Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-12
AN INTERESTING LECTURE
Gen. Greely's Address Before the National
Geographic Society.
The Great Gathering of Famous Geo.
graphern I'm London Last Summer
Arctic and African Exploration.

The first lecture of the winter in the
semi-monthIy Friday evening course, given
under the auspices of the National Geo.
graphic Society, was held last evening at
Metzerott Hall. This move to take a larger
building for the lectures proved a success,
for there was very large crowd present.
The lecturer was Gen. A. w. Greedy, who
was one CT the delegates from this coun-
try to the sixth international geographical
congress, held in London last July. He de-
scribed in an interesting manner the pur-
poses, work and personnel of the congress.
and also told of his efforts to secure the
next meeting of the congress for this city,
an effort which proved fruitless, owing to
the failure of the president of the American
Geographic Society, who was vice presi-
dent of the international body, to second
the invitation.
After describing the gathering and it's
methods, Gen. Greedy said that the first
question in such an Organizations more
Important one in Europe than 1t would be
in this country-was the selection of pa
irons, for on this depended much of the So
cial success of the congress. The list of
patrons for this great meeting was led off
Wales ard the Duke of York. The prince
was unable to be present at the congress,
and royalty was represented in the person
OF the Duke of York 1t was his first ap-
England generally were interested to see
what a fisGre he would make. He scored a
decided hit in his address, and on the fol-
lowing day the newspapers congratulated
themselves on the success he had made.
The duke held a reception. which was
equivalent to a reception by the queen, and
the amba ssadors and ministers from the
various countries were present to perform
the introductions.
Reception by the Duke of York.
One funny mistake occurred in connec-
ton with this reception. America was the
only country to send women delegates, and
through some misunderstanding they were
not exepcted to be present at the recep-
ton. When the duke heard of this he ex-
pressed desire that they should be intro
duced to him and the result was that they
were given a reception even more delight
full than was accorded the rest of the con-
gress. General Greedy spoke a few pleas
ant words expressive of his appreciation of
the dukes kindness and said that the
young man was in every way worthy
person to stand in line of succession to
the throne of England.
After the reception came the address of
welcome 10 the delegates by President
Markham OF. the Royal Geographical So
ciety. There was a splendid gathering,
upward of five hundred delegates being
nice diplomatic question arose as to VINO
should be selected to respond on behalf
of the delegates, as there were sos many
countries represented that 1t would have
been out of the question to have speaker
from each delegation. 1t was decided that
that president of a society, who had held
office longest should be selected for this
duty. The choice consequently fell upon
Chief Justice naly Of New York. TIL, pres
ident of the American Geographic Society.
His address was admirable in that 1t was
brief, well worded and to the point.
One of the most important questions that
came before the congress was that of geo
graphic education. The discussion on this
point showed the high stand of the Ger
mans, while France came in a close Sec
ond. 1t was quite a source of discontinue
to the representatives of Great Britain to
find what a comparatively poor showing
they could make. They undoubtedly have
good men in the work, but the general
average, especially in scientific and theo-
retic geography, is not nearly as high as it
is In France and Germany. Much attention
was given to the matter of antarctic re-
search, which was urged upon the atten-
ton Of the congress by the head of the
German photographic office. The congress
expressed itself as strongly III favor of
prosecuting explorations in this compare
lively unstudied section Of the globe.
To the North Pole.
Then came the subject of arctic research.
The first speaker was Admiral Markham,
who for a number of years held the record
for the highest north" This was followed
by the representative of the National Geo
graphic Society, 1.-The good fortune OF whose
party" Gen. Greedy said, cit had been to
reach little nearer to the pole"
Gen. Greedy spoke of the proposed at
tempt to reach the pole by means of bal
loon, which has been preached by young
Norwegian, who intends to start by the air
route next May. His own opinion was that
the plan is foolhardy one. but he would
not call 1t impossible. In these days a man
10 W hO hat
known and untried is impossible. 1t was
through the efforts of Gen. Greedy that the
congress did not formally indorse this
scheme. In his speech to the congress ne
should be slow to recommend to the prac-
teal men of the world any scheme which
on the face of it is reckless and imprac-
ticable.
When it came to the consideration Of
Africa as field for work, there were vari-
Gus and opposing views presented. Some
members spoke of Africa as the continent
of the future, while others insisted that the
country would never be and never could BIZ
in a position to rank in any way with
Europe or America. Stanley was present,
and told of how many Things in Africa had
failed and why. lie spoke in yer.
brusque manner-'In q Stanley manner
Gen. Greedy called it-an1 showed his per-
sonal feelings toward many OF those who
were present, and it was evident that he
did not feel kindly disposed toward the
scientists who receive their bread and but
ter from the Royal Geographic Society.
Stanley said that science ought to leav,"
Africa severely alone. What Is needed
there is concrete common sense. While IL
was very satisfactory to see how he han
died the matter and hammered his op-
ponents, the general opinion was that STAN
ley's speech was Il mistake, and Gen
Greedy thought that Mr.. Stanley himself
rt allied IL afterward.
matter in which great interest was
taken was that of the proposed map of the
world. which had been recommended by
German savons. The proposition received
the hearty support Of the congress, and 4
scale of ] to 100000 vas recommended.
Gen. Greedy concluded his lecture with an
account of the social features connected
with the congress. which were all on tie
most elaborate and delightful scale. Speak
ing Of the personnel of the congress, he
said that Mr.. Stanley was easily the most
distinguished and interesting figure in the
gathering.
Another Sunday School institute.
Arrangements for the second of the Sum
day School Unions series of institutes
for Sunday school workers in different sec
tions of the city were made last night at
a conference between the officers of the
union and the local superintendent at the