The herald., 1893-05-14
THE FRONT DOOR OF PERU.
Charles F. Lummis Before the
Friday Club.
The First Photograph of Pizarro
Exhibited by the Lecturer.
Some Interesting Facts About Country
aud People of which Very LIS
tie Has Heretofore
Been Known.

On Fridry morning the Friday Morn
ing club very greatly enjoyed a paper
from the pen OF Chas. F. Lummis, enti-
tied The Front Door OF Peru.
Not feeling at liberty to speak Of the
archaeological work of the expedition
prior to publication in the magazine
which has so literally arranged for the
scientific statement, the speaker con-
fined himself to matters which had to
be seriously studied even before the an
tiquities; and gave partial sketch OF
the present material, social, and general
human aspect OF Peru. Owing to the
unique physical geography, which has
played so great part in the history and
the pre-history OF Peru, the vast desert
coast, the still greater wilderness in.the
interior, the mountain walls which split
the nation. and many other causes,
Lima, the capital and only stable city
of the republic, stan do largely for pres
ent Peru. Outline description was given
OF this attractive city, its characteristic
architecture, it's unique climate, its
beautiful women, its picturesquenessea
ton in the higher. The curious inter-
action Of peculiar climate with de-
scent, isolated position, fabulous wealth
and ease, and other ethnologic factovs,
in the development OF present Peruvian
manners, morals and political status,
was given attention, in line of thought
not usual to the traveller. Gas geogra-
ply makes history" said Mr.. Lummis,
$50 morals sometimes make geography,
and have done 80 here. One is tempted
to say that il the Limefiss had not been
| go beautiful and so--beautiful
might not now be in the pockets Of the
alien, financially; and the Chilean
! wolves might have found flock less
easy to be rent. In all Hoberness, but
for the loss of physical edge through
this moral bunting, Peru would have
been much better able to defend herself
in whatever field OF business or of war"
Considerable space was given to the
churches OF Lima, and the significance
Of the religious side which was chief
factor in the conquest of the Americas.
In such study, the influence Of the
Roman church is as little to be omitted
from consideration as Puritanism study
OF New England. Peru nationally for
bids the public practice of any other re-
| liKiUu tiihu tuc OtbuoiiC, anu DouIn LILO
marks of it's intolerance. The cathedral
in Lima was founded in 1885 by Pizarro,
and the great conqueror was buried in
it. For two years his perfect mummy.
exhumed from the underground vault,
has been kept in q sarcophsgus; and
Mr.. Lummis. thanks TO diplomatic in
fuence, made the first and only photo
graphs ever taken of Pizarro. These,
and other OF his photographs of Lima,
were handed about for inspection by the
club. The remarkable and characteris-
tic church architecture of Peru was
spoken OF, and several Of its more strik-
ing examples described, including the
$15,000,000 church Of st. Francis and
the astounding carved adobe facade OF
the MERGED. A suggestion of Justice to
history was followed by a brief state
ment Of the new scientific light of his
tory on the basis Of common sense,
which has overthrow the old Romantic
school and put Pizarro and the conquest
of Peru upon their proper plane, as the
most wonderful physical achievement of
all time. Pizarro's rank az a man, stern
but merciful, patient, unspoiled and un-
| spoilable, who died as he lived, God
| fearing and true, was stated ae one result