Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-01-05

some of the same pictures as in his
lecture in this city.
The main floor of the Opera house
was we'll filled with veterans, While
officers and their families occupied the
boxes and a considerable number or
civilians were present in the galleries.
Commander Peary was introduced by
Col, Richards as the discoverer of the
North pole and the explorer before be-
ginning his talk upon his personal ex-
pericnces in his search for the North
pole remarked that two years ago be-
fore he started on his journey he had
addressed the same audience telling
what lie hoped to do. NOW. he sald.
IT am able to come back and tell you
that I have accomplished what i
started out to do
He was warmly applauded b. the
veterans when he arose to speak ana
all listened to him with the closest at
tention as he gave an account of MS
tourney to the nole.
Commander Peary returned to Au-
gust at $50 and went at once to the
suite of rooms selected for himself and
Mr.. Nichols The explorer after his re-
CuTH ~ tiit ~ uS liouSC iNNNA'N
Gov. Fernald Ex-Governor John +.
Hill. HQn. F. G. Kinsman, member OF
Governor Fernald's council Mayor
Treby Johnson and members OF the
city government.
This is Commander Peary's second
appearance in Augusta and MS tmro
at the National Home, but his previous
visits were made before he had been
successful in his polar quest. the pres
ent visit is his only appearance i'll
Central Maine on his present lecture
tour He will go from here to Bangor
TODAY and will speak at Bangor to-
night He will leave Bangor at mid
nieht tonight and will go directly to
New York, where he will complete the
story of his polar explorations upon
which he is now engaged.
The lecture at City hall in the even
ing was attended by over 1900 people,
mostly from Augusta and neighboring
cities and towns. 1t was a representa-
tive audience of Central Maine cltl-
zens and also included some from dis
tant parts of the State, particularly
college men, who were attracted both
bv the lecture and the d. X. E. recep-
ton which followed. A large deleg2-
ton also came up from Bowdoin Col
lege and the greater part OF these were
seated in the central part of the nall.
When Governor Fernald and the man
who had made the successful journey
to the earth's' apex appeared upon the
platform together the applause begun
and when it died away in one part of
the hall it was taken up in another 50
that it was fully two minutes before
Governor Fernald was given an oppor-
tunity to introduce the speaker. The
Governors introduction was brief but
quite to the point. He said:
Ladies and Gentlemen: l am glad
to add my presence and words in be-
half of proud and happy people ca
ger to do honor. to a gallant and cour-
ageous man. There is an old saying
that a prophet is not without honor
save in his own country. l would have
that dictum changed into Honor to
Peary,' and l would have it printed in
letters that could be seen above Mt.
katahdin and then copied in colors
upon the aurora borealis that arches
above the North pole, which Peary
Las Ctl tdlliN Will
1t affords me great pleasure to intro
duce to you the greatest explorer of
modern times, Commander Robert E.
Peary of the United States navy"
The Governor left the platform i'm
mediately after the Introduction and
the figure of the valiant explorer stand
ing alone upon the platform was the
signal for another outburst of applause
and with it were mingled the d. X. E..
cheers and the old time Bowdoin yell,
at which the man from the pole smiled
eXpansively as it fell upon his ears.
Commander Peary was in excellent
condition physically, all the traces of
his fierce fight for the geographical
prize having left his face Attired in
the conventional dress suit and every
thing about him looking well groomed
and kept it seemed hard to imagine
him with his dogs and his Esquimaux
on his dash for the pole.
He spoke clearly and distinctly so
that he could be heard without difficult
ty in every part of the hall AS pub
lie speaker Commander Peary has de-
veloped wonderfully since his lecture
tour previous to the successful polar
expedition and perhaps the fact that
he has story OF success to tell in
stead of hopes for the future has a
great deal to do with it, His eXplana-
tions of the pictures We're very clear
and he used only what words were
necessary to explain them, leaving the
photographs as thrown upon the screen
by the stereoptfcon to tell the story
OF the deprivation and hardship neces-
sary to secure the coveted prize, which
they did most eloquently
Commander Peary began his lecture
with a short history of Arctic explora :
ton. He spoke of England's first en-
deavors of 400 years ago, traced the
furthest North of nation succeeding
nation until in u matter of fact way
he concluded the story of the various
attempts by, saying: In 1909 the
United States again won the blue rib
bon by penetrating the Polar sea and
planting its flag upon the apex of the
earth
A few maps showing the continents
surrounding the polar sea followed and
then the audience was favored by the
first glimpse of the eternal ice. The
pictures. which were thrown upon the
screen We're done in colors and finely
tinted, nearly all of them being fine