El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-08-23
EUROPE NATURAL
HOME FOR MAN
Climatic Conditions Re
sponsible for Importance
of Small Continent.

of Small Continent.
washington. D. C.. Aug. zs.-'Dit
you ever ask yourself. why is Eu.
rope Important " inquiries a bulletin
from the National Geographic society
South America may have revolu-
tons. nations elsewhere may topple
China with her 100000. 900 may over
turn a prehistoric monarchy. and the
world goes about its business undes-
turbed.
Let a crack-brained nobody shoot
at a European prince and every con-
tinent rocks with the Armageddon that
ensues."
The bulletin quotes from a commu-
nication Of Dr. Edwin H. Grosvenor.
who tells why the smallest, but one,
Of the six continents produced such
practical monopoly Of universal lead
ership."
-Of about the same size as Canada
Or Brazil, one might question. regard
Ing merely territorial extent. whether
Europe should be called a continent
at all" Dr. Grosvenor writes.
insignificant on Man.
siberia exceeds it by more than a
million square miles On the map Of
the eastern hemisphere Il appears IN
significant It is dwarfted on the
south by the ponderous bulk OF Africa.
while Asia 10 which II clings, thrusts
lit disdainfully away toward the
northwest.
Europe does not equal 11-4th Of
the land surface and is less than
l-50th Of the entire surface OF the
globe; yet upon II dwell 10000, 600
human beings, more than q fourth OF
all mankind. Nor are all Europeans
found IN Europe. They and their chill
dren have occupied and populated the
whole western hemisphere. Of which
they were the discOverers They have
nearly the whole OF Africa With the
exception Of China and Japan. thew
control all Asa and all the ISLANDS
OF all the seas During the last %
centuries from them as from a focus
nave radiated the art and science and
thought OF the world.
IN the physical advantages Europe
possesses are revealed the causes
which have given TO Europeans and
the descendants OF Europeans their
unquestioued superiority.
Climate Is Temperate.
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 19
degrees from the pole Tarifa. its ex-
IRENE southern point, is SO degrees
Nowhere. except in the farthest
boreal limits, does excessive cold
stunt body and mind Nowhere does
excessive and continued heat sap en-
ergy and enervate the viii. No spon-
tanoeus prodigahty OF nature removes
the necessity Of exertion and induces
both.
Here, where the air invigorates.
man must labor # he would survive
The rewards Of labor are reasonably
sure, but something more is neces-
sary than TO atisfy one days needs.
The periodic succession. the rhythmic
swing OF the seasons. where winter
invariably follows summer. compels
aim to take thought and make some
provision OF food shelter and cloth I
nE Tor the days TO come Even slight Z
abor and little forethought, neither
II which can be escaped, force him to- /
ward emergence from the primitive T
md purely animal state toward high /
r existence.
THE climate Of western Europe Is
determined by the gulf stream. the .
nightiest, most rapid and most bene- i
1ceut Of ocean currents It's heated
mass detected eastward by the banks
y Newfoundland reaches the shores
u Europe, creating on its way the
fisheries Of the North sea
No Excuses OF Seasons
AS no formidable barrier to breezes
rom the sea is interposed. the pre-
'ailing winds Of Europe. loaded with
'ceaE moisture. spread hundreds Of
niles inland. relieving the excuses I
u the seasons and fertilizing the soil.
The coast line OF Europe Is re-
variable for its length and its avail
.lllity- south America IS twice and
ERICA three times as large. and yet. i
though Europe Is landlocked on fits
astern or Asiatic side. il has a longer |
oast line than that OF those two con-
inents combined. North America has
ouole the area Of Europe. But. ex-
ept Tor what stretches along the
nhospitable Arctic the sea front Of
he two Is nearly the same.
EUROPE Is intersected by numerous
asst, narrow, half inland CULTS and
cas- which endlessly break its con-
our and multiply its length.
NO other body Of water rivals the
comparable sea which forms the
2utnern boundary Of Europe, the
The dwellers on the peinsular
1ores OF Greece and Asia Minor were
npelled by the circumstances of
ieir lot 10 ventude upon, gradually
understand, and finally 10 master
le sea. And the sea gave back some
ing greater than mere material re-
Inevitably the old land kingdoms
gypt. Assvria- Persia, india. sub
erged the individual IN the mass. As
eVitablys In the men who sinElv or
. groups Of tWos or threes wrestled II
itn ana overcome the sea, the sense
personal Independence was reused.
rs was both achievement and reve-
ton i was the impelling motive
marathon and in all the struggles
: RECON since down TO the pres
Z