WONDERS OF AMERICA

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6633, 12 June 1928, Page 8

WONDERS OF AMERICA

Memoirs of Travel Recalled VIVID DESCRIPTION'S BY MR. MAURICE COHEN. , Outstanding features of Ms recent trip to America were vividly described by Rotarian Maurice Cohen to an entranced audience at yesterday’s meeting of the Palmerston Norm Rotary Club. In opening his remarks the speaker ' said that he proposed to deal briefly .with some of his memories of the Unitled States of America. One outstanding picture, in his memory was that of— The Grand Canyon. ’ | Words failed the speaker in trying to adequately describe one of the grandest works of the Creator. After his arrival at the Eltova Hotel, which [represented a wonderfully gloriliod log cabin, replete with modern comforts, ho and the other tourists were conducted through the ingeniously planted I maze of vegetation which surrounds I the hotel. This plantation gives the tourist the general impression of an 'ordinary garden landscape. Suddenly, j a turn of the pathway reveals the mightly spectacle of the Grand Canyon. [The apparition makes a startling im[pression upon the senses, such as no mere words can adequately portray. This huge vent in the earth is 297 miles 'long and 7000 ft. deep. It varies from 1 a comparatively narrow gorge to about 35 miles in width. Cut through solid 'granite. th : " mightv chasm presents a marvellous variety of scenery. Different i rock formations give the impression that one is looking down upon ranges of mountains. Clouds and variations of sunlight in turn paint the picture in a multitude of varied hues, impossible to describe or produce on canvas. A drive from the hotel along the top affords many different views of this wonder, the total circumference of which is 2000 miles, about twice the distance from New Zealand to Australia. The sudden approach from the surrounding desert to this awe-inspiring snectaelc makes the picture presented all the more vivid. Kansas War Memorial. In Kansas City there was a beautiful war memorial. At the base were the usual inscriptions, then 200 ft. into the air rose a beautiful column of j granite surmounted by a torch. By means of super-heated steam and elec'trie lighting effects during the evenings I the top of the monument was made to 'appear as if surrounded by flickering flames, a'fitting tribute to the unquenchable fire of those who had made the , supremo sacrifice. Washington. The library of America’s capital was one of the most impressive and beauti- ■ ful in the world.

The Capital during the evening was itho centre of electric beams of light i that made this handsome edifice stand out, a thing apart, from the rest of the city. The Bureau of Engineering turned out 70,000,000 postage' stamps daily and 125.000. dollars worth of currency. [Negroes were principally employed in the delicate operations of manufacture. Wonderful Chicago. | On visiting Chicago, 20 years ago, the speaker had received the impression that it was the dirtiest and smelliest town in the whole world. During his recent visit he had been shown all over the city, and was astounded at the transformation wrought by the beautifying of the city. Great schemes wore in progress for connecting Chicago by can cl through the chain of lakes to the >St. Lawrence Elver. This city would then be a huge inland port and was destined to be even larger than the great city of New York. Some Fowl Kanch. In California Mr. Cohen had seen a chicken ranch of 80,000 White Leghorns. Those were automatically fed by an ingenious scheme of small electric railways, conveying hoppers filled with grain. . As a side line, this farmer raised | Angora rabbits,, the furs of which were worth up to £2 each. Besides the skins from similar rabbit ranchls, 300.000. rabbit skins were imported annually from New Zealand and Australia. In some American towns whole 1 streets of furriers were busily engaged in transforming these rabbit furs into the many fashionable, high-priced furs which fashion decreed should be worn by ladies.. At the conclusion of the address, Eotarian J, Murray, president, thanked the speaker for the delightful address he had delivered. He had made his hearers actually live through the scenes of travel depicted and lie hoped on some future occasion to again be present when the speaker related events of his impending tour. A hearty vote of appreciation was carried by acclamation.