Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-06-07
John L. stoddard's Travels.

In ten handsome volumes, John L.
Stoddard has gathered all of the illustrate
ed lectures v hich he delivered during his
long and successful career on the plat
form, under the title "The Stoddard Lee
lures" Not only do we have the identi-
cal discourses with which he charmed
thousands OF auditors, but we have the
same pictures reproduced in the best
manner known 10 the modern art OF Illus
tration. There are thousands Of these
pictures in the ten volumes, and not one
but what has a peculiar individual at
traction OF its own. IL might be that one
would weary OF reading but ii is certain
that the illustrations will be a perpetual
source OF delight.
Mr.. Stoddard's literary style was some
times too profuse and ornate to meet the
requirements OF severe criticism, and
there has been complaint that his limpid
sentences were too cloying. For all that,
hundreds OF persons will always feel that
they owe him debt OF gratitude for his
pleasant guidance of them into countries
OF which otherwise they must have re.
NAMED ignorant. Next to seeing for
ones self was seeing with the aid OF Mr..
Stoddard's lectures and his stereopticon.
In their way both together met all the re-
quiremeDts OF successful and enjoyable
sight seeing.
The scope OF these ten volumes is so
great that we can examine them In these
columns only hurriedly, but We propose
brief description of each one, so that our
readers may have at least some intelligent
glimpses OF the wealth OF material which
they contain and some comprehension OF
their value to interest and TO instruct.
Necessarily there can be only the most
cursory glance at much OF the contents,
and of some OF il no hint can even be
given.
Volume one includes four lectures
those on Norway, Switzerland, Athens
and Venice. "Of the countries on our
globe, !" says Mr.. Stoddard, NORWAY, in
some respects, must rank as the most
wonderful because while nearly one-third
OF il lies within the Arctic circle, II is saw
ed as q habitation for the human race by
the influences OF the Gulf stream and of
the long Arctic summer. As he describes
il, Norway is surely an attractive
countryIfor the tourist, and furnishes a
happy home for its people. But the
lecture on Norway hardly equals in in
terest the fascination OF that on SwitZer-
land, in which there are some remarkable
Illustrations, notably those OF Alpine
scenery and Of the beautiful lakes which
charm travellers by their exceeding beauty.
There Is a good example OF Mr.. StOddard's
Characteristic way OF description in the
closing paragraph Of this lecture-the one
in which be describes the effect OF the
moonlight on the Matterhorn. He says;
AT last there came a change, for which
had been waiting with impotence. In
the blue vault of heaven the full-orbed
moon came forth to sheathe the Matter
horn in silver. In that reiulgent light its
lev edges looked like crystal ropes,
and its sharp, glistening rocks re-
sembled silver steps leading to the stupen.
dous pinnacle above. NeveriIthis side OF
Eternity do expect TO see a vision so
sublime as that OF moonlight on the Mat
terhorn. For from the cleaning parapets
OF this Alpine pyramid, not 40 centuries,
but 1900 ages look down on us as the
frivolous pygmies OF a day. Yes, as l
gazed on this illuminated obelisk, rising
from out its glittering sea OF ice TO
where 600 feet above-the moving
stars flashed round its summit like re-
splendent gems, II seemed a fitting EN-.
blem OF creative msjesty-the scepter of
Almighty God. p Clinton, Mass, Item.