AMONG THE ALPS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 99, 27 April 1923, Page 5

AMONG THE ALPS

MR. JULIAN GRANDE'S LECTURE.

The qualities of a journalist, of a lecturer, and of an adventurer in the open spaces of the world are combined to aunique degree in Mr. Julian Grande Last night, at the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall, a large audience waE introduced to him as\a lecturer, and went away fully appreciative of his abilities as such, and also as a photographer. His lecture was entitled "Alpine Ascents and Adventures," and was illustrated by a series of remarkable slides made from photographs taken by Mr. Grande himself. Mr. Grande's discourse was sufficiently graphic for his hearers to picture the beauties and- the dangers of adventures in the alps of Switzerland, and even New Zealand, but what he said was merely supplementary to the truly magnificent views thrown on the screen.

Mr. Grande, by way of introduction, emphasised the fact that all the principle peaks in the alps had been conquered by the British. Why was it? A famous friend, of his had answered: "Because we are British; because we are the cream of the earth and must reach the top." Mr. Grande dwelt for some time on the preparations necessary for a successful climber, and stressed the need for possessing a climber's sole—depicted as a substantial pair of boots. "And this suspicious bottle," he said, pointing to a picture, "contains nothing stronger than cold tea. No climber can climb mountains on spirits." He enlarged upon the joys of climbing—the strange sensation of passing through the four seasons of the year within 24 hours, the carpet of alpine flowers which is.trampled upon to the accompaniment of regrets. He told of a start from the hut on the mountainside in pitch dark at 1 a.m., lanterns alight. One was inclined to exclaim, with Shakespeare, "What fools we mortals be." But when the sun shone it was a different story. He led his audience along difficult but wonderful paths to a mountain summit. He did not pass lightly over the dan; gers of the self-set task, but the feeling at the top was one of ecstacy— no words could describe it. Perhaps Mr. Grande was right, but his picture was certainly impressive. Nature is a wonderful architect, and the lecturer pictured its great amphitheatres in the alps, in New Zealand as well as in Europe. His photograph of the Franz Josef. Glacier was warmly applauded. Mr. Grande was never dull, and the more practical side of his lecture was enlivened with humorous anecdotes touching on the remarkable adventures of his own, of other enthusiastic climbers, of people wh.o.climb mountains per the mountain railway, and of the "land scratchers." The latter sometimes get as far as the furthest hotel, 'or else make nuisances of themselves in the huts—by discussing the qualities of the cheese and snoring. In a more serious turn of mind Mr. Grande described a sunrise from the top of the alps. The audience was clearly convinced of the enchantment of the picture that rewarded him for his trouble.

The lecture was concluded at 9.30 o'clock, and the audience appeared loath to leave. To-night Mr. Grande's subject will be: "My Wanderings in Arabia."