The sun., 1894-05-12
Pictures Of Snow Mountains.

Through the enterprise OF the American
Geographical Society the public will have an
opportunity. during the next two weeks, to
see a remarkable collection OF photographs
Of snow-mountain scenery by SELLA. The
society borrowed these pictures. nearly five
hundred In number. from the Appalachian
Mountain Club OF Boston. by whom they
were recently imported. With the coopera-
ton OF the American Museum OF Natural
History these will be exhibited at the mu-
scum. free Of charge except on Mondays
and Tuesdays. when the rules OF the mr-
scum require a small admission fee.
Photography and mountain climbing are
merely avocatioDs with VITToRIo SELLA.
but he Is famous In both lines. His artistic
accomplishments excite the admiration and
wonder Of photographers. At the same time.
Alpine clubs have long known him as one of
the greatest mountaineers. He is one OF the
few men who have crossed the summit OF
the Matterhorn In midwinter In a fort
night he has made six or seven OF the
most difficult ascents in the Alps. doing
double the work that experienced noun
taineers usually undertake In that time.
His uncle. the founder OF the italian
Alpine Club. taught him snowcraft when
he was Is years old; and his father.
who amused his leisure hours with the
camera. wrote one OF the first books on
amateur photography. SELLA's work
among the mountains Is the recreation
he most enjoys. and he brings to 1t not
only great zest and enthusiasm, but also
abundant means. which enable him to trans
port camera or build hut In lofty and
almost inaccessible places. which other
mOuntaineers have been content to reach
with nothing but pick In hand.
Alpine tourists will recognize In these
prints very few aspects that are familiar
when the valleys are the only points OF
view. Here is a series covering the Alps
from the Dauphlny OF France to the Tyrol
OF Austria; and Yet We see almost nothing
OF the lowest 5000 feet where the thrifty
mountain folk have their orchards, vine
yards. and villages: almost nothing OF the
grassy slopes. still higher. where the cattle
graze In summer. 1t Is the highest zone.
above 1900 feet. the region OF eternal snow.
that is presented. No visitor to the Alps and
Caucasus can. with his own eyes. see the
hundreds OF panoramas shown In these
superb prints unless he be a most accom-
plished mOuntaineer.
recent years. have been to bring the most
remarkable and characteristic aspects OF the
highest parts OF Europe within the range OF
students Of physical geography and lovers
OF nature. The camera certainly never pre-
sented before such splendid series OF OBJ
jeet lessons in mountain structure and
glacier types. Some OF these pictures and
panoramas give a far more vivid idea OF
special aspects OF physical geography than
all the textbooks. There is one picture
from the Caucasus which. we believe. shows
every stage in the history OF a mountain
glacier. and every type OF moraine. 1t is
easy TO see that. In the hands OF a compe-
tent teacher. such panorama is worth far
more than many pages OF description.
We may buy hundreds OF prints OF
tAs Alpine aspects that are within reach
Of the ordinary photographer. 1t is a
distinct gain when one man is able to
give US more than this; when he can carry
his machine all the way to the top Of the
most difficult submits. showing US all the
characteristics phases OF glacier and rock. at
such range as to place them before the OBJ
server in detail so clear and large as to ex-
cite even those whose interest in physical
geography and geology is small. We have
heard visitors to this collection ask for an
explanation OF the marked difference be-
tween the rocks shown In the photographs
OF the Bernese ObeTland and those In some
OF the Tyrol views. Even these unscientihc
observers had discovered from these pic
lures that the GRANTEES and gneisses Of the
great central ranges OF Switzerland are very
different from tine strRtiiied dolomite Or
limestOnes Of the Tyrol.
sELLA's views bring all the famous sum
mits Of the Alps and many Of the Caucasus