The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-05-26
HAS GEOGRAPHY
PUBLISHED in
YEAR OF 1872
Contents of Book Would
Prove Interesting
Reading Today

Children of today, who take their
geography lessons with large doses OF
pictures and maps illustrating the
countries they study would find the
Sixth Northampton edition Of the Gee
ography of the World" published in
1872, a trifie dull. Should they attempt
to discover what the Esquimo Indians
Of North America look like. or see
where the River Marine lies, they would
be disappointed, for there is not an IL
lustration in the 216 pages OF this
work.
B. F. Remington, AZ South Eleventh
street, Minneapolis, is the possessor of
this antique bit of literature and he
prizes 1t very highly, inasmuch as 1t
is over a century old. On the fly1eaf Of
the book is inscribed the name Martin
Kellogg, June 10, 1875" It is about
eight by five inches, bound in much
worn brown sheepslxin, the pages, thin
and stained with age. Nathaniel Dwight
is the author and he wrote the first
edition in 1875.
He reprints the preface which ap-
peared in this first edition, in which
he says, should the first edition meet
with suitable encouragement, the flu
ture editions will be enlarged and
amended as the author finds means and
time for the purpose" DEMO and
Phelps, Greenfield, Conn, are the pub
fishers of the later edition, which is
principally designed for children and
common schools"
Form of Catechisnn.
It has been written in the form Of a
catechism and contains much interest
ing information in the light Of recent
discoveries and present-day happen
ings. The style is peculiarly quaint
and archaic and it is obvious that
many of the authors naive observa-
tions have been colored by his personal
prejudices and opinions.
He says of the Russians:
They are in size about middling;
are robust, hardy and courageous; pa
tient of fatigue and excellent soldiers.
Their compilations are much like those
of the English, only the ladies injure
theirs by adding artificial red, of which
they are very fond. Intoxication, how
ever, is prevalent among all ranks in
Russia; and even priests and ladies
are not ashamed Of it on holidays"
He betrays his English sympathies
by the following:
1.-THE English are OF good stature,
shape and complexion; the woman are
handsome and graceful in their ap
pearance, beyond those of almost any
country. They are reserved in their
manners and professions; mild and
humane in their dispositions; and it is
observed that they oftener perform
more than they promise, than fall short
Of it."
In the light of contemporary mill
tary statistics, the size Of Germany's
and Hungary's standing armies (Aus-
tria was then part of Germany) is
interesting. We are told that on mod
crate computation the German empire
could bring into the field about 100000
men and Hungary about $4,000.
All About America.
BY far the most interesting section
Of the book is that devoted to Amer
lea. There were twenty-one states or
districts, as they were called at that
time. and there is a separate descrip-
ton of each one. East and West Flor
ida, Louisiana and Old and New Mex
leo were then Spanish provinces; the
country west of the Mississippi was
bowling wilderness, while California
was a part of Mexico.
We learn that effete Boston boasted
ninety-seven streets, thirty-six lanes |
and twenty-six alleys, besides several |
squares or courts Also that there were
seven free schools. "the education of |
children being well regulated"
That the glittering lights of Broad |
undreamed Of Is proved by this de- |
scription OF New York:
TT stands on point Of land which |
is formed by the junction of the North |
and East rivers, and is the finest sit /
uation for commerce in the United |
States. The city contains upwards of |
5000 houses and about 10000 inhabiA /
tants. In 1910 it contained 96,37S. It's /
streets are not regular, but they are
generally well paved. and it is place
of extensive commerce."
And what a paradise for fishermen
and hunters was Ohio in those days! 1
We are told that the animal produc-
tons" were deer, wild cattle, bears,
wolves, foxes, as well as turkeys, II
geese, ducks, swans. teal, pheasants,
and cartridges, while the rivers furnish
a plentiful supply Of fish of different
kinds and an excellent quality.
And what a shock would this be to
Henry Ford:
Detroit is an ancient. settlement be-
gun by the French: it now contains
from 300 to 400 houses. built since 1905,
when it was destroyed by fire, and is
the seat of government"