The educational screen (c1922-c1956])

328 The Educational Screen American history. A cruise down the St. Lawrence brought the travelers to the coast, with its varied features, all of which must be given type names. Capes, bays, sounds, islands and estuaries must be identified and distinguished. Down the Atlantic Coast, a stop was naturally made at Washington, D. C.— a logical place at which to inquire about the meaning of government, and discover the places where the business of the vari- ous branches was carried on. Before cruising into the Gulf, a stop was made in Cuba, with its characteristic sugar and tobacco fields luring one to inquire into the methods of growing and preparing for market these large items in world commerce. New Orleans was vis- ited, and a speaking acquaintance made with the Father of Waters, which proved an admirable example of river systems generally. On the way up the river, the cotton fields were a fascinating sight, and the travellers in imagination at least gathered the soft fluffy masses of fiber—strong enough in times past to sway the course of a great nation. Farther to the north came the corn and wheat belts with their characteristic type of industry; and finally, on the shore of the westernmost of the Great Lakes, the iron ore regions, giving to the country its most useful metal. The story of that metal and its preparation for man's varied uses made one of the most enthusiastic chapters of the travel book. The journey toward the w r est carried the travelers through the cattle and sheep regions, with all the colorful appeal of the New West which forms such a recent chapter in our history, and on to the gold fields of the Rockies, and Yellowstone National Park. In this case, as in all others, the children after investigating the various possibilities among the parks and weighing their several attractions, were allowed to make their own choice as to which one should be visited. Puget Sound, the Pacific NorthweJ and its industries formed a splendid back- ground for a trip down the coast to San Francisco, and a study of the Sacramentc Valley, later followed by a visit to South- ern California with its fruit raising undei conditions not to be seen so well any- where else on the continent. Crossing Mexico, the travelers found themselves ultimately in the Caribbean making their way southward to Panama No one even suggested not going through the Canal to the Pacific. By commor consent it was understood the route was to lie that way. The history of that greai achievement mingled in interest with the mechanical workings of the canal—ont boy even asking permission to try his hand at constructing with paper blocks I cross-section which should show the dif- ferent levels of water in the "Big Ditch.' A cruise around South America gaw the class opportunity for a study of lift in the northern Andes, of Ecuador anc its cacao groves, of northern Chile and its desert, so clearly a result of wind direc- tion, of Central Chile and the reasons foi the change from desert conditions tc those of temperate zone rainfall as the traveller passed from trade to west-wine belt. The Straits of Magellan passed, aflc the ship pointing northward again, founc the party before long in the cattle coun- try of the Argentine. Coffee was discov- ered in Brazil and rubber in the Amazor Valley—a chance for the study of anothei of our basic industries. In all, about eighteen weeks were givet over to the trip. So long a description of the grounc covered is necessary to any mention o\ the methods used. They varied, of course from day to day, according to the par- ticular subject in hand. Always then