Evening star., 1936-01-19
MINUTIAE OFART HIS SPECIALITY
Russell Hastings Mward Explorer, Has Combed World
for Smallest Specimens of Mans Artistic Handiwork-
Hobby Has Grown Out of Varied Scientific Travel

countless countries abroad, with the
most famous of the worlds soldiers
Of f-fortune (including being poisoned
in Guatemala with Dick Marston.
one of the best known of these ad.
venturers), and who is an active
member, despite his So years, Of AZ
international organizations. These
include explorers clubs, the old Aero
Club of America, Royal Geographical
Society and Royal society-clubs in
Belgium, Italy, France, England, as
we'll as America.
Now, after a time "in pasture"
as he explains, he is becoming rest
less once more. Before Spring, ne
plans another expedition this time
with complete moving picture ap-
paratus, into the heart of the Maya
country, where he is already much
at home, in Yucatan. This Winter
he is to lecture again with the Geo.
graphic Players, group of explorers
and adventures under the guidance
of Lowell Thomas. Already he has
been with them since their inception,
lecturing widely Very possibly he
will speak in Washington early next
year.
THREE huge, closely filled volumes
of press clippings, kept by his
wife, testify rather thoroughly 10
Mlllwards wanderings ard adyen-
lures about the globe. In hap
hazard fashion they tell how he
feels about the whole business. but
in the words of others. When pre-
vailed upon to talk about it all him.
self, this is what he said:
To-day commercial explorers are
sent into many fields by governments.
corporations and individuals with but
two motives: Commercial power and
profit. Corporations do not send men
on exploring expeditions in search of
fiction. These explorers are not re-
lated to the numerous types of tour.
lists adventures. missionaries and car
window scientists, many of whom take
a particular delight in classifying
themselves as explorers, and who
return home with almost unbeliev.
able tales of hardship and soul-stir-
ring experiences.
Contrary TO general belief, COM
mercial explorers have a very def
mite plan to follow, and no gaesswork
will be tolerated by their employers.
They are sent on well outlined and
systematized missions and they must.
at all times, maintain their activi-
ties upon a confidential, successful and
paving basis. Corporations, direct
ing the duties OF field representa-
tive, assume that an explorer who
knows his business is cagey enough
to avoid becoming victim of any
unusual difficulties or suffering.
There is not supposed to be any
occasion for adventures. thrills. ro-
mances or unnecessary interludes. His
Job is to go places-get results-and
keep his mouth shut. His task be-
comes one of daily monotonous rou.
tine.
The work consists of measuring
and charting the project under con-
sideration and determining the eX-
tent and value of any commercial OPP
portunties offered for exploitation.
Enormous sums are spent in these
operations and corporations will go
to great lengths to expand their sup
ply of raw materials and increase
their prestige in the markets Of the
world. There seems to be no limit TO
expenditures. Projects will be kept
in motion just so long as they remain
profitable. The only mystery involved
in these undertakings is the obvious
necessity of preventing valuable i'll
formation from getting into the hands
of competitors.
f "NITHOUT sense of humor the
life of commercial explorer
would be extremely dull and uninter-
esting. When he is at home-which
is seldom-trying to spend a few
quiet weeks with his family getting
acquainted, he is constantly besieged
by relatives, friends and curious
minded neighbors, who have much
advice and many suggestions to offer.
Despite a natural aversion to talking
| shop or admitting anything irregular
in his program, he will permit wild
ideas to filter into his mind. He will
return to the field with all sorts OF
hopes and plans of discovering some
/ thing unusual.
/ "On numerous occasions I have
been afflicted with just such reactions.
! and it has been difficult to resist the
\ temptation of wandering from the
path of duty. During return voyages
to the field, as I paced the prone
made decks of steamers, my thoughts
would be frequently diverted by over
enthusiastic but well-meaning fellow
passengers who were gifted with glori-
GUS imaginations. They would insist
upon reminding me Of the wonderful
opportunities I had at my disposal.
For instance, it would be repeatedly
suggested that, somewhere in this
world, there existed a fascinating
colony of wild and beautiful blond
women, and who knows, they would
persist. you may be the lucky one to
find them The fact that man did
not have to wander far from his own
freside to discover wild and beautiful
blond women seemed to make little
difference.
TRAvEL1NG statesmen, engaged
in peddling typewriters, sewing
machines, fountain pens and firearms,
were the worst offenders. They were
thoroughly converted to the teach
ings of Nick Carter and other similar
dime novel heroes. They would tell
the time-worn fairly tales OF the
white stone horse that Cortez was
supposed to have thrown into the
Lake Of Peten, of the priceless old
treasures hidden by the Incas, of the
ancient gold p1ines of the Mayas and
Aztecs. with their endless supply Of