Posted by Ed Kiser on January 27, 2005 at 18:50:40 from 152.163.100.6 user Kisered.
In Reply to: Re: The Englishman who went up a MOLEhill... posted by Robert Dilley on January 27, 2005 at 15:43:37:
Concerning the definition of a hill, indeed it is a relative thing.
Ransome provided a bit of input on this definition, in his INTRO to "The Falcon on the Baltic" by E.F. Knight, in which is put the following quote from that book:
-------------------
"There is a fine hill in the Plantaage," said my companion, "and
from the summit of it you will be able to see the country for a
great distance around."
It interested me greatly to hear that there was such a thing as a
hill in Holland.
"But where is it?" I asked, looking round the interminable plain,
"I can see no hill."
"It is just over there; but you cannot see it, for it is hidden
by that bush."
-------------------
Incidentally, this is the same E.F. Knight that wrote "SAILING", that book that was frequently referenced by John and by Dick as the "how-to" book on sailing.
By the way, in case you are wondering, the above was a clip from my collection of ASCII TXT files, where there is one for each chapter of that book, "The Falcon on the Baltic", just like the collection of chapters that together, have the contents of all twelve of Ransome's books - in machine readable format. That collection of files also include "SAILING" and "Riddle of the Sands". You might say, I'm that type...
From my own point of view, living here in South Florida, the principal geological feature of which is the Everglades Swamp, which by its nature is mostly a collection of water and therefore rather flat, we do have a land feature that is referred to as the local "mountain". It is named "Mount Trashmore", a name that reflects its origins as being where they piled up the garbage. But it does provide a splendid place to go and view the countryside, as one can see the Atlantic to the east, and the Everglades to the west, and the tall buildings of both West Palm to the north and Ft. Lauderdale to the south. It is a great view, well worth the climb to the peak of our mountain.
Ed Kiser, South Florida