The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-04
WHY EUROPE is IMPORTANT

to themselves nearly the whole OF
Africa, with tho exception OF China
and Japan. they control all Asia and
ing the last twenty-five centuries, from
them as from a focus have radiated the
I art and science and thought of the
world.
"ln the physical advantages Europe
possesses are revealed the causes which
have given to Europeans and the de-
scendants OF Europeans their unques-
toned superiority.
Almost the whole of Europe is sit
uated in the northern half of the North
Temperate zone, Its extreme northern
point, the North cape. is nineteen de-
giees from the Pole, Tarifs. ITS ex-
treme southern point. is t~htrty-six
degrees from the equator.
Nowhere, except in the farthest bo-
real limits, does excessive cold stunt
body and mind Nowhere does excess
eive and continued heat sap energy
and enervate the will. No spontaneous
~rrodieality Of nature removes the
necessity of exertion and induce sloth.
Here. where the air iuvigorates, man
r3tsi labor II he would survive The
rewards of labor are reasonably sure.
but something more is necessary than
to satisfy one days needs. The
periodic succession, the rhythmic
swing OF the seasons. where winter
Invariably follows summer. compels
h,m 70 take thought and make some
provision 81 food, shelter and cloth
Ing for the DAYS to come. Even slight
labor and little forcthought. neither OF
which can be esca ped. force him toward
emersence from the primitive and
purely animal state toward higher ex-
istence.
THE climate OF western Europe is
determined by the gulf stream. the
r7ightiest, most rapid and most bcne-
fcent Of ocean currents. Its heated
mass, DETECTED eastward by the banks
It newfoundland, reaches the shores
OF Europe, creating on It's way the ex-
haustIess fisheries of the North sea.
"As no formidable. barrier to hreczes
from the sea is in~terposed. the pre-
railiug winds Of Europe loaded with
ocean moisture. spread hundreds OF
miles inland, relieving the excesses
OF the seasons and fcrtiltzing the soil.
THE coast line of Europe is remark
agile for it's length and its availability,
South America il twice and Africa
three times as large. and yet. although
Europe is landlocked on it's eastern
or Asiatic side, it has a longer coast
line than that Of those two continents
combined. North America has double
the area Of Europe But. except for
what stretches along the inhospitable
Arctic. the sea front Of tho two is
nearly the same.
Europe is intersected by numerous
vast. narrow. half-iuland CULTS and seas
which endlessly break its contour and
multiply It's length,
No other body of water rivals the
Incompatible sea which forms the
southern boundary of Europe, the Med
~tterranean.
The jewellers on the pe%ninsular.
shares of Greece and Asia Minor were
inlpelled by the. circumstances Of their
Lot to venture upon. gradually to un-
uerstand. and finally to master the sea.
And the sea gave back something
greater than mere material returns.
Inevitably the old land Kingdoms.
Egypt, AsSyria. Persia. India. sub
merged the Individual in the mass. AS
inevitably, in the men who singlv or
in groups ofltwos or threes wrestIed
with and overcome the sea. the sense
cf personal independence was reused.
This was both achievement and revela-
ton. 1t was the tmpelling motive at
Marathan and in all the struggles for
freedom since down to the present day