Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 48.djvu/901

Rh with the sciences of Nature, particularly geology. At the same time it will gain in its philosophical aspects, bringing it into harmony with Krapotkin's definition as "in its higher stages a philosophical review of knowledge acquired by different branches of science."

I have recently compared the catalogues of fifty of the better-known American colleges and universities. Thirty-three of these documents afford no reason to suppose that geography receives systematic attention in their respective institutions. Of the remaining seventeen. Harvard University and the University of Chicago give the fullest measure of instruction, and wholly, it scarcely need be added, of the most progressive type. In both, geography makes part of the department of geology. Harvard has, as is well known, a thoroughly equipped geographic laboratory, and offers largely attended elementary and advanced courses in meteorology and physical geography. Among the subjects of research by advanced special students last year were: the topographical development of shore lines, the flood plain of the Mississippi, the Great Plains of the West, the effect of local topography on general winds, and the features of arctic climate. In Chicago we find courses in physiography or genetic geography; in geographic geology, treating the origin, development, and destruction of geographic features and the significance of landscape contours, or geophysiognomy. There are laboratory work in geographic geology, and a course in what is called dynamic geography, inclusive of the agencies involved in geographic evolution. Yale offers one course in physical geography, embracing the elements of dynamic geology and natural history; also one course of twelve lectures on physical geography in relation to political history. Princeton has two courses, physical geography proper, based on Guyot's text-book, and physical geography in relation to history. Cornell has one course, with emphasis on development of topographic forms, and also a course in glacial geology. Michigan does not offer the subject formally, but the development of topography is taught under geology. Vassar, Hamilton, Rochester, Wesleyan, and North Carolina give instruction in physiography. Leland Stanford, Jr., has a course in topographic geology, and Oberlin a course in quaternary geology. At Amherst the subject is treated briefly with historical geology, and at Colgate seminary and field courses are given in the history of topography and in glacial geology.

In many of the above institutions, but not in all, the new geography evidently has place, though the variety of nomenclature and method shows how new the subject is to the higher schools. In several cases its presence is directly traceable to the influence of Harvard. As a whole it may be said that geography is not yet