Richard Wilson, B.A., D. LIFT, Volumes V. and VI. Maemillah Ca., Ld.' London.
In preparing a text-book, the author or editor must make a choice of two methods, the one of writing in the simplest language and putting his words into the style of the narrative, the other of depending entirely upon the accuracy and interest of the subject matter to give it a place. The first method presupposes a half-interested pupil who must be taught in a way calculated to capture and hold his flecting attention and designed to inoculate him: willy-nilly against geographic cal or historical ignorance. The author who uses the second method takes it for granted that his readers have true student minds. Perhaps he feels that it is only such as have that he cares to address. More than likely his own mind is only adapted to such a presentation. Each of these types of text-books is essential to the task of a teacher whose duty it is to make selections for his particular pupils.
As.an example of the first type we have the two volumes now under review, the last two of a series of six volumes entitled "The Progress to Geography" edited by Mr. Richard Wilson, BA. D. Lift. This series was written since the Great War and published in 1923. The first of the two under present consideration is entitled "Britain and Europe: An Experiment in Racial Geography." In this work Mr. Wilson takes as the basic fact of geography that certain portions of the earth are inhabited by cortaly races of people with more or less settled governments rather than that certain portions form climatic or physical "'regions.'' In working on these lines he has produced a most interesting volume, even for the adult, if the latter will overlook the simplicity of presentation.
A large portion of the volume contains a study of frontiers and natural boundaries and a cursory explanation of the division into racial "units of the European States attempted by the statesmen who drew up the Peace Treaty. Not an explanation, to be sure, which would be found of much value to a deep student of the problem but certainly one which can be counted on to in—terest the pupil and give him the necessary ground work for more complete research. This is evidently all that the work' is intended to do.
The second volume under review, or the sixth of the series, is entitled "Britain and the Modern World" and consists of commercial studies of the countries of the world. The central figure is the British Empire and, after describing the Empire's products, manufactures, imports and exports, the author discusses in relation thereto those of the other Great Powers, then those of the Lesser European Powers and, lastly, those of the countries of Asia and South and Central America.
In reviewing the study of China, a China resident is inclined to be over-critical. Still, the only two errors noted are not insignificant ones, by any means, and should be corrected. The one is in saying that '"Tientsin. is to be connected by rail with Shanghai."' Considering that this was an accomplished fact in June, 1m, there seems little excuse for such a mistake in so late a publication. The second error is in the statement that the largest ocean steamers reach Hankow and unload their cargo at great hulks moored off the river-bank. This has never been true and is less likely to be so in the future. One can only hope that such errors as these are not to be found in the descriptions of other countries with which one is less familiar.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.