Page 18 - Third Book of Reading Lessons

READI NG LESSONS. 17 LESSON III.
GREAT WALL OF CHINA.
STUPEN'oous, a., wonderful. L. stupendus, om stupeo, I am stunned or astonished.
BouND1ARY, n., limit. F. borne, border. Etymology uncertain. MAs1TERPIECE, n., anything made with extraordinary skill. F. chef­ d'amvre,-ch the head, principal, and muvre, work.
lN'ousTRY, n., assiduity. L. industria :-indu, within, and struo, I
pile up.
GE'Nius, n., mental power. L. genius, om the ancient G. and L. geno, I beget.
PERSEVE1RANCE, n., constancy in progress. F. perseverance, om seve­ rus, L., rigid, severe.
C uCT'Ev, pt., carried. L. conductus, om duco, I lead. (Gon, p. 401.)
BAs'·noN, n., a bulwark. F. bastion, from batir, to build, probably om basis, G., a ot; and hence base, that on which anything rests.
CoMru'TED, pt., estimated. L. computatus, om puto, I reckon, I lop o .
MATE1RIALS, n., the substances of which things are made. L. materi , om mater, mother.
1. Tms stupendous wall, which extends across the northern boundary of the Chinese empire, is the greatest masterpiece of industry, genius, and perse­ verance. It is conducted over the summits of high mountains, several of which have an elevation of not less than 5,225 et (nearly a mile), across deep val­ leys, and over wide rivers, by means of arches. In many parts it is doubled or trebled, to command im­ portant passes; and, at the distance of nearly every hundred yards, is a tower or massive bastion. Its extent is computed at 1,500 miles; but in some parts, where less danger is apprehended, it is not equally strong or complete, and, towards the northwest, con­ sists merely of a strong rampart of earth. Near -Koopekoo, it is twenty- ve et in height, and at.the top, about ftee feet thick: some of t e towers,
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