Omaha daily bee., 1895-06-16
CLIMBING THE HlMALAYAS
Experience of Traveller in Regions Tx
plored by Humboldt.
SENSATIONS FELT AT HIGH ATTITUDES
Tho Mighty Asiatic Heights that oVertop
tho Earth-DimcultIes Encountered and
Overcome In Scaling Peaks Far
Above the Clouds,

Copyright. 1896 by S. s. Mcclure. Lmited.)
LONDON June lit would seem that
mountaineering, more than any other pas
time, except golf, is full of fascination for
men of intellectual mark! Among the seniors
the names of John Tyndall, Leslie Stephen,
Prof. Bryce James David Forbes, John Ball.
Justice Wills, Loppe the painter, and Signor
Sella. sometime prime minister Of Italy,
readily suggest themselves in evidence; while,
latest in point Of time, we have William
Martin Conway, who has not only traversed
the Alps from end to end and explored
the Karakoram Himalayas, but come for
ward, in the liberal interest, as the
Parliamentary candidate for Bath, and is
also chairman of the Incorporated Society OF
Authors was the first Roscoe professor Of
art in University college. Liverpool, and will
presently, II the prophets are to be trusted
sit In John Ruskins chair as Slade professor
in the University Of Oxford.
In the beginning, when he was at Cam
bridge, Mr.. Conway was by way Of being a
mathematician. AS It is, his mathematical
talents are of solid service to him when he is
surveying or mapping new country-a task
TO which he attaches so much Importance
and devotes such sedulous attention that the
map which accompanies his great work,
"Climbing in the Himalayas," cost him no
less than four months hard and continuous
work.
But the higher mathematics failed to oc-
cupy Mr.. Conways interests permanently,
and as we sat In his house at No. II
Clanrcarde Gardens, Bayswater, the subject
about which he first talked to me was the
history Of art The hall and staircase and
drawing room have all the characteristics OF
an art museum-a museum quite as interest
ing in its way as some of the museums
mentioned in the guide books. The noun
tains have contributed comparatively little
to its embellishments
A MOUNTAIN CLIMBER FROM SIXTEEN
As my eye wandered round the large
luxurious drawing room and recalled the
palms and the fountain on the staircase, the
wonder crossed my mind that a man who
had built his soul pleasure house so lordly
should ever be willing to leave II for the
wilds--to risk his neck on sullen precipices
and sleep out in windy tent upon horrit
glacier. Yet, when one looked at Mr., Con
way and marked what manner Of man ht
was, 1t was impossible to retain that wonder
Of moderate height, with sturdy well-kni
frame, with muscles that demanded vigorous
exercise for their well being he clearl,
sould not be contented with the contemplatv
life alone So that l could easily imagine
Mr.. Conway in nailed boots and kncker
bockers and Norfolk jacket, threading tn
pazes OF an ice-fall, though only saw hin
In the garb OF polished civilization sur
rounded by pictures and curios and brIc-a
brac.
II climbed the Breit-horn," Mr.. Conwa,
said, "when l was l6, and / have gone Of
climbing ever since"
Nor Would re admit that climbing was
dangerous amusement.
"Of course" he said. "there are dangerou
climbs, but you go 10 them knowing wha
they are II you deliberately climb up
slope down which stones or ayalanehes fal
as on the Monte Rosa side OF MacuQuaga
you naturally take your chance OF bein
swept away. But foolhardness avoided an
the proper precautions TAKEN mountaineerin
Is not dangerous. l have been climbing fo
o,e snan hssS ysa aes, u .,reS r@,e ne