Methods and aids in geography : for the use of teachers and normal schools . is a type of thethundering cataract, the outlines of a little island suggestthe coast-lines of a continent, a range of hills reveals thestructure of the loftiest chain of mountains. The study ofthe district about our home also helps us to understandforeign lands, by furnishing us with types and units ofcomparison. Herodotus, Polybius, Strabo, Ptolemy, Hum-boldt, and Ritter all studied geography in the world ofnature rather than that of books. But no one person can now, as formerly, visit in a lifetimeall parts of the
Methods and aids in geography : for the use of teachers and normal schools . is a type of thethundering cataract, the outlines of a little island suggestthe coast-lines of a continent, a range of hills reveals thestructure of the loftiest chain of mountains. The study ofthe district about our home also helps us to understandforeign lands, by furnishing us with types and units ofcomparison. Herodotus, Polybius, Strabo, Ptolemy, Hum-boldt, and Ritter all studied geography in the world ofnature rather than that of books. But no one person can now, as formerly, visit in a lifetimeall parts of the known world; hence he must accept, to agreat extent, the narratives and maps of scientific travellers HUMBOLDT, THE TRAVELLER 29 as authoritative. To read the many excellent books recentlypublished in English, French, and German, referred to andclassified in this treatise, will occupy the leisure time ofmost persons for several years. Besides these books oftravel, the well-informed teacher of geography must knowsomething of the various sciences, — the history and growth. Fig. 2.—Humboldt. of nations, commerce, and the laws of interchange of thecommodities of all climes. To perceive more clearly and fully how broad, compre-hensive, and inspiring Ritters idea of geography was, thereader is urged carefully to read the Life of Ritter, hisGeographical Studies, and Comparative Geography, aswell as all the works of Professor Guyot, once the pupil, 30 METHODS AND AIDS IN GEOGRAPHY always the friend and admirer, of the great German geog-rapher. Ritters definition of geography given above would notbe adapted to grammar school use; but its essence can beexpressed in the following brief statement: — Geography is a Description of the Surface of the Earth as theHotne of Man. In depicting to children this home of man, so wondrouslybeautiful, so marvellously fitted to supply all of mans wantsand administer so perfectly to his happiness, geographyshould describe in simple language the rem
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