The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-03-03
COOK TAKES COUNT;
LYON AND BRAD
LEY !! COME BACK

Abbeville, S. C. March 1st, 1915.
Editor of Press and Banner:
In the last issue of your paper you
had what was intended as an amusing
article inferentially calling in ques-
tion our knowledge of geography. You
classed us with DR.. Cook of Polar
fame. We consider this classification a
compliment. To be perfectly frank
with you we believe DR.. Cook came
just as near to discovering the North
Pole as did Peary, or. as did Amunsden
the South Pole. If he had been law
yer or newspaper man he could have
made out his case on much less evil
dence than he had; and If he had COM
bined the two professions in one he
wouldn't have needed any evidence at
all to make out his case. The fact Is
when Doc. Cook was out cunning for
poles people generally had not been
educated up to believing in the exist
epce of the specie, and If he had
brought home a whole car load of
poles some incredulous person, like
the Editor of the Press and Banner
would have been ready to charge that
he had bought them from Eskimo pot
hunters. Later, when It became fash
ionable to find poles, any rambler on
the high seas could report find and
little "me toos" were ready to stamp
the find as genuine. The Editor Of the
Press and Banner knows only the
beaten path Of geography and he can
net comprehend the broad field OF ori-
ginal research in which. such men as
DR.. Cook and your humble servants
are wont to roam. We consider DR..
Cook the original pole finder, the dis
coverer Of the species, and that he
was cheated out of the glory of his
achievement by a lot Of newspaper
editors.
History only repeated itself In the
efforts OF the editor of the Press and
Banner to discredit the geographical
knowledge of your humble servants.
The fact is II Scandinavia or Kamts-
chatka (it doesn't matter which, for
the names are not materially differ
ent) Is not at one or the other places
located ty US, 1t might rs well be. To
say the least of 1t we were considerate
In not locating it In the European War
Zone. This Province doubtless be-
longs to what is known In broader
geography as floating states, which
have different habitats. For countries
sometimes move about. Now the Editor
of the Press and Banner will be ready
to say "ionce on the map always on
the map" which only goes to show his
lack of knowledge of geography In the
broader sense. Poland many years ago
moved into Russia. Turkey has been
sliding toward Asia and the probabili-
ty is that within the nexts twelve
months she will have entirely crossed
over the Bosphorus. So 1t will be seen
that countries sometimes migrate, a
fact of which the Editor of the Press
and Banner seems to be ignorant.
Though the Editor of the Press and
Banner was very ready to question
our knowledge Of geography, it will
be noted that he did not attempt to in
form his readers of the whereabouts
of the port in question, though he
bought two beautifully bound ALIASES
and a globe from the petit book agent
referred to In his article. In fact his
name appeared as the first subscriber,
and he doubtless referred her to other
literary characters Of the city, which
accounts for our purchase.
And now Mr.. Editor, just word Of
advice you can boast Of a
college education, and because you are
decorated with diplomas and medals
in greater profusion than Haitian
General, don't make the mistake of
thinking you know all of geography.
Though we may have graduated only
from Lower Long Cane Session House
our knowledge of geography Is not
circumscribed and conventional. We
believe in the geography Of original
research, and we are proud to recog-
nize DR.. Cook as a worthy pioneer in
this broader field.
Very truly yours,
:IF. BRADLEY, and
c. J. LYON, Geographers.