The sun., 1904-08-30
The Foreign Geographers.

We shall have such a gathering OF
geographers in this country next week
Is has never been seen here before. The
International Geographical Congress will
hold its first meeting in America. 1t
will be the eighth meeting OF the con-
eress, whose sessions are held from four
10 five years apart. All the larger capi-
tails of Europe, excepting st. Petersburg,
have entertained it, and there was some
prospect when the seventh meeting was
held in Berlin that the congress would
70 this time to the Russian capital.
Fortunately, however, in view OF the
present war, the eighth congress was
assigned to America, and all the geo.
kraphical societies OF this country are
cooperating to make the present occa-
sion successful.
These meetings in Europe have grown
10 be very elaborate affairs. The
large cities in which they are held ex-
tend the most lavish hospitality. The
tight days Of the sixth congress in Lon
don cost $50, 900. Besides the banquets,
receptions, garden parties and SO on,
there were no end Of private dinners
given by wealthy Londoners, and care
was taken that no delegates should be
overlooked in these invitations. The
,eventh congress in Berlin met in the
,plendid building OF the Reichstag and
Ess the costliest Of the series.
The approaching meeting introduces
IN innovation. Instead Of confining
us sessions to one city the congress will
be Of a peripatetic nature. 1t will visit
several OF our larger towns and Niagara
Falls during its proceedings. This will
rive the foreign visitors an excellent op-
portunity to see a considerable part Of
the country under the best of leader
hip; and it is to be hoped that the staid
European professors and other students
If earth science from abroad, acous-
pmed to a slow and easy life, will not
be completely overcome by the pano-
,amic changes of scene and the nights
II railroad travel between centres of
lbounding hospitality.
The delegates and members enrolled
lumber about 500 persons, but not all
he foreigners who have qualified as par
icipants will be able to attend. The list
includes the names OF not few men of
worldwide reputation, such as Sir JOHN
MURRAY. the prince Of oceanographers,
Who will open the session to be held in
his city with an address; Prof. HENRI
soRDIER, the distinguished president
II the Paris Geographical Society; Prof
4. PENCK Of Vienna, whose studies of
and forms in many countries are known
% all geographers; GUILIAUME GRAN
pIpIER. who shared with his father the
ong and great work that placed them in
he lead of the scientific exploration Of
Madagascar; HUGH ROBERT MILL OF
England, one of the first half dozen OF
British geographers; Count Won PEEL of
;ermany, whose labors in tropical East
lfrica were the leading influence in start
ny the colonial enterprises OF Germany;
Prince ROLAND BoNAPARTE who has
,eguiled his leisure with geographical
tudy and many writings, and whose
geographical library in his Paris home
probably the finest private collection
Il the kind. There are many others too
numerous to mention here; and the for
dgn visitors will be supplemented by all
he geographical experts and advanced
Lud ents in this country.
These specialists have contributed
ibuut two hundred papers covering the
most advanced conditions OF every de-
artment Of geographical study. The
eading Of large part of these essays
English, German. French, Italian and
'panish, the five languages Of the con-
ress. will occupy most OF the literary
essions. Many Of the foreigners will
resent their papers in English. Tho
rinted proceedings will fill a large
olume.
OF course. there have been some dis