Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1902-10-16
WALTER WILLIAMS.
LECTURES AT THE STEPHENS
OPERA HOUSE IN BOOM
WILLIE, MO.
Mr.. WILLIAMS Will, LECTURE
IN MEXICO This WINTER.
Impressions of a MissOurian "In the
Course of Empire"-Greeted
With a Large aud APP
preciative Audience


subject Of an able and interesting
lecture at Stephens Opera House last
Friday evening by Walter Williams,
the talented editor of the Columbia
(Mo,) Herald. Notwithstanding a
heavy downpour Of rain during the
afternoon and evening, the lecturer
was greeted by as select and cultured
an audience as ever assembled in Boom
vile. Mr.. Williams was reared here,
and this tribute from friends of his
boyhood was one that touched him
deeply.
They expected to hear something
worth heariug, and were not dlsap-
pointed. Mr.. Williams had recently
returned from tour Of the Orient
and European countries, where his
opportunities for acquiring informa-
tion were far beyond the ordinary.
Mr.. Williams began by picturing
the congress of nations assembled at
The Hague in fruitless hope of the
fulfillment of that irridescent dream
universal peace. Their status was
well portrayed In his description Of
their rulers-from the dwardsh, prof
ligate King of Italy, to the gouty,
limping Edward VII.
Dwelling but briefly on national
characteristics, he took his hearers to
the land Of Egypt-where are the
greatest monuments of prehistoric
civilization. He described the beauti-
full valley Of the Nile and compared it
10 that Of the Missouri between st.
Louis and Kansas City. But it is only
in the valley where there is fertility.
Where the waters touch, there is life;
where there is no water, there is
death. AS straight and as clearly
defined is the line as If marked by
human hands. The value Of this land
is fabulous, and it is not to be won
dered that the ancient. Egyptians took
their household gods from beneath its
slime and mud.
Across the Red sea to the Holy Land
the course of empire took its way.
Here the lecturer paused to describe
the beauties and peculiarities Of the
country and its people. He bad Wis
tied the traditional location of the
manger where lay the Prince
of Peace. at this spot was a
church whose space was appOrtioned
between four warning factions of the
faith, and whose floors were crimson
with the blood of priests slain in COM
bat.
The land of the Moslem and the
''sick man Of Europe" claimed a share
of attention. Greece and the modern
Athens, the city of Romulus, the eter-
nal city Of Rome, were graphically de-
scribed. Then came Austro-Hungary,
and Norway and Sweden, the Simese
twins in European politics. Germa-
ny, Holland and the British isles
brought his hearers back to the pres
ent day.
Mr.. Williams related a number Of
interesting incidents. His lecture,
however, was of a general nature and
devoted mostly to the impressions he
had received and the lessons that
might be learned from the course Of
empire. His peroration was excep-
tionally good and contained many
gems Of thought.
The editor had the pleasure Of hear
ing Mr.. Williams recount in detail
much of his trip. He was absent
more than nine months, and declares
that he has had enough to last him a
lifetime. He had no idea at the time
he started from his home In Columbia
that he would remain away so long.
He was met at st. Louis, however, by
some of the Worlds Fair manage
ment and importuned to represent
the Exposition. This he concluded
to do upon reaching New York, and
so advised them This connection
proved a valuable lever with foreign
officials, and he was shown many
courtesies that he could not other
wise have expected.
In Egypt he visited many places OF
interest. Most notable, perhaps, were
the great pyramids. He climbed
CheopS, which is more than 500 feet
high. He also visited the quarry from
which the rock was taken. At the
edge, as though left hurrledly, lies a
block of stone 20 feet long and l6 feet
square. The chisel marks are still to
be seen. From stones of this size the
pyramids we're built more than lOC
miles away. The bOasted feats OF
modern engineering pale into insight
ficance when confronted with the task
OF transporting such a weight that
distance and lifting it to such
height. The interior of these pyra.
mlds contain chambers where were
placed the remains Of the ancient rul-
ers. BY special permission OF the
khedive's officers, he was permitted to
bring away a mummifed hand and
foot.
Mr.. Williams saw many Of the
crowned heads, and his description OF
their appearance conforms well to the
caricatures that appear in the Amer
ican newspapers The King of Greece
reminded him ofan easy-going farmer
the King Of Italy of profligate, the
King Of Spain Of a spoiled child
Wilhelm Of Germany is easily the
greatest OF them all and would be q
great man regardless of his hereditary
power. Edward Of England is best
described by the American slams
term, "bloatn Little respect attach.
es to the personality Of the rulers ex
cept in SO far as they are the repre-
sentatiyes OF government in the alb
stract
While at Berne, Switzerland, Mr.
Williams had the honor OF presiding
over a session Of the International con
|oroce ~ adIforg Eranch a. Stfll thi