Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-20
SCENES IN AFRICA
VIEWED BY SOCIETY
Mr.. and Mrs. Martin Johnson
Also Reproduce Sounds
of Jungle.

Washington society was treated last
night to a realistic presentation OF
sounds of wild life and motion pictures
of primitive scenes in Africa, with Mr..
and Mrs. Martin johnson, famous ex-
plorers In this field of science, giving
their personal experiences Of their pho
tographic expeditions. The host was
his highness, Prince Albert de Ligne,
the Belgian Ambassador. and the Bel
gian embassy, 1880 Massachusetts, ave-
nue., was the setting for the unusual
presentation.
Mrs. johnson initiated the sounds OF
various wild animals encountered dur
ing the African night and the dis
tinguished guests applauded her. The
Belgian Ambassador, in brief pre-
liminary address, informed his audience
that Mr.. and Mrs johnson are sched-
uled to sail November 2 on new trip
to Africa for two years. Filming OF
the gorilla in its habitat in the Belgian
Kongo Is the objective of this expesdi-
ton, he explained.
Sanctuary Maintained.
Prince de Ligne asserted that the
national park. named for King Albert
In the Belgian Kongo. comprises some
SOC, 900 acres as a real sanctuary to be
kept entirely wild, no animals being
permitted to be killed there, nor any
harm done to trees or plants. Admis-
sion Is gained to the area only by spe-
cial permission, he said. and a scientific
library is to be established to enable
men of learning to study flora and
fauna. Belgian, British. French, Dutch.
Swedish and American savantS will
have q part In the supervision OF the
area.
Prof Henry Fairfield Osborne presi-
- Af q
ural History, and DR.. John c. Merriam,
president of the Carnegie Institution,
who was a guest. are the American
members on the supervisory body, the
Ambassador said.
Mrs johnson told her audience about
her African home In Lake Paradise.
where houses were built out Of logs,
with mud walls and grass roofs. Seeds
from the United States enabled her
to have a splendid flower and vegetable
garden, and she was even able to blanch
celery by having little houses built
over 1t.
She told of personal touches in film
ing big game and shooting animals that
came too close for safety to life and
limb She smoked her first and last
cigarette cheap variety purchased
for the African boys-on buffalo ex-
petition, she declared.
Shooting With Camera.
Many women have asked her about
shooting big game. she explained, but
she pointed out that 1t was quite diff
ferent matter to shoot the wild animals
with a camera, because one has to get
closer for Photographic purposes. The
rhinoceros she characterized as the
nastiest animal in all Of Africa" Her
job, she said. was to keep the bead of
her rife trained on the approaching
wild animals brain. while her husband
turned the crank.
A further insight into Trader Horns
country was given by Mr. johnson, who
gave an Introductory talk and then ex-
planned the films as they were being
shown. The Belgian national forest in
the Congo, he said, is the home Of the
pygmy people and additional study of
these is proposed. as well as research
into the little red buffalo, the pygmy
elephant and the pygmy hippopotamus.
Prominent among the guests were:
Ambassador Paul Claudel of France.
Ambassador Mobile Giacomo de MARITIME
of Italy, Lady Isabella Howard. Mr.. and
Mrs. Joseph Letter, Mr.. and Mrs. Flen-
ing Newbold, Mr.. and Mrs. Newbold
NoyeS, DR.. Leo S. Rowe, director of the
Pan-American Union. the Egyptian
Minister and Nine. Samy Pasha. Louis
Wiley Of the New York Times, Viscount
de LantSheere first secretary Of the en-
bassy; CONSUL General and Mrs. White
" of Baltimore; Secretary and Mrs.
Charles Francis Adams. Wing Com
mander and Mrs. T. @. Hetherington of
the British embassy, and Mr.. and Mrs.
H. II Sims of the British embassy.