The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-05-15
=, =, m.rv ouarters his occasional lee

1 but In many quarters nus VoSsSo, -
lures are listened TO with proiouhd ,u-
tercst that could only proceed from an ".
norance Of the subject fed by tue nlos.
minute and astonishing details OF country
and people rs fabulous as the lost A,'ah.is.
Every few weeks Mr.. Symmes invaues Jug
columns OF some obscure paper WIN u
wonderful account OF the latest ih'e,n-
gence from "Symzonia," as the INFERIOR
Of the earth Is called In his tracts. Az
other times he invades the local newspaper
offices with voluminous manuscripts OF ne
delivers lecture for the beneft OF some
struggling church or charity, ana tue our,
den OF all his thought Is "symzoh'a,
Some years ago he wrote book upon Tue
subject. many copies OF which were ieit on
his hands, and some OF which ne sells oc-
casionally. lie is an honest, kindiy, rare
old man, thoroughly respected by DIS
neighbors and the people OF this Guy. ne
is tall, big-boned, and spare, with griz-
zled white beard and hair that give MN
some OF that leonne aspect that V'cto,
Hugo possesses, and which characterized
Longfellow's appearance. Armed with an
| immense club OF cane, careless btit NOT
untidy in his loose apparel, he walks Win
nervous, long strides. and may be seen any
day on the street. He lives on pretty little
farm several miles from town.. and drives
| in every day to preside over little real
estate office where he has bis headquarters
for such business as will drin 10 an ora
man who has been compelled TO turn ms
attention TO bread.wiuniDg late in life. Not
that Mr.. Symmes is pauper by any means.
! He lives modestly and comfortably, but ne
mas had reyerses, and he has taken hold OF
his affairs In order 10 maintain the modest
comfort he enjoys.
In every other direction he is sane man
and q most agreeable companion. full OF
humor and brightness, and much lked by
his acquaintance. Every conversation,
| however. turns at last upon The serious
topic Of the interior OF the earth ana tne
comparative ease with which that marvel
| lous country can be reached by Arctic eX-
plorers. lie has minute facts as 10 tDe
character Of the country in "Symzonia,"
| the people who inhabit 1t, and their lnsti-
buttons. IL Is his ingenious theory at present
that Lieutenant Greedy and party are in the
fertile land of "Symzonia," where "there
is more game than can be found anywhere
else in creation. Plenty OF musk-cattle
range through that country, as also geese,
ducks, cartridges, and rabbit, deer, seal,
snipe, and plover." lie has no fear Tor tne
safety OF the Greedy party unless the
ammunition should give out. On the
authority OF Nordenskiold and others Mr..
Symmes states that SymzoDia is inhaDlled
bv the lost tribes Of Israel, who speak the
pure Hebrew of syria, and who have
! founded an empire OF the highest civiliza-
ton. They have currency OF pounds,
shilings, and pence, and all the con-
conyeniences OF the known world.
Mr.. Symmes has the most unqualified
contempt for the efforts made under scien-
tific direction to encompass the northwest
passage or to reach the Moth pole. 81
went to Cincinnati once" says be Ito eX-
plain Symmes's theory to Captain Hall, who
would not listen to me or accept the little
book offered him. The consequence is he
lost his life trying to accomplish with his
seds and dogs what he could have done
with his vessels" The present relief party,
he is sure, will never reach Greedy, because
il is in charge OF scientific greenhorn.
q am in constant communication" says
he, "with all those engaged in perfecting
inventions looking TO the discovery OF
means for reaching the North pole. l have
lately received letter from gentleman in
Boston who has invented ship with an
iron hull. The hull will be heated to a
white heat as she steams into the ice re-
giors, and the ice-hoes will be melted as
she moves to allow her to pass. 1t is Il
very ingenious idea, and may vet solve the
problem"
Another invention upon which he looks
with equal gravity, but less confidence, is
slip which will be constructed of steel,
with a rszor-iike keel. When the ship APP
proaches foe she will be propelled with
immense force, Jump out OF the sea and
fall upon the foe with such force as to
crush through it. Still another is cigar
shaped balloon, propelled by an electric
engine. For hours he will converse with
those who will listen upon the numberless
impossible schemes for reaching the pole,
and upon the wonders of that tropic coun-
try where the lost Hebrews have their en-
pire, in the hollow OF the earth, and reached
by that entrance through the point where
the pole is situated.