Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-02
THE STRAITS OF MAGELLAN.
An Interesting Lecture Delivered at the N,
tional Museum by Prof, Lee.

An Interesting Lecture Delivered at the Ma
tional Museum by Prof. Lee.
Several hundred people gathered in the lee
ture hall Of the National Museum last night to
take trip to Terra del Fuego and the Strait
OF Magellan. 1t was q personally conducted
tour by Prof. Leslie Lee, who, with the aid of 9
stereopticon. some Photographic views and 9
ready how OF descriptive language, transported
the audience to the Antipodes. 1t was a de-
lightful trip. There was no seasickness. ne
chill pamperos encountered off the coast Of
Patagonia and the unpleasant odor of seal oil
and red clay which Prof. Lee said attends the
person OF the Terra del Fuegan was not per
ceptible to any annoying degree.
Prof. Lee was eminently qualified to conduct
the tour. as he made it in the Albatross, the
fish commissions steamer some time ago All
the explanations which he made to an inter
| ested and appreciative audience last night
therefore, were the results of actua! expe
riences. No part Of his lecture was more in
teresting than that portion of it devoted to q
description Of the Strait of Magellan itself, thai
long, winding sheet of water Of VARYING width
connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
tapping the base Of towering mountains rising
precipitously from the troubled sea and racing
under spur of the tide around rocky islands
and over half-hidden shoals. Those were lonely
scenes he depicted, dreary waste of bald rocks
and fretful waves. with no signs Of life around
save the gulls and cormorants.
sNow-CLAD MONTANA
The mountains here are snow clad on the
submits, with immense glaciers filing the val.
leys and sloughing of into the waters of the
strait The glaciers are of peculiar beauty. pre.
senting brilliant coloring, the Zee assuming
under the sunlight hues, changing from pale
blue to deepest green and sometimes simmer.
ing with iridescence. As the Aibatross Law
snuRly at anchor in q sheltered harbor Sc, eral
photographs were captured of the glaciers and,
as flashed upon the canvas by the stereopticop.
the representation was vivid
There was something pathetic about the
description OF the town OF Punta Arenas
located on the strait about midway between the
two oceans, that town which is the southern.
most settlement upon the face of the earth.
Fifteen hundred people find life worth living
in this place, notwithstanding the fact that one
OF the characteristics OF the neigbborhood il
the frequent prevalence of n mighty wird
which sweeps down from the mountains back
of the town with such force and suddenuess I'd
to overwhelm a ship lying broadside on before
she can swing her head around and ride ONT
the gale. The town itself is miserable col.
lection Of huts and novels, but is q point OF
great strategic value to this country a. a coal.
ing station in case of war with q South Ameri.
can power.
Prof. Lee presented several views Of the in.
hsbitants Of Terra del Fuego CHARMING
creatures, with their thin, attenuated limbs and
portly stomachs. These beauties allow their
hair to grow long and hang down straight Then
they plaster it with seal oil and red clay, which
hardens and makes = complete Waterproof
covering for their heada The natives possess
the faculty Of initiating sound and Prof.. Lee
undertook to teach them song. He succssdsd
20 well that whom be departed from their midst
group stood upon the shore and sereuaded
him with Father, Dear Father, Come Home
With Ne Now"