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The picture describes a story about a traveler who encounters a terrible storm and because he cannot see very well through the rain, he falls into a ditch and breaks his leg. He sits in the ditch through the night, and when dawn breaks, he notices a broken bridge just ahead. He rejoices that he had fallen when he did instead of trying to cross a broken bridge.

'Tis All for the Best

The picture describes a story about a traveler who encounters a terrible storm and because he cannot…

"Curtain, in Fortification, is the portion of rampart or wall between two bastions or two gates. In a regular siege, to batter down the curtain is one of the main operations depended on; and many of the external works constructed by the defenders are intended to frustrate, or at least embarrass, this operation. In the annexed cut, which shows a ground-plan of some of the elements of a regular fortification, FF' is the curtain; HAEF, a bastion. The component parts of the bastion are thus designated: AH and AE, two faces; EF and GH, two flanks; A, the salient; FG, the gorge; and H and E, the shoulders. mn is the rampart; mo, the parapet on the rampart; QPQ', the ditch; NO, the covery-way; RWR', the glacis; KLL', a ravelin." — Chambers' Encyclopedia, 1875

Curtain

"Curtain, in Fortification, is the portion of rampart or wall between two bastions or two gates. In…

"From the reservoir, whether constructed on a large scale to hold storm water or of small size to receive the discharge from a pump, there must be provided suitable means of conducting the water to the land. The simplest, cheapest, and most widely used is the open earth ditch built in such a way as to have a gentle, uniform, grade sufficiently great for the water to flow with rapidity and yet not to wash the banks."—Government Printing Office, 1897

Section of Field and Lateral Ditch

"From the reservoir, whether constructed on a large scale to hold storm water or of small size to receive…

"It is desirable, however, on account of economy of expense and of water, that all ditches should be as nearly straight as possible, and to save distance it is sometimes necessary to build up the ditch upon a mound or, if the depression to be crossed it too great, to construct a flume."—Government Printing Office, 1897

Section of Raised Ditch

"It is desirable, however, on account of economy of expense and of water, that all ditches should be…

Diagram illustrating an irrigation system.

Irrigation system

Diagram illustrating an irrigation system.

Terms used to define features of the earth on a topographical map used by the military.

Military and Topographical Terms

Terms used to define features of the earth on a topographical map used by the military.

In military affairs, a narrow ditch or trench by which approach is made to a fortress or designed place when within range of fire. This is a section of covered sap.

Covered Sap

In military affairs, a narrow ditch or trench by which approach is made to a fortress or designed place…

In military affairs, a narrow ditch or trench by which approach is made to a fortress or designed place when within range of fire. This is a double sap on the serpentine plan.

Double Sap

In military affairs, a narrow ditch or trench by which approach is made to a fortress or designed place…

In military affairs, a narrow ditch or trench by which approach is made to a fortress or designed place when within range of fire. This is sap on a rectangular plan.

Rectangular Sap

In military affairs, a narrow ditch or trench by which approach is made to a fortress or designed place…

In military affairs, a narrow ditch or trench by which approach is made to a fortress or designed place when within range of fire. This is a section of single sap, showing portion of gabions.

Single Sap

In military affairs, a narrow ditch or trench by which approach is made to a fortress or designed place…

"These two boys have just been let out of school, and are returning home. Their father's house is seen in the distance on the right, and between it and the school-house there is a large tract of marshy and miry ground. The elder brother shows his wisdom in going round in the old beaten path. But the younger brother, in his eagerness to get home first, takes a shorter cut across the marsh. He takes a pole with him in order to leap across the ditches he may find in his way. In leaping across one of them the pole breaks, he falls into the ditch, and is mired nearly up to his neck in mud. It is unnecessary to state which boy got home first, or who made the best appearance after they got home."—Barber, 1857

The Longest Way Round, is the Shortest Way Home

"These two boys have just been let out of school, and are returning home. Their father's house is seen…

"Wall and Ditch." — Greenough, 1899

Wall Ditch

"Wall and Ditch." — Greenough, 1899