The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-11-10
DR.. |. c. WHITE TALKS.
Entertaining Story Of the Re-
cent Trip Which He Made.

His AbiIIty-The voyage over TO ku-
rope--Gities Yisited-Sights, Scenes
and Incidents Of Most Fascinating
Character-W Wonderful Mineral Conn
try Inspeeted-The Beautiful Yolga-
Great Fair at Nigni- Noygorod-Th
Meeting Of the C0ngress-Receiyed
by Royalty-Comments on the Recep-
ton.
DR.. I. c. White has just returned
from what is probably the most inter
esting trip ever taken by Morgan
town man. Certain 1t is in selecting
DIR White to make this trip two ma
ticnal societies paid him the highest
compliment ever paid u resident Of
this town. after a rest of a few days
during which he fully recovered from
the fatigue engendered by his trip,
the Doctor kindly consented to talk
Of his voyage for the entertainment of
the readers Of this paper. Last night
he was seen by our representative, and
most delightful recital OF the trip
was given. The description of the
the trip in substance is as follows:
'Four of US as representatives OF
two American societies, the Geologi-
cal Society of America and the Ameri
can Association for the Advancement
of Science, were appointed as dele
gates to the international Geological
Congress which met at st. Petersburg,
from August 20 to September 5.
Originally there were three delegates
from each society, but one Of them
died and another found 1t impossible
to go, so the representatives were re-
duced to four. We sailed from New
York on the North German LLOYD line
for Bremen, on July 9th. After an
uneyentful voyage Bremen was reach
ed.
From there we went to Hamburg
and Berlin, stopping short time at
each place and then to st. Petersburg,
which is 1900 miles from Berlin.
After short time spentin Berlin, we
took what is called the Ural excursion
which lasts a mouth, inspecting the
Urais and going into Siberia. During
this trip the greatest mineral country
in the world was thoroughly inspected
by us. Almost every conceivable
mineral was to be found. and that in
the greatest proportion. Numherless
mines were inspected and all different
processes Of mining were examined
closely by us. The Urals are very
much like our Alleghenies, running
in the same general direction, and be-
ing drained by river which cores
ponds to our Ohio, emptying into the
Volga, which closely resembles the
Mississippi. The mountains belong
to the same age as our system and the
resemblance is in many respects
very close one.
During this excursion we visited
Katrinaberg, the greatest center for
gems in the world. Here nlure prec-
ious stones Of all kinds, except dia-
monds, are cut and polished than in
any other city in the world, and it is
headquarters all other kinds of gems.
The immense lapidaries were examin-
ed and the various interesting pro-
cesses in preparing gems for market.
After this fascinating visit, special
steamer was put at our disposal and
we went to NigniN ovgorod. via the
-Volga, celebrated in story and song as
the most beautiful river in the world.
Its reputation is a well deserved one.
We were astounded by its beatty, and
by the magnificent scenery which every
turn in the river revealed. The com
MERGE on it was enormous. Nothing
like it had been imgained by our
party. But it drains one OF The rich
est countries in agriculture aHd miner
al resources of the globe
On our arrival at NigniNuygorod
we found the famous fair in progress.
This fair is we'll known to everyone
from descriptions, but the reality was
a bewilderiug one. Every nationality
was represented perfect babel of
tongues and delightful array If diff
ferent types of men was the result
Here the wares of the world are
brought to sell. Tea from far off
China, brought overland, silks from
India, furs from Siberia, and, in fact,
goods from every portion of the globe.
The fair is given under the auspices
of the crown, and is the center of
trade for the Empire. 1t lasts for
sixty days and is the most interesting
thing encountered during the trip.
From here we took the train again
and returned to St. Petersburg, where |
we arrived on August 2Sth. The
Congress began on the next day. This |
Congress is held every three years.
Its work is largely routine, but it is of
the highest importance to the scien-
tific world. 1t systematizes and har-
monies the work in the various coun-
tries. The advantages of this are |
very obvious. For instance, the adop- |
tion of universal color scheme which |
has been made by the Congress. Any
geologiost, no matter of what nation
ality, on seeing map colored in con-
formity with this scheme, can at once |
determine the various formations.
Besides this work the congress
hears an exchange of views on various
problems which are before the geologi-
cal world for solution. French is the |
official language of the meeting, all |
the papers relating to the proceedings !
are written in this language, but each !
speaker when addressing the congress
speaks in the tongue which best suits
him. The congress is composed of |
about two hundred of the most emil
nent biologists in the world, and des-
pite the fact that so many different
languages were used in It's discussions,
proceedings were of the utmost inter-
est to myself. However, the slight
difficulty met in understanding every
thing which was being done, was
overcome by a knowledge of French
which the University has given me,
and that gained at the same time of
German, was Of inestimable benefit
during the trip. The congress closed
on September 5th, after one of the
most successful sessions ever held.
During its progress we were Civ
en- a reception by Prince Constan-
tine, who is the closest of anyone
to the Gar. We found him simple
unaffected, very genial gentlemen.
The function was remarkable for its
An affair of similar size
and character in this country would
have been marked with much more
formality than this one was. The
Prince chatted with every one in the
room, and did much to remove our
preconceived idea of the GOODNESS and
impossible hauteur which surrounds
the members of the royal family.