lines as these,
Now in modulaxions sweet
Asia's rivers we repeat.
Obi first in Rugaia greet.
Irish river next.
Then northward seek Yarkund;
Be not turbid Oxus Stunned;
Sihon river see.
Ural river next in place.
Attruck and Koor river trace;
XIII Irmak then embrace
In our melody.
There were thirty-one states in the
Union when singing geography was in
vogue, and the pupils were taught to
bound each Of them IN verse. Cali
fornia was then the newest state. hav-
ing been admitted in 1850; was the last
on the list, and it's boundaries were
thus defined:
On Caiifornia's northern sido vast Oregon
is placed
Both Utah and New Mexico upon the east
are traced.
Upon its southern borders next may Mex
leo be found.
And broad Pacifics sparkling waves com
pose its western bound
In thirty-four stanzas set to the
tune OF 'Bonny Doom" the geography
class would make a tour Of Europe
and CLEAN bits Of information about
various countries and cities visited
The tour would start in this fashion:
Now be our geographic rhymes
Transferred 10 European clirnes.
The grand divisions first we teach
With the metropolis OF each.
Norway. region bleak and cold,
BY Christiania is controlled.
Sweden. that Charles the hero bred,
Takes Stockholm for its chief and head
Russia in proud expansion sits
And to st. Petersburg submits.
Austria, with It's imperial crown.
Vienna takes for its chief town.
Turkey, in southern Europe placed
II by Constantinople graced.
Greece. once FOR arts and arms re-
nowned.
With glorious Athe1s still Is crowned.
Thus the geography pupils sang Oh
through the list Of European nations
and capitals.-New York Sun.
Enlivened the Play
Monte Cristop was playing TO a
crowded house'in a New York theater
In box sat man who had looked Cd
the wine when It was red When
Monte mounted the rock 10 The sea