Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-04-21
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.
Special Correspondence.
New YORK, April Z, 1879.

travel. A tendency toward roaming,
the desire to feel and see the strange
ness of far countries, is one of the in
born human instincts which is proba-
bly, never entirely lost, but which in
youth reaches such climax of intensi-
ty that Gulliver and Robinson Crusoe
have become immortal. Like the great
forces of nature this instinct is bad
master, but like them also it can be a
most excellent servant, and an enter
prislng American has just now, after
over two years of almost unremitting
labor, completed harness by which it
is going to be made to draw the tri-
umphal car of Education.
presume that most of your readers
have heard something, especially with
in the last six months, about the Wood
ruff scientific expedition around the
world and l feel sure that all of them
will be interested now that the prepar-
atory stage of this magnificent scheme
is drawing to close, to learn few
particulars regarding one of the most
novel and noble undertakings of the
century. the full story of which would
read like one of Jules Verne's widest
and most fascinating fctions.
Nearly ten years ago Mr.. James O..
Woodruff, young citizen of Auburn,
Now York, conceived the bold idea of
organizing and dispatching an educa-
tional expedition around the world.
But the obstacles in the way Of any,
thing so untried were naturally numer-
Gus, and the idea was apparently drop
ped. Only apparently however. Mr..
Woodruff kept the subject in mind, sat-
isfed himself of the feasibility of the
plan. gradually worked out its details,
and finally in the Fall of 1877 set him.
self vigorously to the task of putting it
into practical effect.
The first step was to provide suita-
bic vessel, and right here lay the great
est single difficulty of the whole enter
prise. Our protective shipping laws re-
fuse an American register to foreign
built vessels but in this case an Amer
ican register must be had and the price
of an American built steamer of the
class desired would have been runious.
So Mr.. W. proceeded to Washington
and spent many months in urging Con-
gress to pass an act in his favor, allow.
ing him to 60 abroad for his boat and
giving it all American privileges. He
was finally successful. The desired act
was passed with the provisos that the
vessel should be used solely for scienti.
fc purposes, and that she should pass
critical government inspection as te
her seaworthiness and general fitness fol
the work before her. Fortified with
this preliminary victory, Mr.. Woodruff
went at once to Europe and soon return
ed with the large new iron Clyde built
steamer General Werder, which being
promptly approved by the government
inspectors. was at once purchased by Mr.
Woodruff for $3.50, 900 (Which sum large
as 1t is. is only about one-half what &
corresponding American vessel woulc
have cost), and the great central neces
sity of the voyage was secured.
The general plan and purposes of th'
Woodruff Expedition have been SO mucl
in the most prominent newspapers of th'
country of late that they are, perhap
already familiar to your readers. viii
venture, however to re-state them briefy
mainly in extracts from the very com
prehensive prospectus which has beer
issued by the management.
"This is voyage around the world
to be performed in sixteen months, ant
to be devoted to the education of you'll
and the recreation of tourists. For tn,
students the expedition will constitute
a floating college, IN which the usua
course of instruction will be compile
mented by object teaching on a grande
scale than has ever before been attempt
ed, while to the tourist it offers ever,
possible advantage for sightseeing. Th
whole plan and purpose of the expedi
tion is educational It undertakes tt
teach the most important and usefu
branches of a liberal education, and turl
out well-rounded student, developet
mentally, morally and physically"
"There Is moreover, nothing in tn
plan of the Expedition to interfere will
the purposes of the tourist who wishe
to see the world for his own pleasure
No voyage that could be projected woul'
better suit the convenience of the sight
seer, or enable him to make the tour O
the world most comfortably and mex
pensively,"
The proposed route of the expedition
is delightful and comprehensive one
SO arranged that each country will b
visited in its pleasantest season. Th
first stop after leaving New York vii
be made at the Azores islands in mid
ocean. Then will be taken in regula
succession the principal ports of Ire
land, England and Scotland. Then vii
follow a trip up the Baltic, visitin