White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1857-08-13
A Biography Of Or. Kane by d. Eldsr.

A Biography Of Dr.. Kane By Dr.. Elder.
Messrs. Child 4 Peterson announce
that they viii soon publish memoir Of
the late DR.. Kane, by DR.. VIM. Elder.
This, to very many persons, on both sides
of the Atlantic, must be gratifying news,
and the forthcoming work will doubtless
be looked for with lively interest. Ger
tainly no nobler subject for biography has
been furnished within the present century
and we sre glad to think it has been com.
mitted to entirely competent hands. The
gentleman who has been engaged to pre-
pare the book for the press, is not only
able to perform the task with all desirable
literary ability, but his rare earnestness
of character, and fitness to appreciate
fully the importance of the undertaking,
afford guarantee that he viii execute it
eonscientiously, and, therefore thoroughly.
He has, we learn, been furnished with the
necessary materials for his purpose by the
family of DR.. Kane, and by Or. Grinnell,
Lady Franklin, aHd all those who had
any available knowledge to contribute. In
view, then, of the completeness of the
data supplied, and the eminent quali6ca-
tions of Dr. Elder to make the best posi-
bic use Of it, we may confidently prom
Use that the biography he is employed
upon, will not only possess the absorbing
interest which belongs to the events of a
very remarkable life, but be invested with
that additional charm which the most
vigorous and vivscious style Of narrative
can impart to the heroic incidents Of per-
sonal history.
As regards the need for such memo
rial, there can, we think, be no doubt.
Apart from any qualification It may afford
the immediate friends and relatives of the
deceased, or the curiosity of the age in
which he lived and acted out the marvel
lous career of self-sacrifcing adventure.
peril and endurance which has won for
him wide and glorious renown among
his contemporaries, there is moral sig
nifcance in so illustrious a life, which re-
quires that it should be preserved and
transmitted for the benefit of posterity.
Highly as we estimate the services that
DR.. Kane rendered to science in his ex-
plorations, and the probable results.to
which they may yet lead, and much as we
prize the modest though fascinating and
intelligent record he has left of his last
expedition, we hold that the chief worth
Of all he has been and all he has done,
consists in the shining example of human
character which he has bequeathed to his
race everywhere, and the salutary inhu-
ence which that example may continue
to exert on succeeding generations of men.
That is the true, the paramount value of
all biography that deserves to be written,
and we venture to say, that an instance of
individual history, comprised within a
period of thirty odd years, more deser-
wing of permanent record and better fitted
to stir strongly all the springs Of virtuous
emulation, than that of the young Arctic
hero, is not embraced in human annals.
The world knows already the prominent
events Of his later years. 1t has read in
his own simple narrative the scenes of
thrilling danger, of severe suffering, and
of miraculous fortitude through which he
passed in his devoted search for the lost
English nsvigators amid the frozen re-
gions of the pole. But these are but
manifestations of character which make
it the more important that we should
penetrate into and discern the processes
and agencies of education which ulti-
mately expanded into and bore snch no
bic fruit. The man, therefore, who, in
writing his biography, from the begin
ming, admits US to a clear, familiar view
of the inner life of DR.. Kane-a view of
the workings of his soul in its growth
towards that heroic breadth and depth of
development, that greatness of proper
ton and generous vigor of tone which
were revealed in action and achievement,
will perform a work which alone can en-
able us to understand the admirable char
acter and career which are the subject of
it, and make them a luminous guide to
others who may aspire to like virtues and
like distinction. DR.. Elder, we believe,
will endeavor. to do this, and our know
ledge of his talents and his ZEAL assures
rs that he will satisfactorily accomplish
his task. Until the volume is issued from
the press, the impotence to peruse it will
doubtless increase, and we dare to pre-
dict, that when received, it will be found
one of the most originally written, most
interesting, and practically useful memoirs
ever given to the public.-Pha. Evening
To.,~a1J