Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-04-18

A FASCINATING lDOJECr THE WOODRUFF SCI !
ENTuFIc ExPEDTIoN-AF FLOATING CoLLEGE-
TRAVEL AND DAENTURE-DETAms OF THE
ENTERPRISE.
New YoRK, April 7th, 1879.
Nothing exercises greater fascination over
the boyish mind than the idea of travel. A
tendency toward roaming, the desire to feel
and see the strangeness of far countries, is
one Of the inborn human instincts which is
probably never entirely lost but which in
youth reaches such a climax of intensity that
Gulliver and Robinson Orusue have become
immortal. Like the great forces of nature
this instinct is a bad master, but like them al
so it can be a most excellent servant, and an
enterprising American has just now, after
over two years Of almost uurcmittmg labor
completed harness by which it is going to
be made to draw the triumphal car of Educa-
ton. | presume that most Of your readers
have heard something, especially within the
last six months, about the Woodruff scientific
expedition around the world and | feel sure
that all of them will be interested now that
the preparatory stage of this magnificent
scheme is drawing to close. to learn IL few
particulars regarding one of the most novel
and noble undertakings of the century, the
full story of which would read like one of
tictions.
Nearly ten years ago Mr.. James o. Wood
ruff, young citizen of Auburn, New York.
conceived the bold idea of organizing and
dispotching an educational expedition around
the world. But the obstacles in the way Of
anything so untrtd were naturally numerous,
and the idea was apparently dropped. Only
apparently. however. Mr.. Woodruff kept the
subject ia mind, satisfied himself of the fcas-
ihihty Of the plan, gradually worked out its
details, aud finally in the fall Of 1877 set him
self vigorously to the task Of putting it into
practical effect. The first step was to pro
vide suitable vessel and right here lay the
greatest single difficulty of the whole enter
prise. Our protective shipping laws refuse
an American register 10 foreign built vessels
but in this case an American register must be
had and the price of an American built steam
er of the class d, sired would have been ruin
uus So Mr.. W. proceeded TO Washington
and spent many months in urging Congress
TO pass an act in his favor. allowing him 70
60 abroad FOR his boat and giving it all Amer
lean privileges He was finally successful
The desired act was passed with the proysos
that the vessel should be used solely for sci
eutihc purposes, and that she should pass a
critical government inspection as To her SEA-
wurthiupss and general fitness for tht work
before her Fortified with this preliminary
victory, Mr.. Woodruff went at once to Europe
and soon returned with the large new iron
Clyde built steamer Gfhs,ai lItyd,r. which
heiug promptly approved by the government
inspectors. was ut once purchased by Mr.
Woodruff for $3.50. .OUO (Which sum. large a.
it is. is only about uuc-half what CORE
spending American vessel would have cost).
and the great central necessity Of :hr voyage
was secured
Th. tl,p of tha evp,diti,u cnnt.mplat.s n
,.... ,,,.,,1 .t.. ,..iil g., rr,,,,,.l i,
''N'ven uAoN'nS, anu 10 DC u''o''u 10 'il' '"-
ueaiion OF youth aud the recreation oi tour
iSti. For ia" students the eNp.diton VIII
constitute floating college IN which the us
Wal course of instruction VIII b" complement
ed 10y obJrct-teuching on grahd"r scale than
has ever before been attempted, while TO the
tourist 1t oilers every possible advantage Tor
Sightseeing
The proposed route OF the expedition Is
delightful and comprehensive one, so aI1nng-
ed that each country will be visited in its
nleasontest season The first stou after leay-
H., NJ. vi. ill J., ,,,l, q, ,,o A,oro. j.
"e "''' ~
h'ilus Ill hlu-oce"h' linen wiz DC IAAth III
regular succession the principal ports OF Ire
land England and Scotland. Then will fol
low q trip up the Baltic, visiting Stockholm.
st. Petersburg and Copenhagen. From the
latter city the principal points touched will
be Hamburg, Hayre aud Paris, Lisbon Glib
raltar and all the Mediterranean cities On
Guiding Constautinople and Joppa), Sucz,
Alden and the large ports of India and tho
tropical islands. Next the seaRorts of China
and Japan will receive special attention, and
then the General Werder will set out on the
homeward voyage, stopping only at the Sand
wich Islands and finally within the Golden
Gate at San Francisco From here a special
Is chartered train will bring the voyagl rs
bacl, to New York, somewhere about Septem-
Der, 1850, after sixteen months of travel and
adventure, which, venture to predict, VIII
| always be recognized by each participant to
have been the most interesting, enjoyable
aud ful period of that duration in his life.
| The above gives inerciy the skeleton Of the
trip, which will be filled out by brief inland
excursions from many Of the points above
| enumerated
The privileges of this expedition are open
| both to students and tourists. For the form
er a sort of a collegiate course will be prepar-
ed, and will be superintended by an able fac
ulty of ten or twelve competent professors
under the presidency Of W. $. Clark, LID,
| president Of the Massachusetts, State Agricui-
| tural College.