Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-26
COUNTRY LITTLE KNOWN
An Authority Lectures on Peru, Its People
and Civilization.
Better Acquaintance Desired Eng
land Knows South America Well
"A Peaceful Land.

Major Alfred L. Sears, who for the past
nine years has been employed by the Pc
ruvian government In engineering work,
delivered an interesting lecture before the
National Geographic Society at Builders
Exchange Hall last night. His subject
was Peru. the Land of Pizarro." He is
a good talker. and he gave an entertaining
account Of his experiences in Peru. He
expressed surprise at the general ignorance
OF the people Of this country with regard
to that republic, which. he said. was nearer
New York and more accessible from that
port than San Francisco or Liverpool.
American ignorance of the countries of
South America. and Peru In particular, he
said, was remarkable, considering their
contiguity and natural interests. The peo-
pie OF Europe have q much better knowl-
edge of the geography of South America
than the people Of the United States, and
Great Britain, in particular, is much more
active in advancing its commercial interests
there than its immediate neighbors on the
same continent. 1t was unfortunate. he
said. that we never heard anything from
those countries but their troubles, and
consequently had been led to regard them
as being In a perpetual state of revolution
This was mainly due to the fact that every
street row or bar room brawl was magni-
fed by sensational correspondents SO as to
make IL appear that the country where 1t
occurred was on the verge of internecine
war. He described Peru as a country pc
culiarly attractive to Americans. Its gov
eminent Is like our own and ii enjoyed
almost uninterrupted peace.
He paid high tribute to the enduring
works Of Henry Meigs. an American engi-
neer, who had probably done more for Peru
than any other one man in the development
OF its vast natural resources. Considerable
American capital was invested in the mines
and railroads Of Peru. Better order is OBJ
served in Peru than in the United States
or in any country of Europe, and there has
been but one revolution since 1874. Not
wlthstanding this record, 1t is continually
represented that the country is on the
verge of a revolution. and efforts are con-
tinually being made for the establishment
of a United States coaling station at Callao.
Reports OF this kind are circulated in the
interest Of a well-known firm Of New York,
which derives substantial benefit from the
visits to that port Of United States naval
.essels.
The Coming Election.
The country is row in the throes Of a
presidential election. Maj. Sears predicted
the election Of Gen. Castro as president and
Gen. Cavanallo, late minister to the United
States, as vice president. The latter was a
stanch friend of the United States and
could be counted on TO stand by 1t in case
Of need. Maj Sears gave a highly compli-
mentary description Of the Peruvians and
their country, and regretted the failure OF
the United States to cultivate their ac-
Quaintance to the full extent of their oppor-
tunities, commercially and otherwise, There
were no more gentle, refined and lovable
people anywhere, and their social qualities
were as charming as their country, which
is saying a great deal. Callao has better
docfS than any seaport in this country, with
the possible exception of Boston.
Only an Accident.
The lecturer dilated on the vast mineral
gave an interesting description of the great
coast desert in the department of Puira,
where he was engaged In the construction
Of an improved system of irrigation. Ac-
cording to his theory, II was but an acct
dent in settlement that advanced the United
States ahead of the countries of South
America The former was colonized by the
British, French and German, and the lat
ter were conquered by the Spaniards. The
flight of a flock of parrots diverted Column
bus course to the south, otherwise the
United States might now be In the condi-
ton of the countries of South America
They are still dominated by the church
and, although republics in name are really
only half free. Chile accomplished the
conquest of Peru, with the assistance OF
Great Britain, and secured the valuable
nitrate beds of that country. Cotton, sugar
and IL has entered the markets against the
United States in the production of petro-
leum and its accessories. Owing to the pc
culiar properties of the country for the
transmission of sound. conversations In
Lima are conducted by telephone, each OF
the participants remaining in his own par
lor during their progress