Type erasure is often seen as a mysterious, enigmatic programming technique. It is not exclusive to C++ (most tutorials on type erasure use Java for their examples).

We immediately ascended a hill, and saw that the supposed land was nothing but hummocks of ice, piled up beyond a large Polynia, or space of open water, which extended from east to west, as far as the eye could reach.

He made a polite bow as he entered the room.

Chiaocheng County Chiaocheng county lies 60 kilometres southwest of Taiyuan. It is in the prefecture of Luliang, and a goodly part of it is in the Luliang Mountains, with the peak of Yunmeng Mountain dominating. It is well known as the birthplace of Chairman Hua Kuo-feng.[…] Chiaocheng county is one of 190,000 people, 180,000 of whom work on agriculture.]