Read selections from the books of Mabel Osgood Wright and Olive Thorne Miller.
Have readings from "The Nature Lovers' Treasury," by Carrie T. Lowell (The Page Company).
CHAPTER X
Central and South America and the Canal
There is a certain romantic interest about the history of Central and South America and a uniting of ancient and modern history there which makes its study peculiarly attractive. Sufficient material is given for an entire year's work, and the many books written recently upon them give ample references.
I—THE BEGINNINGS
Starting with Central America, the first meeting may be upon its physical features, illustrated with a map. It is believed that originally there may have been a great archipelago uniting the two continents, earthquakes possibly throwing them together. The Cordillera, or mountain chain, which lies the length of the peninsula, is of unusual wildness and beauty, with volcanoes here and there. The long slopes from the sea to the mountain tops give great variety of climate and productions, remarkable in so small a country. Describe at length the flora and fauna.
This will introduce the great subject of the ancient remains of a highly civilized race. There are huge pyramids, vying with those of Egypt, walls built without plaster yet of amazing durability, temples with carvings and colored picture-writing of wonderful beauty, all the subject of great interest to archæologists. Show photographs of these, and discuss whether they were connected with the remains in Egypt or were a spontaneous development of an aboriginal race.
After this take up the coming of the European and the result. In 1513 Balboa saw the great Pacific Ocean spread out before him. Wading into its water he took all the land upon its shore in the name of Spain—which was the entire territory from Alaska to Cape Horn. Read:—Keats's sonnet "On first looking into Chopman's Homer," with its reference to the "peak in Darien."