St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-04-20
Our Washington Letter.
The National Geographical Society.-Reception
to Capt Sigsbee.-A Visit to the Navy Yard.

The National ueograpncai oociety'- NeeeP''"''
to Capt. Sigsbee.-A Visit to the Navy Yard.
(From our Regular Correspondent
There are many literary societies and
clubs in Washington, which would take
rank with similar societies in other cities;
but the National Geographic is the lead
ing one in respect to numbers and to the
high character of the whole course OF
lectures. The past winter the society
met with great loss in the death of the
president, Mr.. Hubbard, who was orlgi-
nally from Cambridge, Mass. His SON
in-law, Prof. Alexander Graham Bell, fills
the vacant office very acceptably. There
are three courses of lectures given during
the winter season. the popular course,
alternates with the technical upon Fri
day evenings. The lectures are given by
persons OF national reputation, copously
illustrated by the stereopticon; in the
technical course experts in the sciences
give the audience the benefit OF the latest
Investigations. The Monday afternoon
lectures during Lent, treated ofthe effect OF
geographic environment upon the devel-
opment OF civilization in the United
States.
We have in Imagination visited Pictur-
esque Sweden, Samoa and last week
crossed the Atlas mountains and went
into the Sahara under the guidance OF
Prof. Heilprin, president of the Philadel-
pha Geographic Society, and connected
with the University of Pennsylvania.
He took US through one of the two main
routes of travel into the sandy barren
plains; the French artesian wells afford
much relief to the tourist. We were
surprised at the size of the GASES with
hundreds of trees on them. 1t was quite
a revelation to most persons. Miss
Annie S. Peck is to guide us through
Mexico and Prof. J. S. Ewell is to con-
cludc that course with Old Germany be-
fore the reformation. In the Monday
afternoon course, we have considered the
physical geography Of New York state,
Tidewater, Virginia, in the olden times.
The Blue Ridge Grass Country, (Ken-
tucky), the Mississippi, our great
artery OF internal commerce, the prairie
states and many others are to follow. A
mid-winter reception was held in the
beautiful spacious halls Of the new Cor
coran Art Gallery, much to the delight Of
the 700 members and guests.
A great reception was rendered Capt.
Sigsbee, one of the members, upon his re-
turn from Cuba, at the Arlington Hotel,
when it was estimated 1900 persons
awaited themselves Of this opportunity
to greet him and his wife and daughters.
He is slight and delicate-looking man,
with cultivated, refined look and man.
ner, rather than of a military com
mander. The president, vice president
and many congressman were present ant
some congratulatory remarks were made
to the captain. twas full dress occa
sion, and handsome flowers and plant.
adorned the room and the Marine Band
did much to enliven the occasion. anc
that fact alone will interest st. Johns
bury people as S. Robert Mackinnon o
) your town is a member of this famou!
band.
For the last two or three week!
thousands of people have visited th
Navy Yard to see the great guns in thu
shops and the vessels being repaired
The war excitement has attracted tn
attention of people generally to see tn
implements of war. The dynamite boat
the Vesuvius was the object of genera
interest. 1t had just been painted darl
green to resemble the sea-green color q
the ocean, so that it could steal up un
observed and fire off its three great dyr
amite guns under and into any grea
war vessel. A sailor told us that
could charge up with 500 pounds c
dynamite but its range was not owe
l two miles distant. They said that
was the only boat that run the embarg
down South when they had the grea
contest there during Secretary Herbert
E charge of affairs. These small boat
sometimes can do a deal OF damage t
the large ones but the men run TIL
gauntlet of fire and perhaps Of sudde
S death. 1t must be feartully excitn
n encounter in a naval battle and often
few moments will decide the victory
j little chance tor white flag to appea
a when they may be blown high in mic
| -. ;,, +ba he If old
The boat not being dry from its recer
r coat OF paint, no one was allowed to &
q on board; while talking on the ganl
way with the officer on deck, he asked i
to stand on the deck while the porte
:. passed by with the luggage. We sa'
Capt. Chadwick, the commander; he is
e fine looking gentlemanly appearing maj
+ but there was decision in tone and loo
and manner and you could imagine ho'
quickly he would call out, Clear tt
: deck," "Man the guns!" and it would
d instantly done. He looks as if he was
Il man of action. When told how int
+. ested we all were to Sc the boat and II
> commander and men and we should pra
' for them all if war folio wed, he turne
round and said to the ladies' that
Wndt VIC WISH anu nSeu' you' PiuyGo .
q and he looked and spoke as if he te
r every word he uttered. We saw in tt
a shops the huge monsters which we
being polished and cemented togethe
one is called the largest in the wor
Those guns fire with range oil from 81
II and ID miles. Our guide told us thu
n one, that was perhaps forty feet lon
would cost about $4,000 to fire it off.