Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-06-15
tural buoy~
p tha=S~Ms,

..nS. ~ 81, II ~ ~ o.
fivtty and aimlessness of life at Wind
sor Castle preyed upon Holman's
spirits and seriously affected his
health. He obtained leave of absence,
took a two years course of study at
Edinburgh University. and then form
ed the bold plan of making European
tour In search Of health and informa-
tion. All arguments failed to move
him. and to the CONSERVATION of his
friends. he set OF entirely alone to
feel his way in the dark through
strange lands.
What rendered such an undertaking
still more difficult was the fact that
1t first he could not speak French,
German or Italian. But his indomit-
able will, his resourcefulness, and
happy faculty of making friends, car
ried him through successfully, and
he returned In triumph to tell of two
years. wanderlngs in France, Italy,
Switzerland, Germany and Holland.
He wrote narrative of his travels,
which proved interesting enough to
his contemporaries to go through sew.
eral editions.
Each succeeding Journey was fol-
lowed by volume. and these, the En-
cyclopaedia Britannica says, are "of
considerable value as books of travel"
rs well as occupying "a unique place
In literature as products of very extra.
ordinary energy and perseverance"
Young Holman. for all his iron will,
was of a genial disposition. He sci.
dom referred to his affliction, and
never sought pity. He had a good
share of humor. which perhaps &C.
counts for his happy faculty of max
Ing friends, who were glad to serve
as eyes for him.
For fifteen years Lieutenant Holman
Travelled almost constantly. He visited
Brazil. Chile. the west coast of Africa.
Barbary. South Africa, Madagascar.
Zanzibar, Nautilus. India, China,
Singapore and Java. Space prevents
making even catalogue Of these brave
voyages. Although often exposed to
grave perils and repeatedly in the
power OF robbers and savages. he
came safely back from every Journey.
HIS most notable adventure, indeed.
was at the hands Of the Russian au.
thorities, while in Siberia. Travelling
leisurely from city to city, he had
reached the distant northern town of
hkutsk. in the winter of 1923, His
character and the objects of this trav-
els had been abundantly certified in
his passport and letters of introduc.
ton to Russian officials.
But now suspicion that he was an
English spy. or some kind of spy in
disguise, appears to have entered the
minds Of the Gear and his ministers.
Immediately an aide-de-camp, or mes.
senger Of the Gear. was sent to appre.
bend the blind traveller and conduct
him to the frontier of the empire.
The aide-de-camp-a young officer
named Alexis Kolovin-arrived by
sledge at Irkutsk on January 10th.
when the temperature was twenty de.
grees Fahrenheit below zero. 1t had
been Holmans intention to visit Lake
Baikal and Kamchatka after the rigors
OF the winter had abated. The gov.
ernor and military officers at Irkutsk
were his warm friends. His genial
manners made him favorite In So
ciety.
But now came the aide.de.camp with
an imperial order to escort him to
the Austrian frontier, In the coolest
period of the Siberian winter, when
fur clad Russians hesitated to make
even the briefest trip out of DOORS
In vain the blind traveller remon-
strated and begged TOR delay.