Evening star., 1895-08-17
HEARTY RECEPTION
Echoes Of the Meeting of the Geo.
graphical Congress.
SCIENCE And SOCIAL FESTIVITIES
Arctic and Antarctic Adventure and
Travels in Africa.
THE AMERICAN DELEGATES

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star
LONDON, August z, 1895.
Attendance at the meetings of the sixth
international geographical congress and
the numerous social functions pertaining
thereto left very little time last week for
letters home.
First Of all, a word as to the congress,
now thing of the past.
OF course, you knew, probably the very
same day that we did, that our efforts to
have the next or seventh, congress meet
in Washington failed, and that 1t will meet
in Berlin in 1899, and after that, no doubt,
in Vienna. All things considered, this re-
suit is by no means surprising, fnasmuch
as it has never met in these two great and
easily accessible cities, and more especially
In view of the fact that Germany, more
than any other nation. has taken the lead
in the new geography, and German geog-
ance even at the present congress-, here in
London; that Is, real geographers by pro-
fessfon, and not merely by courtesy and for
the time being.
Our invitation, nevertheless, attracted a
great deal of attention, interest and sup
port, and 1t has paved the way for success
in the future, at time, too, when We shall
doubtless be far better able to receive and
entertain tHfS StlHSu.SHeu DOuy tHdii we
are at present. In fact, our Washington
delegates, if the truth We're known, were
not little nervous about the possibility OF
holding a meeting in Washington in August
or September (when it ought to be held, to
suit the convenience of European geog-
raphers) with any chance of its being such
grand success as in any European capital.
The large expense involved is another con-
spent on it here and there are many bills
still unpaid. The attendance has been
about 1900, in all, but not falf that number
have attended any one meeting, except,
perhaps, the first and last. AS you must
know, large part Of the great building of
the Imperial Institute was devoted to the
congress, and the geographical exhibition
held in connection with 1t, and the daily
forenoon meetings were held in large hall,
capable of seating, perhaps, 500. The after
noon section meetings were held in smaller
halls, several Of these meetings proceeding
at once.
Received by the Duke of York.
The first evening Guly 2G was devoted to
the reception of the delegates by the Duke
of York, and the welcoming address by the
president, Mr.. Clements r. Markham. To
an American it seemed something of an
anachronism for the young Duke of York.
a midshipman only few years ago, TO be
presiding at such a gathering, and he evil
IDENTIFY was somewhat III at ease at being
exalted over so many of the foremost
scientific men Of the day. But ne carried
himself with considerable self possession,
and read his address as though he under
stood it and appreciated the situation. Our
delegates were presented to his royal high
ness by the American ambassador Mr..
Bayard, but owing to stupid mistake by
some one our lady delegates were shut out
at first, though subsequently, through the
efforts of Gen. Greely. given a special pres
entation out in the garden, while his royal
highness was seated In his pavilion, far
from the madding crowd, listening to
Strauss orchestra.
1t is worthy of notice here that these
three ladies' Miss Scdmore Miss Bell and
Miss Hayden, were the only lady delegates,
though l believe one was subsequently ap-
pointed by the Teachers Guild of London,
and we deserve credit for a new departure
in this respect-an example that will doubt
less be followed in future congresses. To
reply to Mr. Markham's eloquent address
of welcome, Judge Daily of New York was
selected, as the senior president of any
geographical society represented. and his
remarks. made with the ease of long prac-
tice, and with his usual force and ability,
were received with marked favor by the
large audience. An unfortunate and ex-
asperating contretemps occurred in the
midst Of his address, owing to the fact
that the orchestra, playing in the garden,
but quite out of earshot ordinarily, struck
up God. Save the Queen" with tremen-
dous energy, wholly drowning his voice for
a time. His royal hghness evidently felt
the floor with modification that his royal
grar dynother should thus be thrust at US
with such terrific energy and at such an
moment.
Big Balloon to the Pole.
Probably the most interesting days Of
the congress were those devoted to arctic
and antarctic research, and to Africa, and
of the first, Herr Andree of Sweden, who
proposes to visit the north pole by balloon,
attracted the most interest and comment.
He had a liy answer for every criu-
cism, and created a strong impression that
he is going to make a great success of it.
In the discussion on Africa, Mr.. Stanley
went almost too far in his cynical criti-
cism of scientific geography. and one could
not but feel that he was trying to hit back
and revenge some scientific criticism that
he had suffered. Keen interest was felt in
Slatin Pasha's account of his long impris-
onment by the AIahdi in the Soudan, and
final release by an intrepid British officer,
the account involving, as it did, the story
Of GordoE's heroisn and cruel death.
AS to the outcome of the congress. it Is
perhaps too early to speak. although it is
generally believed to have been one of the
most successful ever held. But, as Presi-
dent Markham very truly said in his fare
v ell address, one of the most important OBJ
jects is to facilitate acquaintance and dis
cussion, the results of which, though diff
cult to define, are all-important in ad-
vancing the science.
The Social Featurcs.
1t would be impossible, in the limits of a
letter like this, to do justice to the efforts
made to render the occasion pleasant So
cially; in fact, it is question whether this
feature is not made too important; SO
much so as to dwarf the real objects of
the meeting. OF the elaborate receptions
those especially noteworthy. in order of
date, were the evening reception at Mr.
Curzon's where Americans were especially
interested in the charming hostess: the
afternoon receptions at Baroness Burdett-
Coutts' beautiful estate, Holly Lodge. and
at Lord Northbrook's palatial residence, on
Hamilton place, PiccadiIly; and Mr.. Mark
hams evening reception at the close of
the congress.
In addition to these, an afternoon at
Kew. and an evening at the botanic gar
dens, together with many smaller but none
the less enjoyable entertainments, made up
a very busy, pleasant and necessarily tire
some week, and the hope that the president
expressed in his address of welcome, name
ly that we should form pleasant associa-
tons and remember our visit with pleas
ure, has most certainly been fully realized.
Delegates From This City.
OF the Washington delegates, four, at
least. return on the New York, the 10th
instant, Mr.. Rockhill, Gen. Greely, Miss
Hayden and the writer, and as this letter
ppe byy he Nai todo will