The record-union., 1897-03-23
MR.. WILDMAN'S LECTURE.
RounsevelIe Wildman Tells of His OBJ
servations in the r1alaya Country.

RounSevelle Wildman, editor of the
overland Monthly" lectured before
the Sacramento Lecture Association last
evening at the Congregational Church
to a good audience on Malay and the
Sultan of Johore." Mr.. Wildman's off,
cial residence at Singapore as the rep
resentative of the United States Gov
eminent, gave him superior opportuni-
ties to study Malayan character and
society and the customs and manners
Of so much of the Orient as is clustered
about the Malayan Archipelago.
Mr.. Wildman spoke in an easy, con-
versational manner, without any effort
at oratory. 1t was the pleasant and
graphic recital OF a cultured gentleman
talking to his friends of strange lands.
He gave a detailed description of the
topography of the country over which
the Sultan of Johore rules, of the char
acter of the towns and cities, the pail
ace of the Sultan and it's fittings, and
some account of the architecture of the
country generally.
He then rapidly described the charac-
teristics OF the people, told of the mixed
races in the Sultanate and in Singa-
pore, the relation of the British Gov
eminent to the whole region, and then
came to personal analysis of the classes
in Malaga. He made very clear what
are the physical characteristics of the
people, their cast of countenance, their
bearing, manner of dress in various
walks of life, their domestic customs,
etc.
He dwelt at some length upon the fit
Of ho
forth very iucidly the magnificence of
wealth in which the Sultan dwels; for
instance, when in official costume he
bears upon his garments no less than
O,O00,CCO worth of diamonds and pre-
cious gems.
Types or female comeliness were de-
scr1bed, against what pests the people
have to contend, the extent Of the ter
ritory Of the Sultanate and it's general
character, pointed out that whereas in
1919 it was g. country of unbroken
jungles, save for the elephant paths.
and the people We're pirates in the
main, now such has been the advance
made that in comparison with our own
country the progress of that Oriental
spot is found to have equaled it,
OF the road systems he spoke fire.
quently and enthusiastically, declaring
that all over the territory, even through
the regions dangerous to traverse be-
cause of tigers and other wild beasts.
one will find perfect roads, we'll metaled
and drained and kept in excellent re-
pair. He could not but reflect with
humiliation that in our own country.
where the need for good roads is so
great, we have been slow to profit by
the example of the Malayan Govern
ment.
Mr.. Wildman then had the auditori-
UNI darkened and presented upon a
screen some very striking and large
stereopticon views, illustrative Of the
text of his lecture, and these he de-
scrlbed as they passed in view in a
manner that excited the livelest inter-
est. In conclusion he exhibited a cost
ly sarong or robe worn around the loins
and dropping below the knees. a uni
Versal garment in the country of which
he had talked so interestingly He also
exhibited rich example of side arm
worn by gentlemen of rank and official
station. The lecture was extremely in
teresting, was full Of useful inforrna-
! ton, was ornate, scholarly and made
an altogether charming entertainment.