ROUND THE WORLD WITH THE POETS SELECTED AND ARRANGED BY MARY CATE SMITH AND SARAH C. WINN LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY CALIFORNIA "I'd put a girdle round about the Earth in forty - BOSTON CHARLES H. KILBORN, PUBLISHER The design of this little book is to advance, in some degree, that more real and interesting study of geography, now rapidly gaining favor everywhere. No longer satisfied with the brief definitions of the school geography, the teacher culls from illustrated books of travel, brilliant narratives of discovery, descriptivę poetry, and many other sources, such selections as will attract the young pupil and inspire a more intelligent interest in the study of Nature. The words of some nonsense rhyme," caught on the playground, are remembered long after much studied definitions are forgotten. This natural love of rhythm is a strong argument (if any were needed) in favor of the larger use of poetry in the schoolroom, - both because of its refining influence and as a practical aid in acquiring and retaining valuable information. iii When seen through the poet's eyes, the familiar surroundings of every-day life reveal hidden beauties, and, in imagination, the scenes, the customs, and the wonders of distant lands are brought near. Thus supplemented by passages of descriptive poetry, the meagre statements of the textbook may be enforced at every point; and the geography recitation will no longer be a mere exercise in which pupils "Can string you names of districts, cities, towns, The whole world over, tight as beads of dew Upon a gossamer thread." The selections are arranged in the natural order of the study, and pupils should be required to learn them as the various topics are studied. PART I. Physical Features. So far as possible, the simplest poetry has been introduced for this elementary study. PART II. Relating to Special Countries, Mountains, Rivers, etc. A more extended range of selections may be chosen for this department, and those given will doubtless suggest others of a similar character to many teachers. PART III. An Illustrative Tour. This collection of choice verses, making a continuous journey round the Earth, will afford a valuable school exercise, or a review of the whole work. PART IV. Longer Poems of Places. The introduction, in longer poems, of the names of places widely separated, which are to be located as soon as named, will furnish a test of accurate and ready knowledge. |
