New Britain herald., 1922-07-07

PuDllC dtlenlloH, says d Dulletln lrOIH the Washington, D. C.. headquarters of the National Geographic society.
 When Congo Stirred America.
 "Once before rumors of gold, to- gether with rumors of cruelty to na- tives. sent the name Congo echolne around the world. The U. $. senate discussed Congo Free State, as the country then was known, and alleged atrocities were deplored in churches and in meetings all over the United States.
 Tn the year America was celebrat- ing her independence centennial Bel eiun1's young king helped form so- ciety along with other European gov ernments and geographers, to explore Africa
 After Stanley's expedition of the following year a committee of this society continuing the work, devel- ton of the Congo This body sought to unite various territories in Central Africa into a single state and obtain recognition as a political entity. The United States was the first to accord this recognition, whereupon the Con go Free State was born, in 1884
 Called Free State'; Was Neither.
 Actually the new political divi- sion. the largest in Africa except the French Sahara. was neither a state nor free It was an association for it's governance which was recognized; and Leopold II, personally, not in his capacity of King of the Belgians, was its ruler Leopold bequeathed the territory to his country in his will.
 Before Leopold's death the con troversy over harsh treatment of the natives who were pressed into service as rubber gatherers became a topic of discussion all over. the civilized world Missionaries and foreign con suls complained of the outrages. The system by which taxes were payable only in rubber, and the practice of holding women as hostages when such payment was not made, was liable to abuse
 Consul Easement Protests. :.
 "One especially severe criticism was signed by Consul Easement att Boma-later Sir Roger Easement who was hanged for conspirng against the British in Ireland, Bel gians averred that the agitation about those abuses followed suspiciously close upon reports of the discovery of gold. While Leopold denied the right of foreign powers to interfere in his rule of the Congo. he instituted reforms
 Continued assertion that measures of relief were not applied led to the cession of Congo Free State to Bel gium in 1910.
 Belgian Congo is a bowl-like plateau, criss- crossed by rivers, polka dotted by marshes, ribbed with rock. and blanketed throughout with the forest. The veritabe jun gle of this wilderness surpasses any meaning the temperate zone dweller to the word forest.
 Unto these primeval forests, Liv- ingstone wrote. the sun, though yer tical. cannot penetrate, except by sending down at mid day thin pencils of rays into the gloom. The rain water stands for months in stagnant pools made by the feet of elephants. The climbing plants, from the size of a whipcord to that of man of wars hawser are so numerous, that the ancient path is the only pas sa ge'
 Wearied With Eternal Green.
 More recent explorers have com mented especially upon the dire de- preston which besets the white man when he traverses this forest. You are hemmed in by thickets which pre- vent you from penetrating the green depths on either side, and on gazing | upwards, the dense capony of foliage overhead forbids an untrammelled | view of the heavens to the eyes so wearied with eternal green
 "Hemmed in thus animal life is scarcely discernible, but monkeys break the silence with their chatter, butterflies of infinite variety and | ,olor futter about the occasional open places, and conquering hordes of in- sects hold undisputed sway Here he ants abound. White ones build | curious structures against the trunks of trees Others patiently carry the earth. bit by bit, to the treetops to fashion strange houses that often suggest some weird animal about to spring upon his prey.
 Forming the northwestern bound Try of the territory is the great Congo liver. sometimes spreading out to five niles wide. Unfortunately for its