The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-09-04


IA most distinguished body Of ge-
IA ographers that ever gathered In
this country. Thirty-seven learn
ed men from twelve foreign lands make
up the party. They are here as guests
of the American Geographical society,
which is celebrating its sixtieth ami
versary and the completion of its new
building in New York, the finest and
largest possessed by any geographical
society in the world, by plotting the
foreign savants on transcontinental
tour and showing them all the geo
graphical sights between the Atlantic
and the Pacific coasts.
They started from New York Thurs
day, Aug. %, to be gone until the mid
die of October. Then, after round Of
banquets and other entertainments, the
visiting professors will sail to their
various faroff homes flied, presumably.
with n thorough knowledge Of Amer
lean geography obtained on the spot
so that they will be able to give their
students a clearer idea of the New
World than could be obtained from any
other source.
In the party are some of the most IA
nous of contemporary geographers,
men who have devoted their lives to
the science and written books on its
various branches that are considered
the last word on the subject. The coun-
tries which they represent are Great
Britain, France, Germany, Austria
Hungary, Italy, Denmark, Russia, Nor
way, Holland, Belgium and Switzer
land. No less distinguished are the
American geographers who are acting
as their guides on the transcontinental
excursion. Practically every one of
the leading American universities and
colleges are represented among those
who do honor to the foreigners on the
long journey and at the entertainments
that are one of its features. Professor
William Norris Davis Of Harvard, one
of Americas foremost geographical au-
thorities, is director of the tour.
Expects to Pilot Party.
One of its most striking features will
be that the foreigners will have what
Is interesting geographically in each
section of the United States pointed
out to them by local experts to whom
these sights are as an open book. In
this way they will have an unexam-
pied opportunity Of really getting to
know the country. In the case Of
learned men like themselves, quick to
grasp the essential features of a geo
graphical landscape, there is no doubt
that they will easily assimilate all that
is told them and will be able on their
return to describe 1t In accurate terms,
thus spreading through Europe a cor
rect idea not only Of our geography,
but of our mineral, agricultural and
other natural resources.
The American members of the party,
some Of whom will take the whole trip,
while others will accompany the for
eigners only through certain sections,
realize that their principal task will be
to impart to the visitors this clear un-
derstanding Of what they see. There
fore none but those thoroughly ac-
quainted with each Of the different sec
tions of the country will be delegated
to give a description Of 1t. These eX-
perts will give field talks, which may
be amplified while the party is en-
route, for the special train which will
transport the geographers will be pro
vided with a geographical reference IL
brary and a complete outfit of topo-
graphical and geological maps of the
districts traversed. By means of all
this 1t Is confidently expected that by
the time the Europeans return to New
York next October and turn their faces
toward home they will be chOck full
of the most reliable data concerning
America that have ever been presented
TO foreigners since the days of Colum-
bus.
One Of the first special trips arrang-
ed for the foreign delegates is from
Syracuse to the Green lakes, those
curious little bodies of water which
originated in the glacial period and
arouse the deepest interest among sci
entsts.
Another elaborate side trip has been
arranged at st. Paul and Minneapolis.
The geographers will be met at st.
Paul by committee of citizens, who,
after entertaining them at luncheon,
will take them in automobiles to Fort
Smelling, where a delegation Of citi-
zens of Minneapolis will meet them.
Under this double escort the visitors
will be piloted through the gorge of
the Mississippi.
Duluth will also provide several side
trips, on which the visitors will be
looked after by a special delegation OF
citizens.
To Visit Glacier National Park.
From Seattle or Tacoma, If time per
mits, the visiting scientists will be
taken TO the beautiful Glacier Nation
al park and introduced to that splen'
did monarch, Mount Rainier, which
they will partly scale by means Of the
road that runs up its slopes 10 Para.