Peter Parley’s Method of Telling About Geography to Children, by Samuel G. Goodrich (Hartford: H. & F. J. Huntington, 1831)
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[frontispiece]
Going to tell about Geography.
Take care there! take care boys! if you run against my toe, I’ll not tell you another story!
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[title page]
METHOD OF
TELLING ABOUT
GEOGRAPHY
TO
CHILDREN.
WITH NINE MAPS AND SEVENTY-FIVE ENGRAVINGS
PRINCIPALLY FOR THE USE OF SCHOOLS
HARTFORD:
H. AND F. J. HUNTINGTON.
TOWER, J. AND D. M. HOGAN, PHILADELPHIA; PLASKITT AND CO.,
BALTIMORE; THOMPSON AND HOMANS, WASHINGTON.
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p. v
PREFACE.
The author of this little book, has sought to give to a work designed principally for the use of schools, the attractive qualities of books of amusement. As fiction derives its interest from its resemblance to truth, I can see no reason in the nature of the case, why matters of fact may not be presented in a guise to captivate youth, as well as matters of imagination. One of the principal sources of interest in the inimitable tale of Robinson Crusoe, is the appearance of reality which the author has thrown over the narrative. Now if fiction thus borrows its attractions from truth, why is it necessary to deal so largely in fiction in the instruction of youth? Perhaps the sarcasm of the player, to the preacher, “we represent fiction as if it were truth, and you preach truth as if it were fiction,” is applicable to this subject. The cold and formal style of most books of juvenile knowledge, is probably the real cause that has driven parents and teachers to the use of books of fiction for children.
In the present work, I have ventured to treat a subject usually presented in a systematic form, in a somewhat colloquial manner, taking often a story-teller’s latitude in the use of phraseology, in the method of illustration, and in the arrangement of facts. I have not hesitated to repeat several times the same thing, whenever it might better suit my purpose.
Geography, more than almost any other youthful study, deals in visible images. The eye is the most active of the senses, and a large amount of visible impressions are soon acquired. For this reason, Geography is better fitted than most other studies for children. They are sooner able to comprehend it, because they early possess more ideas and more knowledge of language, relating to such topics as it presents, than of other subjects. In other words, children have ideas of hills, mountains, water, both flowing and at rest,—of distance and dimension,—of forms and shapes,—of men and their difference of action, figure and complexion,—of the
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p. vi
rites of religion,—and of most of the elementary ideas of Geography, long before the abstract notions which constitute the rudiments of grammar, for instance, are formed. They also understand names and modes of speech belonging to the former, much sooner than those belonging to the latter.
It is this adaptation of Geography to early instruction, that has brought it into almost universal use, as a first study for children. I have sought to make it a still fitter subject for this purpose, by suiting the language and the manner of its exhibition to children, and by presenting numerous cuts for the purposes both of illustration and association.
I do not pretend to have gone as far as I could have wished in conforming to my own idea of a good Geography for children, but until something better is furnished, I offer this to parents and teachers, and hope my little friends may find it amusing and instructive.
I hope I need make no apology for having availed myself of occasional opportunities to inculcate lessons of morality and religion upon the youthful heart. The heart is as capable of being taught as the intellect, and happiness depends much more upon its proper and right cultivation, than upon the cultivation of the mind. Yet I fear that the moral part of children, the source of feeling and sentiment is often left to run to weeds, and consequently shoots up into wild, irregular, and sometimes over-mastering passions. The sooner the juvenile bosom can be made to feel the gentle and genial influences of truth, love, humanity, and religion, the better. A principal thing to be aimed at on this subject, is to adapt moral instruction to the character of those whom it is designed to benefit, and carefully to avoid wearying and disgusting children with unsuitable and unseasonable admonition.
P. P.
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[p. 8]
Questions to my little Reader.
What place do you live in?
Is it a town or a city you live in?
What is a town? What is a city?
Which way is North? Which South?
Which way is East? Which West?
Have you ever been in any other town or city than the one you live in?
If you have, what was the name of that town?
In going to that town, which way did you go?
What town lies next the place in which you live, on the north?
What town is next, on the east?
What next, on the west?
What next, on the South?
What County do you live in?
Do you know what a County is?
What State do you live in?
Which way is Boston from the place you live in?
Which way is New-York?
Which way is Hartford?
Which way is Philadelphia?
Have you ever seen a river?
Have you ever seen a mountain?
If you have, what was it called?
Describe a mountain?
Did you ever see the sea, or ocean?
What is the sea, land or water?
Is the land smooth and level, like the water?
Are towns built on the water, or on the land?
Do animals such as horses and cows live on the water, or on the land?
Did you ever catch any fish on the land?
Where is the sky? Where are the stars?
Did you known [sic] what the shape of the world is?
Did you ever hear of England?
Did you ever see anybody who has been in England?
Do you know which way England lies?
Did you ever hear of Asia?
Do you know which way Asia lies?
Did you ever hear of Africa, where negroes come from?
Do you know which way it lies?
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The parent or teacher can prepare the pupil to enter upon the following lessons, by addressing to him a series of questions like the preceding, and when the pupil is unable to answer, by instructing him how to do so. The questions will need to be a little varied to suit the different circumstances of pupils.
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[p. 10]
[Transcriber’s note: In this delicate engraving, the circumference of the earth is punctuated by tiny figures which project from the circle: a pagoda projects from Asia, and the sails of tiny ships dot the section circle over the oceans. A volcano spouts smoke on what appears to be Greenland. The continents are dotted with images of the animals living there.]
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p. 10
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LESSON FIRST.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE EARTH.
1. Here is a picture of the World, or the Earth we live upon. It is round you see, and seems to swing in the air like a great ball. It is surrounded by the heavens, or a sky and stars.
2. The surface of the world is divided into land and water, as you will see by the picture. Men live on the land, and build towns and cities upon it; animals of various kinds also live on the land; vessels sail on the water, and fish live in the water.
3. Vessels sail around the world on all sides of it, as a fly would crawl around an apple. If you look at the picture, you will see vessels sailing in various directions.
4. Men and animals live on the land on all sides of the world. They have a sky and stars above them, let them be in what part of the world they may. If you were to go to Asia, or Africa, or any other country, there would still be stars over your head.
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The only purpose of the engraving that faces this page, is to convey the general idea that the earth is a globe or ball, and that we inhabit its surface. Of course, nothing like the relative proportion of the objects is attempted in the representation.
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p. 12
5. Now geography is a description of the world; it tells us of its shape, and how it is divided; and it describes the men and animals that live upon it. Geography is therefore a very useful and interesting study.
I am now going to ask you some questions to see if you remember what I have told you.
Questions.
1. What is the shape of the world or earth?
What does it seem to swing in the air like?
What is the earth surrounded by?
2. What is the surface of the earth divided into?
What live on the land?
What sail on the water?
3. Like what do vessels sail around the earth?
What can you see in the picture sailing on all sides of the earth?
4. Do men and animals live only on one side of the world, or on all sides of it?
What do men see above them, in all parts of the world?
If you were to go to Asia, or Africa, what would you see above you?
5. What is geography?
What does geography tell of?
What does geography describe?
Is geography a useful and interesting study?
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Note. One of the first things to be taught a child in Geography is, that the world is round, and that men and animals inhabit its surface. Simple as the idea seems to be, it is one not easily received by children; and therefore at the end of this lesson, the teacher or parent should make the pupil understand it, and correct at the outset the crude and erroenous fancies which he will be apt to form. The use of an artificial globe will make this a very easy matter.
[Transcriber’s note: This geographical poem appears at the end of lesson six, after the student has learned a little about various features, such as rivers, oceans, and people.]
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p. 20
… I hope you will recollect what I have told you, but, lest you should forget, I will put it into rhyme, and you may learn it by heart.
TO BE REPEATED BY THE PUPIL.
The world is round, and like a ball
Seems swinging in the air,
A sky extends around it all,
And stars are shining there.
Water and land upon the face
Of this round world we see,
The land is man’s safe dwelling place,
But ships sail on the sea.
Two mighty continents there are,
And many islands too,
And mountains, hills, and valleys there,
With level plains we view.
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p. 21
The oceans, like the broad blue sky,
Extend around the sphere,
While seas, and lakes, and rivers, lie
Unfolded, bright, and clear.
Around the earth on every side
Where hills and plains are spread,
The various tribes of men abide
White, black, and copper red.
And animals and plants there be
Of various name and form,
And in the bosom of the sea
All sorts of fishes swarm.
And now geography doth tell,
Of these full many a story,
And if you learn your lessons well,
I’ll set them all before you.