Travel Talks

              1908
TRAVEL TALKS
BY
FORD E. SAMUEL

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Seldom does one hear so young a lecturer give such a finished, artistic lecture as the one heard yesterday.  The speaker is full of the enthusiasm of youth, and combines with this enthusiasm a power of observation and an original viewpoint that rob his lectures of all that dusty dryness so frequently found in lectures of this kind.—
Fresno Republican


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ILLUSTRATED BY RARE STEREOPTICON
VIEWS MADE FROM ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS




Figure

Introductory
Address
all communications to
FORD E. SAMUEL
1519 Central Avenue
Alameda, Cal.
Telephone Alameda 408

ON entering upon his second season, Mr. Ford E. Samuel presents his Illustrated Travel Talks to the public with the feeling that they will please and be a valuable addition to any entertainment or educational course.  They have, without exception, been remarkably well received by every one of the many prominent organizations before which they have been delivered, as evidenced by the numerous requests for return dates.

Mr. Samuel made his world tour in 1907–08 for the purpose of study, and, being an expert photographer, also secured many hundreds of rare and beautiful photographs.  The Lectures are compiled, therefore, from fresh, up-to-date material, while the pictures are an education within themselves.

Mr. Samuel believes that the value of an illustrated lecture depends greatly upon the lecture itself.  He believes that it should be of the very highest literary merit—not merely crude, desultory remarks patched together to describe the pictures on the screen.  It should be equal to any address delivered in a lighted auditorium.  The pictures should illustrate the lecture, and not the lecture illustrate the pictures, and, as one press comment states, Mr. Samuel's pictures are wisely chosen and illustrate in a continuous story the talk which accompanies them.

No expense has been spared in preparing these lectures for the public.  Mr. Samuel has been fortunate in securing the services of an artist who is famed on two continents for her artistic slide coloring.  His stereopticon is of the finest dissolving type, fitted with several sets of lenses to adapt it to halls of any size, while his operator cannot be surpassed for competency and experience.




WANDERINGS ALONG THE EQUATOR
AN ILLUSTRATED LECTURE   By FORD E. SAMUEL

This is one of Mr. Samuel's most popular lectures.  It begins with the harbor of Hong Kong, from which the audience is carried on a sea voyage to the Island of Ceylon, touching en route at Singapore and Penang.  Life on the ocean wave is most graphically and charmingly depicted, and the natives of the tropics, their homes and their industries are all vividly portrayed, as well as the wonderful vegetation and varied and picturesque scenery.

The greater part of the lecture deals with the Island of Ceylon.  Perhaps no other country visited by Mr. Samuel offers a better pictorial field, for the people and their customs are strange and interesting, and the scenes beautiful beyond description.  The island is recognized as one of the most attractive spots on the globe, and has been well termed the Paradise of the Tropics and the Eden of the Eastern Wave.


PICTURESQUE ROAD, CEYLON



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PART I.—The Harbor of Hong Kong—Six unique views illustrating the rise of a typhoon on the day of our departure (1) Kowloon Ferry, (2) View from our balcony, (3) The steamer Delhi in the harbor, (4) Sampans along shore, (5) Small crafts in the harbor, (6) Tropical mist settling over the city—A ship at sea—Marine view—Sunset at sea—Moonlight on the ocean—Playing shuffleboard—Playing deck quoits—Resting on deck—Singapore Harbor—Home of Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation—Panorama of Singapore—A gharry—Maylay shopkeepers River entrance—A Singapore Chinaman—Native boys at Penang—Penang cocoanut pluckers—Hindoo temple and waterfall—Native brig in full sail off coast of Ceylon—Colombo Harbor—Large wave dashing against breakwater On the breakwater—Steel derrick and lighthouses at entrance—The clock tower—Native fishing boats at sundown—The Delhi in Colombo harbor—Busy scene on the dock—Statue of Queen Victoria—A busy street scene—Grand Oriental Hotel—Gaul Face Hotel—Early tea at the Grand Oriental—A snake charmer—Snake worshipping—Street scene near Grand Oriental Hotel—Shopkeepers—A jinrikisha—Cab drawn by bullocks—A racing bullock—A freight cart—Coolies with carrying chair.


LAKE SCENE.


PART II.—Colombo street scene—Modern transportation—Residence of European—Native hut in palm jungle—A palm plantation—Cocoanut palms—River barge in course of construction—The lecturer in the cinnamon gardens—A banyan tree—Picturesque road scene—Native huts—Native girl with jewelry—Almost silver plated—Slave Island—Native woman—Native girl and small child—Another type of costume—Natives resting under a tree—Rodillas—Native barber—Picturesque temple—Hindoo plowing with team of bullocks—Hindoo temple—Crowd of Hindoos on tea plantation—Coffee plant—General view of tea estate—Series of seven interesting views on a tea plantation (1) Factory and tea shoot, (2) Withering room, (3) Rolling tea, (4) Weighing tea, (5) Firing and sifting tea, (6) Tea chest factory, (7) Shipping offices—A native laundry—Group of dhobies or washermen—Natives washing clothes by beating on rocks in lake—Native boys bathing—Curiosity—Singhalese man with hair down—Pettah market—Native fruit stand—Ceylon fruits—The Kalani River—Victoria bridge—Railroad along sea coast—A precipice on railroad from Colombo to Kandy—Veddahs, or wild men of the woods—Elephants—General view of Kandy—The lake—Main street in Kandy—Native Kandian woman—Road bordering the lake—Temple of Sacred Tooth—Road to Botanical Gardens—A cocoa tree—Entrance to Botanical Gardens—Tropical Vegetation—Our party and guide in gardens—The Palm Avenue—Chinese bamboo—Adam's Peak.



Projecting by MR. A. L. RADER


STREET SCENE, COLOMBO.






SIGHTS AND SCENES OF INDIA
AN ILLUSTRATED LECTURE   By FORD E. SAMUEL


STREET SCENE, CALCUTTA.


In this interesting and instructive letcure Mr. Samuel wisely confines himself to three cities of Eastern India, instead of skimming over the entire surface of the country.

He begins with his arrival at Calcutta and shows many pictures of that most interesting city, with its modern buildings, fine parks, and myriads of natives and foreigners in distinctive costumes thronging the streets.  The wonderful tropical vegetation of the Royal Botanical Gardens is graphically depicted, while, historically, the marble tablet marking the site of the Black Hole is one of the slides that interests.

From Calcutta the audience is carried on to the village of Darjeeling in the heart of the Himalayan Mountains, over the tiniest and crookedest railway in the world, views of which are shown.  At Darjeeling Mr. Samuel obtained photographs of the highest mountain peaks in the world, as well as many pictures of strange and interesting people.

Passing on to the sacred city of Benares, views are shown of the innumerable temples, shrines and

GENERAL VIEW OF BENARES.
 mosques, and the stone steps leading to the sacred waters of the Ganges, crowded with picturesque bathers.  Benares is one of the most ancient cities on the globe, and Mr. Samuel gives many interesting touches of historical value concerning it, and describes in considerable detail the queer religious customs and ceremonies of the Hindoos.  One press comment states: A set of five snapshots taken by Mr. Samuel of the cremation of a body at one of the 'burning ghats' on the banks of the River Ganges was probably unique, the pictures only being obtained after he had experienced a great deal of personal annoyance in the course of his operations.


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PART I.—Introductory slide—Shipping on the Ganges—Map of India—General view of Calcutta—The Government House—A busy street scene—Native barber—View from our hotel window—Park scene with new postoffice in background—Site of Black Hole—Statue of Warren Hastings—A gorgeously decorated Jain temple—Native woman with jewelry—Miss Simplicity—Street scene—Largest pontoon bridge in the world—Natives bathing in sacred River Ganges—Native hut with thatched roof—Hut on piles—Our party in Calcutta's Botanical Gardens—The Palm Avenue—The great banyan tree, largest in the world

DARJEELING NATIVES.
 —Under the banyan tree—The plant house—Indian railroad yards—Crookedest railroad in the world—Zigzagging up the mountain side—A loop in the road—General view of Darjeeling—Coolies with carrying chair—Buddhist priest with praying reel—Praying flags on hill—Native woman with jewelry—Group of bejeweled women—Coolies carrying heavy burdens—Two little ragamuffins—Market place on week day—Market place on Sunday—A tea plantation—Picturesque road—Cliff road—Cane suspension bridge—Glorious sunrise over Darjeeling and snow covered mountains—Mt. Kinchinjinga—Mt. Kinchinjinga through morning mist—Distant view of Mt. Everest—Clinging houses—Those silvery peaks!

PART II.—General view of Benares—Excavations at site of ancient Benares—An outdoor museum—The giant tope—Natives churning—Fuel gatherers—Crude mud huts—Abject poverty—A professional beggar—Starving natives—Woman with water jug—A bihistie, or native water carrier—A road sprinkler—Bathing ghats on the Ganges—Piers and umbrellas—Among the bathers—Along the river bank—The Golden Temple—Innumerable bathers—The burning ghat—Series of six very rare views illustrating the cremation of a body (1) Lowering body in river for last sacred bath, (2) Waiting for the funeral pyre, (3) Body on pyre, (4) Widow lighting pyre, (5) Attendants watching the burning, (6) Pyre in smoke—Preparing a dead priest for burial in river—Among the temples—Ourangzeb's Mosque—A fakir sitting on bed of spikes—The Monkey Temple—Maharaja's palace from the river—Our party on an elephant—Elephant lifting pile—The Taj Mahal—Marble screenwork in palace at Delhi—Bailey Gate at Lucknow—General view of Bombay—Good Night.

Projecting by MR. A. L. RADER.





India's Historical and Architectural Monuments
AN ILLUSTRATED LECTURE   By FORD E. SAMUEL

This lecture can either be given separately, or as a sequel to Sights and Scenes of India.  In it Mr. Samuel deals with the cities of Western India, where the principal attractions are beautiful

BAILEY GATE, LUCKNOW.
 architectural relics of a time when the country was rich, ruled over by monarchs who lived in almost fabulous luxury and splendor.  The buildings are so strange, and yet so beautiful, that the monotony one would naturally expect in a lecture on such a subject is entirely absent.  Mr. Samuel also shows many famous battle scarred landmarks of the Indian Mutiny, one of the bloodiest conflicts of modern times, and tells many historical incidents and anecdotes that hold the interest of his audience from start to finish.

He does not confine himself to architecture and history alone, however, but also carries his audience through the native quarters of the cities visited, illustrating the manners and customs of the Indian people.

The cities described are Bombay, Jeypore, Delhi, Agra, Cawnpore and Lucknow.


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PART I.—General view of Bombay—A street in Bombay—The harbor—Taj Mahal Hotel—Municipal Building—Victoria Station—Library and Clock Tower—Street in native quarter—Statue of a Parsi—Parsi Fire Temple—Group of Parsi men—A Parsi lady—Tower of Silence—Fiendish vultures awaiting their prey—Exterior of Elephanta Caves—Interior of Elephanta Caves—Mud hut near Jeypore—Jeypore's main street—The market place—Tame pigeons at market place—Hall of the Winds—Albert Hall—Maharaja's city palace—Ruins on the way to Amber—Elephant riding—Our party riding in bullock cart—Amber, a deserted city—The lake—The Maharaja's summer palace—The glass palace—General view of Delhi—Mohammedan quarter—Street scene—The Jumma Musjid or Great Mosque—Interior view of Jumma Musjid—Four interesting views of Mohammedan congregation worshipping in Jumma Masjid (1) Worshippers assembling, (2) Worshippers standing up, (3) Bending over, (4) Kneeling down—A rare photograph taken at Mecca and smuggled out by a Mohammedan pilgrim—The Kutab Minar—Elephant Gate, an entrance to the fortress at Delhi—Indian Sepoys—Hall of Private Audience—Marble screen—Peacock Throne Room—Hall of Public Audience—The great Akbar's Tomb and surrounding garden—Near view of tomb—Akbar's marble sarcophagus—Native poverty—Mud huts—Bullocks drawing water—Primitive irrigation.

PART II.—An entrance to the fortress at Delhi—Kashmir Gate, a shot riddled landmark of the Indian Mutiny—Statue of General Nicholson—Memorial Gardens at Cawnpore—Interior of Memorial Church—Portrait of Nana Sahib, from an old engraving—Bithoor, the home of Nana—Scene of the Massacre at Cawnpore—The Massacre, from an old engraving—Exterior of Memorial Well—Interior of Memorial Well—The sorrowing angel—General view of Lucknow—Our guide—Tombs of Fifth King and Queen of Oudh—The Residency—Defense of Lucknow, from an old engraving—Relief of Lucknow, from an old engraving—The Bailey Gate—Shot shattered ruins—The old mosque—Grave of General Lawrence—The fort at Agra—Entrance to the fort—Exterior of Pearl Mosque—Interior of Pearl Mosque—Hall of Public Audience—A bit of cornice—Hall of Private Audience—Marble screen work—Apartments of Lalla Rookh—Tomb of Lalla Rookh's parents—Entrance to tomb—Lalla Rookh's marble bath—The Jasmine Tower—Distant view of Taj Mahal from fort—Gateway to Taj Gardens—Taj from gateway—The garden—Nearing the entrance—Interior view—Close view showing inlaid work—A corner of entrance vestibule—Delicate carving—The marble screen—Taj from the river—Taj by moonlight.

Projecting by MR. A. L. RADER.


THE TAJ MAHAL.






ROUND ABOUT JERUSALEM.
AN ILLUSTRATED LECTURE   By FORD E. SAMUEL


STREET SCENE, JERUSALEM


This lecture is illustrated by some 140 views, and requires about an hour and ten minutes for delivery.  It is a novel one, for the audience looks not through the eyes of a theologian or an old traveler, but through the eyes of a young student who has made every inch of the way speak with interest.  It includes Jaffa, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Bethany, Jericho, the Dead Sea and the River Jordan.  The Mt. of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and many other such places are shown and described, all teeming with interest because of the traditions that cling about them.  Mr. Samuel also endeavors to give an insight into the life and customs of the present inhabitants by introducing many street scenes and pictures of the people and their industries.

The lecture is interesting from an historical point of view, as well as from a religious standpoint,

THE MOUNT OF OLIVES.
 making it appropriate not only for clubs and societies, but also for churches.


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PART I.—Introductory slide—LEONARDO DA VINCI'S, THE LAST SUPPER—Jaffa from the sea—Through the rocks—Beyond the breakers—Market place at Jaffa—Street scene—Orange grove—Oldest wall in Jaffa—Looking seaward from roof of house of Simon the Tanner—Courtyard of Simon's house—As the mountains are round about Jerusalem—Railroad station at Jerusalem—First view of Jerusalem—Sunrise over the city the next morning—Off for Jericho—Native hut—Group of Arabs—Peasants—Veiled Mohammedan women—Peasant women—Group of lepers—Bedouins—Grinding corn—An thousand hills—Herd of sheep—Herd of goats—View of Bethany—Camels—Apostles' Spring—Our party at Good Samaritan Inn—First glimpse of Jordan Plain—A hedge of thorns—Site of Joshua's Jericho—Mt. of the Temptation—Elisha's Spring—The Jordan Plain—Arab praying in desert—The Dead Sea—Our party at Dead Sea—The River Jordan—Site of Christ's baptism—Gilgal—Camel train from beyond Jordan going up mountain pass—Bethany again—Tomb of Lazarus—House of Mary and Martha—Jerusalem from Bethany Road.

PART II.—Jerusalem from Mt. of Olives at sunset—Inside Jaffa Gate—Panorama looking east from steeple of German Lutheran Church—Looking north—Gordon's Calvary—Domes of Church of Holy Sepulchre—HOFMANN'S, CHRIST ON THE WAY TO GOLGOTHA—Most interesting half acre on earth—Another panorama—Five beautiful masterpieces of art (1) GUIDO RENI'S, ECCE HOMO, (2) GUIDO RENI'S, CRUCIFIXION, (3) DANIELE da VOLTERRA'S, DESCENT FROM THE

GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE.
 CROSS, (4) RAPHAEL'S ENTOMBMENT, (5) HOFMANN'S, THE ASCENSION—The Holy City—Trinket sellers outside Church of Holy Sepulchre—Entrance to church—Pilgrims kissing pillars at entrance before going inside—Closed for the night—Turkish soldiers—Four interior views (1) Site of Calvary, (2) Chapel of Finding of Cross, (3) Front view of Holy Sepulchre, (4) Side view of Holy Sepulchre—Damascus Gate—Tower of David—Gate of Christ's Triumphal Entry—PLOCKHURST'S, CHRIST'S ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM—Our party in Valley of Jehoshaphat—Junction of Valleys of Jehoshaphat and Hinnom—Zion Gate—Room of Last Supper—Camel train resting outside Damascus Gate—An Arab coffee house—Rich merchant smoking Turkish pipe—An Arab shop—Sheep market—Arabs bargaining—In the heart of the city—Baking bread on hot stones—Churning butter in a goat's skin—A street scene—An underground street—A street of steps—Jerusalem beggars—Jerusalem Jewesses—A money lender—Jew of the old type—Jew of the present type—Jews' Wailing Place—Cotton Gate—Exterior of Mosque of Omar—Interior of Mosque of Omar—The Holy Rock—Tower of Antonio—Mosque of Aksa—Solomon's stables—Mt. of Olives—Garden of Gethsemane—Venerable olive tree—HOFMANN'S, CHRIST IN GETHSEMANE—Via Dolorosa—Ecce Homo Arch—ANTONIO CISERI'S, BEHOLD THE MAN!—Distant view of Bethlehem—Tomb of Rachael—Russian women pilgrims—Russian men pilgrims—Panorama of Bethlehem—Bethlehem girl—Bethlehem woman—Interior of Church of Nativity—Chapel of the Nativity—Chapel of the Manger—Crowds at Bethlehem on Greek Christmas Eve—Shepherds' field—PLOCKHURST'S, ANGELS APPEARING TO SHEPHERDS—Jerusalem street scene—Last view of Jerusalem at sunset.



Projecting by MR. A. L. RADER.

N. B.—IF THE ORGANIZATION CHOOSING THIS LECTURE CAN ARRANGE TO HAVE SOMEONE SING THE HOLY CITY AT THE END OF THE TALK, THE OPERATOR WILL ILLUSTRATE IT WITH TWELVE BEAUTIFULLY COLORED ART SLIDES SPECIALLY OBTAINED FOR THE PURPOSE.  THIS FEATURE IS NOT A NECESSITY.  BUT IT GIVES AN EXCELLENT FINISHING TOUCH TO THE ENTERTAINMENT.





WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID
FOR LACK OF SPACE ONLY A VERY FEW OF THE MANY TESTIMONIALS AND PRESS COMMENTS IN REGARD TO MR. SAMUEL'S WORK CAN BE HERE INCORPORATED.
OTHERS FURNISHED ON APPLICATION.


While in a certain sense travel is a pleasure and a recreation, Mr. Samuel evidently made his world tour a busy workshop.  He traveled with both eyes open, studying the manners, customs, laws, institutions and religions of the people of the world.  His lecture was fresh, catchy and highly entertaining, abounding with stereopticon views developed from photos taken by his own camera.  He has a good command of English, a pleasing address, and a voice of fine carrying power.  During the more than an hour required for the delivery of his lecture, there was not one dull moment.—
Pacific Methodist Advocate.

Your lecture excited most favorable comment, being of a highly interesting and instructive nature.  The pictures shown were also beautiful and interesting, and your entire apparatus for showing them most perfect and complete.

MAX HORWINSKI, Chairman Entertainment Committee, Oakland Lodge of Elks.


It is quite evident that excellent judgment, a capacity for careful work and a breezy style form the foundation of his talk, while the beauty of the pictures are unsurpassed and the apparatus for showing them is complete in every detail.
Mr. Samuel does not bore his audience with a heterogenous mass of material that one can as readily get from reading, but rather gives a personal impression tinged with touches of humor and pathos that hold the interest of his audience through a talk of considerable length.—

Fresno Republican.

Your lecture on Round About Jerusalem is of a deep religious nature, and one which I would recommend to pastors for Sabbath service.  Your style is very pleasing, your diction excellent, and the monotony of the usual illustrated lecture entirely absent in your case.

W. H. REEDY, General Secretary Y. M. C. A., University of California.


So greatly pleased were the Unitarian Club members with the illustrated lecture by Ford E. Samuel, that Mr. Samuel was asked to give another lecture early next season.—
Alameda Argus.

You showed a thorough knowledge of your subject, and told your story in a delightfully interesting way.  Your lecture, as well as the stereopticon views which you showed were received with much favor by our students, and I hope to have you give another lecture to them before long.

M. E. DAILEY, President State Normal School, San Jose.


Though only a small portion of the many interesting things done by the traveler could be discussed in the time taken for the lecture, those present felt for the time transported by the clear description of the different scenes set before them to those very scenes.  A distinct element in the success of this lecturer is his simple and direct style, and the clearness and carrying quality of his voice, which he uses without strain or effort.—
Alameda Argus.


The Ford E. Samuel lecture given at the Outdoor Art Club proved a most interesting and instructive discourse.  Mr. Samuel is a good talker, and his stereopticon views are rare and extremely interesting—
Mill Valley Record-Enterprise.

I desire to congratulate you on the splendid manner in which you presented the subject, and the fine views used in illustrating your lecture.  It seemed to be the enthusiastic opinion of all present that it was one of the most pleasant evenings ever spent in our Temple, and, on behalf of Berkeley Commandery No. 42, K. T., I sincerely thank you for contributing so ably and acceptably to the evening's enjoyment of our members and their ladies.

C. S. MERRILL, Treas. Berkeley Com. No. 42, Knights Templar.


Mr. Samuel's lecture was most entertaining.  He had the genius to see what was interesting in other lands, and in other people, and his point of view was most unique.  The lecture was beautifully illustrated with superb lantern slides—
Oakland Tribune.

I hear but one word from those who attended your lecture on the Holy Land in the First Congregational Church last night, and that is a word of high praise.  All were delighted.  And, whether consciously or unconsciously, all, I am sure, were inspired to nobler things.

I could wish that every congregation in the State might have the privilege you afforded our people, with pictures so beautiful, and descriptions so graphic of The Land and The Book.

Your pictures were sermons.  Your lecture an intellectual treat.

LOYAL L. WIRT, Asst. Pastor, First Congregational Church, Oakland.


Those who heard Mr. Samuel last evening speak of the accuracy of his information, his power of description, the beauty of his voice, and the dramatic power which he displays in his humorous mood and description of people.—
Alameda Times.

As to the educational merits of your discourse there was no room for question, nor for the interest which you sustained throughout the talk, and the total absence of dryness and unpalatable, statistical figures.  The mechanical effects, too, were all that could be desired, and individually, and as an organization, we look forward to some time in the near future when you can take us through some other country visited in the course of your travels, in the same interesting and entertaining manner.

KENNETH A. MILLICAN, Sec'y Oakland Chap. American Inst. Bankers.


Mr. Samuel speaks distinctly in an ordinary conversational tone, bringing in just enough of the personal to make the scenes alive, and enough of the historical to make the audience see things in their true relation.  It is to be hoped that Stockton can again be taken abroad with Mr. Samuel—
Stockton Evening Record.

I am very glad to commend you to any who are interested in lectures and travel talks.  Your lecture on India given in our course last winter was one of the best of the series.  The views are not those ordinarily seen, and your power of description and pleasing way of telling the story make the lecture of unusual interest.

F. A. JACKSON, General Secretary Berkeley Y.M.C.A.


The Ford E. Samuel lecture before the Adelphian Club was one of the most informing, interesting, indeed fascinating offerings ever set before the Club.  Mr. Samuel's very unusual photographs and lantern made India appear in many of its little understood phases, right here in a darkened auditorium.  Mr. Samuel's most agreeable voice is no small part of his personal success, and his entire equipment is a prophecy for eminence in that particular line—
Alameda Times.