The San Francisco call., 1905-03-30

H. Rider Haggard, the English
novelist, whose weird stories have al
ways proved interesting reading mat
ter to the American public. arrived
here last evening from the south and
is staying at the Occidental Hotel.
Haggard is accompanied by his daugh-
ter, Miss Angela Rider Haggard, his
private secretary, Ransom Coygill, and
his assistant secretary. Henry Wright.
The author has come to America on q
mission that is expected to result in
much benefit to the poorer classes Of
London and possibly those Of other
countries of the eastern continent,
where the congested conditions of the
cities and the unfortunate predica-
ment of the lower classes as a result
of their restraint is becoming a seri-
Gus subject for national consideration.
Haggard has been commissioned by
the British Government to visit the
United States for the purpose Of looh-
ing into and reporting on the success
of the colonization projects undertaken
by the Salvation Army. 1t was his
Rural England comparatively
recent production, dealing with de-
terioration of agricultural pursuits in
England in which the writer gave vent
TO opinions that were accepted as
warnings to the Government and
promptly needed by her statesmen, that
was responsible for Haggard's present
visit to this country.
In the English farmers abandonment
of the pIow and his rush to the larger
cities in search, of lighter work and
supposed greater remuneration, and the
resultant overcrowding of the metropo-
lis with ill-conditioned people, Hag-
gard saw a danger that has readily
appealed to the sound sense of his
countrymen, who were not long in ap
preciating the possibility OF deteriora-
tion of English manhood and the ulti
mate fall of the empire.
BOOTH fuckers SOLUTION.
1t was a subject that provoked much
discussion and finally brought forth
from Commander Booth Tucker the
declaration that a solution Of the diff
ficulties existing would be found In the
colonization experiments of the Saliva
ton Army in this country. Forthwith
Haggard was duly commissioned to
visit the United States and look into
the colonization scheme Of the army,
and a month ago he embarked on his
Western trip. Arriving in New York he
remained three days there, then pro-
ceeded to Philadelphia and from there
to Washington, where he was a guest
of President Roosevelt, who expressed
to his visitor his hearty cooperation in
any project that Haggard might in
augurate that would benefit mankind
throughout the world. Leaving Wash
ington, Haggard journeyed slowly
westward by way of the southern
route, stopping off at various points to
study irrigation, and finally reaching
several days ago the Salvation Army's
colony at Romie. In Monterey County,
where he made a thorough investiga-
ton of the conditions existing. In this
work he was assisted by Colonel
French of the army, who had met him
at Ell Paso.
OF his observations at the colony
Haggard would have little to say, ex-
planning that in view Of the fact that
he was under commission to make a
report to his Government he did not
feel that it was within his province to
discuss the matter publicly. He did
say this, however:
l was pleased to find the members OF the
Rornie colony extremely contented with their
environments and happy over the thought
that they were not only enabled to gain a
comfortable livelihood, but TO eventually ac-
ouire as the fruits of their labors. the ground
gruntled person in the entire colony. / would
like to say more about these happy people,
but 1 must save my information for my re-
port.
PRAISES THE PRESIDENT.