Omaha daily bee., 1921-05-13
The City and the jungle
More Danger on Streets Than
-Erists in PdtheSs Wilderness
(From the New York Times.)

! A guest oil the Adventures Club OF Chicago
Carl Akeiey, told the members day or two ago
! that Chicago was too dangerous for him-he
| was going back to the Jungle where there was
! quiet, security and peace OF mind. Perhaps it
had not occurred to his hosts that if man
craved the thrill OF hair breadth escapes and con-
| slant familiarity with peril, there was no need
OF quitting the streets and boulevards OF their
city, destined, they believed to be the center of
the universe. 1t was Mr.. Akeleys conviction
that they were all adventures though they never
lett the lake side. He declared to them that the
rush OF Loop traffic, the Swarnling of high-pow-
cred automobiles and the imminence of death at
the hands OF holdup' men, in spite OF the orders
OF the chief OF police to shoot to kill had tangled
his nerves more than the hazards he had faced
IN equatorial Africa and chance encounters with
hlppopotami, rllincs and trumpeting elephants.
SO he wished himself back, and would soon be
the way.
You will escape the Thousand perils OF the
cruel city, exclaimed Juvenal to friend who
was about to take up his residence in the country.
1T might have been in the darkest Apennnes, or
In the wilds OF Calabria, but the city was not so
safe; and there were juggernaut trolleys, no
swooping automobiles in those days--not a single
traffic policeman in Rome. The modern city
teens with perils. so much 50 that life is con-
tinuing risk ones nerves are taut the moment
one steps out OF the house. The only difference
between cities nowadays is that some are more
dangerous than others-that is to saw some have
IlOIC luleS OF tTOuey cars, more motor TRUCKS,
motorcycles, automobiles, fires. pestilences and
miscellaneous snares and pitfalls animate and
lnanirnate. than other cities. Life is one hazard
after another. In 1920, as the Adventures club
must know, $50 persons were killed by automo-
biles III Chicago, Is per cent more than i'll the
preceding year. New York is of course pre-
eminent in this respect; its record for 1920 was
707. The late Gen. Joseph Wheeler declared that
the junction of Broad and Market streets. New
ark, had more terrors for him than the field OF
San Juan. He crossed over twice in one after
noon and survived by miracle. John Muir al
ways contended that the Sierras, with grizzly
bears and rattlesnakes for daily companions. were
safer than any city. His failure to induce Ralph
Waldo Emerson to camp out for one night filled
his soul with for the philosopher, who i'll
sisted upon returning to the city.
Ot course it would be vain to attempt to
convince the urban dweller that there is nothing
much to fear in the jungle, and that life there is
all relaxation and ease. 1t must be admitted
that risks met with besides sleeping sickness.
{. G. Schillings in his I'm Widest Africa" con-
fesses there occasions for "cold feet:'
| inyself am conscious OF steadily increas-
ing dlstaste for face-to-face encounters with
rhinoceroses, and with elephants still more.
There are indeed, other denizens of the East
African jungle whose defensive and offensive
capabilities it would be no less mistake to
underestimate. . !. To be chased by an
African elephant is as exciting sensation as
man could wish for
Mr.. Schillings adds that he has been pursued
by an entire herd. Sometimes in Nightmares he
lives over his "cose calls and wakes in cold
sweat. But it is only when one stirs up the
BILE. Besides, they are getting killed off very
rapidly. There can be no doubt that if
minds his own business the jungle is safer than
the city.