The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-12-03
SATURDAY LECTURE
Rev. Rr. DaIton's Address Books of
Travel


Mr.. Dalton opened his lecture Saturday,
with the following quotation from Dr. John
son, as expressing in the finest language the
advantages of travel, in a single sentence:
"Whateyer withdraws Us from the dominion
of the senses, whatever makes the past the
future, or the distant predominant ever the
present, advances us in the dignity of human
life. That man is not to be envied whose pa
triotism is not kindled on the plains OF Mara
thon.''
Among the means of gaining ideas of other
countries the "stereopticon talks" or picture
lectures that have been given are of great use.
1t is step calculated to excite curiosity to in
qure further; a first step like the picture
teaching of the middle ages. The next step ia
to read books of travel; and in these there il
wonderful difference. Not every man who
travels is able to appreciate the best features
of country or people, and still less able to
write good book upon item. In some books
OF travel, so-called, the writers obtrude their
personality, giving too much time to descrip-
tons OF 1ll-cooked dinners and the difficulties
OF toilet at their hotels. We want them as
guides and as rule care to see but little of
the guides.
One of the most interesting and instructive
Persia, and other Oriental countries. Marco
Apolos travels in China, Japan and Madagas-
car, is another excellent work. His accounts
have been remarkably corroborated by later
travellers, greatly to his credit There is
freshness about them which, of course, can not
attach to later accounts. Capt. Cook was
mentioned as following down to the present
century.
Manhausen, or as generally written, Man
chausen, was cited as illustrating the untrust-
fhu fad CTR Ifeh +oIr
like Swift's, to be political satire, view of
it which he bitterly resented.
Coming down to our own century's work we
shall be able to merely glance at few of the
great mass, such as ON Africa and Egypt by
Bart, Du Chaillu, Livingstone, Stanley, (the
New York Herald correspondent,) Moffat, and,
best of all perhaps Bruch, and Abers The
last mentioned has produced some of the
largest and best volumes extant on these
countries. OF books descriptive of voyages
around the world there are several For those
who like that kind of literature is Mark
Twain's "Innocents Abroad For American
youth the two best are General Grants and
Mr.. Stewards.
OF travels in the Orient, Kinglake's "Eo-
| THAN" is good representative book, and has
had many imitators. 1t has served as model
for dozen. Layrd's and Robinson's on
Nineveh and Babylon are excellent. The
first great work on the Holy Land was Robin
sons, some 80 years ago, followed by Dean
SANKEY'S and Numerous others. HUGS
"China" is standard work and is undoubted
authority. Recent books on Japan are too
numerous to mention. Two of the best have
been written by women, Madam Pfeiffer. q
German lady, and Miss Bird an Eng
lish lady. The latter has been mar
ried within short time. Some of the best
works on European travel have been by our
own countrymen such as Ware, BartoI, Bel
lows, Greeley, and George S. billiard.
| Among these should be classed the letters of
GaOrpa Taknor CIR N
| best on Spain and Italy in particular are by
| Julius Hare, an English clergyman, a mem
Der of the celebrated Hare family. 1t is we'll
also to read what foreigners say of our own
books of travel incites in Americans a DISPOSE
ton to see the countries described for them
selves. Most Americans hope to 90 abroad
some time, and such reading is preparatory
One may learn something abroad without
preparation, but not much comparatiyeIy
Persons deceive themselves who think they
can visit with great pleasure or profit picture
galleries in entire ignorance of art, and so of
countries with the geography of which they
have no acquaintance, and still more 60 if
without know ledge of the history and princ-
pies OF government OF such countries. An
American abroad will derive satisfaction from
his observations, somewhat as he is acquainted
with the questions that are agitating the peo-
pies OF France, Germany and Italy today.
Also as to the relations of such countries as
In conclusion an American was followed in
imagination through Europe and the Orient,
returning home through California,
and then how by comparison his own
country should appear to him after his world
wide travels. He would find the freedom of
the people here greater; that this is the one
country where the people have control, and
where they are competent TO have the manage
ment of their own affairs. We should not be
prejudiced against other peoples, and should
study them, but we are certain to conclude
this country unequalled in advantages. The
final point OF the lessons of travel is that per-
sons are of more interest than places; that the
most interesting places are where the great
historical events occurred, and distinguished
persons have fourished, such for instance as
the Tower of London, Houses of Parliament
the universities, and corresponding sites iu
Paris and other leading cities, especially
Rome, which surpasses all other cities ia such
associations, from the most remote antiquity.
Athens also in the Same respect, and finally
Jerusalem, the city of the Great King.