The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1910-06-16
One of the Most Popular Airs In the
List Used to interest the Pupils In
Their Studies Was "Auld Lang
Syne"-"Bonny Doom" Also Liked.

with Il pointing ROD the Ter 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 a man. would lead the class
chorus as he pointed. and if the sub
ject happened to be political divisions
the song would run like this. to the
tune of "Bonny 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 I'VE see
Upon its southern boundary.
Its western and southwestern sides
Are washed by the Pacific tides.
The geographical verses were con
tanned in fac piuPils' text book called
The Key to PeIton's New and In
proved Series of Outline Maps"
Among other things the following is
found in the preface of one of these
old time volumes:
with respect to the ~verSificatiOn. it
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 a form which can be most easily
committed TO memory, and it is conf
IDENTIFY believed that the e~Xhilarating
effect of harmonious sounds will great
ly facilitate the acquisition of this
knowledge. and care has been taken
that zone but popular and approved
airs be inserted in the work"
AUD 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 ball or globe
Whose surface has been found
Three-fourths with ocean waves sub
merged
And but one-fourth dry ground.
Two hundred millions of square miles
Earth's surface does embrace.
Eight hundred million people here
All find a dwelling place.
Tongue twisting names did not en-
barrass the geographical versifier, al
though the enumeration of all the pu-
pills probably was not perfect when.
for example. in the lesson on Asia
they sans to the air of ''Bruce's Adj
dress" such lines as these:
Now IN m~odulations sweet
ASia'S rivers we repeat.
Obi first in Russia greet.
Irish river next.
Lost in sand behold Helmund,
Thep northward seek Yarkund:
Be Got turbid Oxus summed:
Sihon river see.
Oral river next in place.
Attruck and Koor river trace:
KILL 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 its boundaries were
thus defined:
On CALIFORNIA; northern side vast Oregon
is placed.
Both Utah ana New Mexico upon the east
are traced.
Upon it's southern borders next may Mex
leo be found
And broad Pacific's sparkling waves COM
pose its western bound
In thirty-tour tanza set to the
tune of "Bonny Doom the geography
class would make a our of Europe
and CLEAN bits of information about
various countries and cities visited.
The tout would start in this fashion:
Now be our geographic rhymes
Transferred to European climes
The grand divisions first we teach
With the metropolis of each.
Norway. a 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 ubmits
Austria. Will its imperial crown.
Vienna takes for its chief town.
Turkey. in southern Europe placed.
Is by ConstantinOple graced.
Greece. once for arts and arms re-
nOwned.
With glorious Athens still is rowne
Thus the geography pupils sang on
through the list of European nations
and capitals.-New York Sun.