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COOK — COOPER

Cook or Hervey Islands, a Polynesian archiIn June 1841 a large meeting was to be held at Loughborough in connexion witb tbis movement, and Cook was pelago lying about the Tropic of Capricorn, some 700 miles struck with the idea of getting the railway company to run south by east of Samoa, mainly between 150°-160°. E. a special train from Leicester to the meeting. The com- long. It comprises ten partly volcanic, partly coralline, pany consented, and on 5th July there were carried 570 islands, the more important of which are Rarotonga, hilly, passengers from Leicester to Loughborough and back at a fertile, and well watered, with several cones 300 to 400 shilling a head. This is believed to be the first publicly- feet high, above which towers the majestic Rarotonga voladvertised excursion train ever run in England—private cano (4000 feet), the culminating point of the archipelago; 44 specials,” reserved for members of institutes and similar Mangaia ( Mangia)] Aitaluki, with luxuriant cocoanut palm bodies, were already in use. The event caused great groves; Atui ( Vatui) ; Mitiero; Mauki; Fenuaiti; and the excitement, and Cook received so many applications to two Hervey islets, which give an alternative name to the organize similar parties that he henceforward deserted group. The total area is 142 square miles, and the wood-turning, while continuing his printing and publishing. population in 1900 was 8400. Owing to its healthy, The summers of the next three years were occupied with equable climate, the archipelago is well suited for Euroexcursions like the first; but in 1845 Cook advertised a pean settlement; but the dangerous fringing coral reefs pleasure-trip on a more extensive scale, from Leicester to render it difficult of access, and it suffers also from the Liverpool and back, with opportunities for visiting the absence of good harbours. The natives, who are of PolyIsle of Man, Dublin, and Welsh coast. A Handbook nesian stock and speech, are nearly all Protestants, and of the Trip to Liverpool was supplied for the use of since 1890 have enjoyed a general Legislature and an travellers. A trip to Scotland followed, and the excur- Executive Council, of which the Arikis (“Kings” and sionists were received in Glasgow with music and salute of “ Queens ”) are members. But all enactments are subject guns. The next great impetus to popular travel was given to the approval of the British Resident at Rarotonga, and by the Great Exhibition of 1851, which Cook helped a British Protectorate, proclaimed in 1888, was followed by 165,000 visitors to attend. On the occasion of the Paris the annexation of the whole archipelago by the Governor exhibition of 1855 there was a Cook’s excursion from of New Zealand in November 1900. Leicester to Calais and back for £1, 10s. The following Cooktown, a seaport in Queensland, Australia, year saw the first grand circular tour in Europe. This part in the county of Banks, at the mouth of the Endeavour of Cook’s activity largely increased after 1863, when the river, about 1050 miles north-west of Brisbane. It is Scottish railway managers broke off their engagements visited by the ocean steamers of several lines, and is the with him, and left him free for more distant enterprise. centre of a very extensive beche de mer and pearl fishery. Switzerland was opened up in 1863, and Italy in 1864. Tin and gold are worked in the district. The population Up to this time “Cook’s tourists” had been personally in 1898 was estimated at 2560. conducted, but now he began to be an agent for the sale of Coolgardie, a town in West Australia, about SIO' English and foreign tickets, the holders of which travelled independently. Switzerland was the first foreign country miles by rail east by north of Perth and Ereemantle, accessible under these conditions, and in 1865 nearly and 528 miles by rail north-east of Albany. Its goldthe whole of Europe was included in the scheme. Its field, now considered a permanent one, was discovered in extension to the United States followed in 1866. For the 1891. In course of time it will probably be connected benefit of visitors to the Paris exhibition, Cook made a with Esperance, the natural port of the goldfield, by fresh departure and leased a hotel there. In the same railway. Its population was estimated in 1898 at 13,000 ; year began his system of 44 hotel-coupons,” providing that of the goldfield at about 30,000. accommodation at a fixed charge. The year 1869 was Cooper, Peter (1791-1883), American manumarked by an extension of Cook’s tours to Palestine, facturer, inventor, and philanthropist, was born in New followed by further developments of travel in the East, his York on 12 th February 1791. As a boy he worked son, J ohn Mason Cook, being appointed in 18/0 agent with his father at hat-making, brewing, and brick-making, of the Khedivial Government for passenger traffic on the and had little opportunity for attending school. At the Nile. The Franco-Prussian war of 1870—71 was expected age of seventeen he was apprenticed to a carriage-builder. to damage the tourist system, but, as a matter of fact, When he became of age he engaged in the manufacture of encouraged it, through the demand for combination, intermachines for shearing cloth, and during the war of 1812 national tickets enabling travellers to reach the south of Europe without crossing the belligerent countries. At the his business was very profitable. Later he took up with termination of the war a party of American freemasons success the manufacture of glue. About 1828 he erected visited Paris under Mr J. M. Cook’s guidance, and became the Canton Iron Works at Baltimore, Md., and in this enterprise laid the foundations of his fortune. In the precursors of the present vast American tourist traffic. designed and constructed the first locomotive built in At the beginning of 1872 Mr J. M. Cook entered into he formal partnership with his father, and the firm first took America. He subsequently sold his works at Baltimore, erected at Philippsburgh, Pa., the largest blast its well-known appellation of Thomas Cook and Son. In and 1882, on the outbreak of Arabi Pasha’s rebellion, Cook and furnaces erected in America up to that time, and enlarged enterprise by purchasing iron mines in the vicinity and Son were commissioned to convey Sir Garnet Wolseley and his building a railway to transport their ore to his furnaces. his suite to Egypt, and to transport the wounded and sick He was actively interested in the laying, of the first up the Nile by water, for which they received the. thanks Atlantic cable. His memory is perpetuated in the Cooper of the War Office. The firm was again employed in 1884 Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, which he to convey General Gordon to the Sudan, and the whole of the founded in New York in 1854. This splendid institution men (18,000) and stores necessary for the expedition after- is designed especially to furnish educational opportunities wards sent to relieve him. In 1889 Cook and Son acquired to the working classes. Its principal features are a free the exclusive right of carrying the mails, specie, soldiers, library and reading-room, lecture courses, and night, and and officials of the Egyptian Government along the Nile. day classes. In the election of 1876 he was the candidate In 1891 the firm celebrated its jubilee, and on 19th July of the National Independent party for the presidency. of the following year Thomas Cook died. He had 4 been He died in New York, 4th April 1883. afflicted with blindness in his declining years. (j. m f.)