Framingham State University - Dial Yearbook (Framingham, MA)

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21 On one of the first pages, before the leamer begins upon his easy method of acquiring his geographical knowledge, are two very interesting wood cuts. One shows San Francisco in l848, the other San Francisco in IS49. At the time of the publication of the book, Califomia was the most attractive portion of our country. When the States are taken up, there is given under California a wood cut of men at work on the land, and under it is- Gold digging in California. These are some of the poetical arrangements. GEOGRAPHY The surface of the Earth, with all its tribes Of Sea and Land, Geography describes. CONTINENTS A continent is a vast extent of land Where rivers run and boundless plains expand. Where mountains rise, where towns and cities grow, Wfiere nations live and all their cares bestow. THE OCEAN An ocean is a vast extent of brine Or salt water, boundless and sublime. A MAP A map's a picture, of the whole or part Of the earth's surface, to be learned by heart. The top is North, while South points to your breast. The right hand's East, the left hand's always West. More maps than one bound for school or college Is called an Atlas and contains much knowledge. At the bottom of a page not far advanced in the book, we find this very helpful statement- Questions are not inserted in this work from the fact that it was ,deemed superfluous. All the teacher has td do to form a question, is to read over any sentence and prefix the interrogatives What is or HWTICIC is etc. and it becomes a question. He turns to page seven, for instance, and glances his eye upon,the word Geography in full faced letters over the poetry that defines geography and asks the question. ...What is Geography? Then, What is the Earth? and, to answer the question, the pupil repeats the poetry, and, in his oxm language gives the sum and substance of the prose. The teacher in all instances should explain the licensed poetic phrases to juvenile classes. Who dares to say that there is no royal road to learning? Would that these halcyon days were with us now!

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20 One winds your clock when you are gone, Then asks a cent a night. One asks a cent to see her dress, fit was a perfect sight, But things like that, you know, must be To ever win a victory. I They washed your stocks for you, You gave them more, and yet, You never found for several days How much you were in debt. They even held a rummage sale Of everything in their avail. I was dead broke in a short while, And yet I owed still more and moreg My only consolation was ,lust what they used the money for. They made poor babies some warm clothes, And worked, themselves, the buttonholes. Was ever such a crafty lot! We gave what we were meant To give, for manicure, shampoog and all. Our senses left us with our cents. You'll do the same, and it will be , To you as big -a mystery. iiiiil Poetical Geography CURIOSITY led me, recently to purchase The Poetical Geography designed to accompany outline maps or school atlasesf' The book was published at Cincinnati in l852. I wished to see -how geography could be put into a poetical pill so as to please the taste of the average learner. I have had my curiosity satisfied. It has a dedication, a lengthy pref- ace, and an Introduction In reading the preface one is struck by the signilicanceof the follow- ing statement, not only for the statement in itself, but also for its relation to the Introduction. Geography is a branch that is studied by nearly all, but how few among the vast number who spend years in acquiring a knowl- edge of it ever retain or remember it. But the deficit is not to be attribu- ted to the works studied but to the poverty of memory. The Introduc- tion is quoted in full at the end of this communication, because it is the spiritual and literary gem of the whole collection. It shows how the poverty of memoryi' is to be overcome.

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22 INTRODUCTION Away into a grove young Alva strayed, I-lis task to learn beneath the cooling shade: Before him lay an atlas open wide, Where towns and mountains stood on every side: Long on its page his studious mind was placed, But dark Forgetfulness each name defaced: At length discouraged sorrow o'er him pressed, And a deep sigh came from his laboring breast, When lo! a seraph stood before his face, And beamed with radiance of celestial grace: In his right hand a golden lyre he held, And 'mid ambrosial clouds poised o'er the field: The astonished boy could scarce his presence brook While the fair Spirit thus his errand spoke: I am a traveller, on my aerial way: Across the gulf of vast immensity I speed my course, and in a moment pass, From star to star, from world to universe. Creation's furthest skirts I have beheld, And marshalled o'er her wide unbounded field: And when I winged the vast profound of space, This world remote reared up her clayey faceg With rapid flight upon extended oars I came and circled round her terrene shores All I beheld, but ere I passed away To other worlds, I cast mine eyes on thee. I saw a tear roll from thy sparkling eye, And why it rolled, I need not ask thee why: I've come, my boy, to wipe the falling tears, And give an opiate for thy grief and fearsg The towns and mountains which beneath me stood, And rivers rolling to the dark blue flood, And isles and lakes as they were spread to me I'l1 sing and bind upon thy memory: I-larsh sounds in smooth, unbroken lines shall glide, As free and easy as the sparkling tide. When first I launched me down the ethereal sky, Columbia's shores were spread before mine eye In dusky features, for the orb of day Blazed on the antipodes, the other way, And the pale moon, fair empress of the night, Sat veiled in glory, on her chariot bright. And now of that which lay beneath my wing, Harp, raise thine airs, and aid me as I sing. Thus having said, he struck his heavenly lyre And sang in accents of celestial fire. I-I.