Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 4.djvu/608

 588 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

home of royalty ; or, through such types of modern commer- cial activity as the railway in Princes Gardens, the shops in Princes street, and the bridge over the Firth of Forth, to the simple shepherds of the uplands. He sees, also, the monuments of modern arts and sciences, from gallery, museum, and obser- vatory, to garden and hospital ; nor can he fail to be impressed with the relation of social conditions to topography. If one can learn to observe accurately in watching these shifting scenes, he should be equipped with the method by which he may study the geography of the world, and, through that, social institutions.

If we descend from the camera obscura to the turreted roof of the tower, we may enjoy much of the vision without artificial aid, and with a deeper appreciation because of the significance given to the panorama by its previous concentration on the small table above. We fortify ourselves for our return to earth by a cup of tea in the tower tea rooms, and begin our descent with the story devoted to Edinburgh. Here we find a permanent synthesis of the passing pageant we have just witnessed. The relief model of the city of Edinburgh carries us back to the time antecedent to all the present buildings, and, with the aid of charts and pictures, we have little difficulty in tracing history, beginning with the first castle walls, and continuing to the renewal of Old and the extension of New Edinburgh. Indeed, we find on this floor evidences that the tower is not only scien- tific, but practical. The plans for rejuvenating the old city, as undertaken by Professor Geddes and his colleagues, are here in evidence. In his words : " The interests of archaeology and public health, of aesthetics and finance, of the housing of the people, and of the collegiate beginnings of the academic com- munity, are here, as far as may be, reconciled in actual practice."

The story below is devoted to Scotland. On the floor is a huge map, conforming to the points of the compass, so that one may easily orient himself. The walls also are covered with graphic representations of the topography, the history, and the social conditions of Scotland, from the occupations of the primi- tive highlander to the great commercial and naval undertakings of the Firth and Clyde ship canal. The possibilities of the labo-