The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-26
BURTON HOLMES HEARD
ON 6DENMARK. THROUGH HAMLETS
COUNTRY IN A MOTOR CAR"
He Is Probably the Foremost Lecturer
on Travel I'm the Country-Other
Talks to Follow.

One of the most interesting lectures given
In Indianapolis in a long time was that
delivered last night at English's by Bur-
ton Holmes. The event served as an intro
duction to a series of travel talks" which
Mr.. Holmes is to give In this city. No adj
mission was charged, as the lecturer and
his manager wished to afford the Indian
apolis public an opportunity to judge of the
merits of the Holmes illustrated lectures
before asking for patronage. The theater,
in consequence, held an audience that
tested its capacity. A number Of years
ago, when Mr.. Holmes was but a young
and enthusiastic traveler-he is barely thir-
ty-three years old now-hs gave a lecture
in this city which attracted considerable
attention. but until last night he had not
been heard here since he has come to be
considered the foremost of lecturers on
travel before the American public.
Mr.. Holmes chose for the subject of his
Introductory talk, Denmark: Through
Hamlet's Country in a Motor Car and
probably no other lecture in his repertoire
could have demonstrated more thoroughly
the marked ''up-to-dateness'' of his en-
tertainments, as typihed by his means Of
teresting methods of presenting necessary
facts, his latest and most improved ap-
paratus for showing a great number of at
ing pictures, which were taken on the
scenes described in his lectures and which
are about the best ever shown in this city.
Mr.. Holmes is man OF pleasing per-
sonality, possessing a voice that commands
attention, and, as his enunciation is we'll
nigh perfect, he Is indeed an ideal plat
form speaker. To the pictorial features Of
his lecture he added a fund of anecdote
and personal memories of the journey, TO-
gether with an occasional thought of more
serious moment, which displayed a mind
OF no mean literary attachments, as well
as one with keen sense of humor.
Starting in London, where with many
others he had gone to witness the corona
ton ceremonies. Mr. Holmes conducted his
audience, on the announcement of the post
ponement of the browning of the King,
to the shores OF Scandinavia, viewing en-
route the harbor of Kiel, with its formid-
ing was made at Copenhagen and the
scenes in the streets, the homes of the citi-
Zens and the places Of amusement in this
Danish capital were shown in rapid sue
cession on the white screen, while the lee
turer talked entertainingly about all that
he had seen. Pictures of palaces, churches
and Quaint groups of the people were also
shown and applauded. According TO Mr..
Holmes, Copenhagen is a veritable para
disc for the poor man, although the pow
erty-stricken are not In evidence, for even
the laborer there has his garden surround
ing his comfortable but modest little home,
and poverty in the extreme seems con-
spicuous by its absence. King Christian
came in for warm praise from Mr.. Holmes,
as did also the liberal wealthy classes, to
which belong the Jacobsens, father and
son, two millionaire brewers, who have
presented to the fatherland magnificent
art galleries with ample funds for their
support, open at all times to the poorest
or the richest citizen. A number of ex-
cursions were made, and among these one
to the ;. Castle of =, Kronbors; at Elsinore.
Hamlet" and another to the celebrated
Horse Fair at Randers. The first half of
the lecture concluded with a brief descrip-
ton of the Danish army and a film show
ing a march of young Danish soldiers.
During the intermission a remarkably
fine and unusually long motion picture was
shown Of the Paris-Berlin automobile race
speed racing cars from all over the world
contesting for the championship. The
scene of the picture was at the Belgian
frontier and showed the contestants, among
them Fourier. the winner of the race,
being halted by the custom house officers
for the examination of their passports. 1t
was especially interesting to watch the
hands OF clock by the side of the road
by which the audience could time the ar
rival and departure of each automobile.
The second half Of the lecture was devoted
to Mr.. Holiness automobile tour, accom-
panied by his associate traveller, Mr.. De-
pue. into the more unfamiliar portions of
Denmark. The lecturer gave an interesting
and amusing account of their adventures
and misadventures. The start was made
from Copenhagen and an excellent motion
picture, taken from the front seat of the
automobile. gave splendid idea of the
streets through which the two Americans
passed. Leaving the city behind, the rural
districts were visited. Raskilde, Wording
borg, Moen and other points were touched
and another motion picture, taken from the
seat of the rapidly travelling 'auto," fur
nished remarkably realistic views of the
country highways with their picturesque
houses and windmills. Some more anus
ing episodes, this time with rural police to
whom an automobile was an unknown ter
ror, and a night excursion TO the Klint of
Cliffs, with a number of more than usually
beautiful colored pictures, brought the i'm
pressive tour through "Hamlet's country
to close.
Mr.. Holmes was applauded enthusiastic
ally time and again during the evening,
and those who heard his interesting enter
tainment last night will want to hear one
or more of his other lectures. On next
Wednesday evening he will talk on
Sweden; the Capital the Country and the
Canals" and this lecture will also be illus
trated with fine stereopticon slides and ex-
cellent moving pictures. On Tuesday even
ing. May 5, he will deliver a lecture on
Norway /; the Great Fjords,'' and on
Wednesday evening, May IL, he will talk
on Norway II; the Land of the Midnight
Sun"