The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-06-04
A BIOGRAPHY OF DIR. KANE, BY DIR. ELDER

- ~SASoA@n1o ~ We Ons hhNE, bI Oh. ELDER.
Messrs. Chills& Il Peterson announce that
they will soon publish memoir of the late
DIR. Kane, by DIR. VIM. Elder. This, to
very many persons, on both sides of the
Atlantic, must be gratifying news, and the
forthcoming work will doubtless bo looked
for with lively interest. Certainly no no
bier subject for biography has been fur
n'shed within the present century, and we
are glad to think it has been committed 10
entirely competent hands. The gentleman
who has been engaged to prepare the book
for the press, is not only able to perform
tho task with all desirable literary ability,
but his rare carncstncss of character, and
fitness to appreciate fully the Importance of
the undertaking, afford guarantee that he
will execute it conscientiously, and, there
fore, thoroughly. lie has, we learn, been
furnished with the necessary materials for
his purpose by the family of DR.. Kane,
and by Mr.. Grinncll, Lady Franklin, and
all those who had any available knowl-
edge to contribute. In view, then, of the
completeness of the data supplied, and the
eminent qualifications of DR.. Elder to
mako the best possible use of it, we may
confidently promise that the biography he
employed upon will not only possess the alb
sorbing interest which belongs TO the events
of remarkable life, but be invested with
that additional charm which the most
| vigorous and vivacious style Of narrative
can impart to the heroic incidents of per-
sonal history.
AS regards the need for such memorial
there can, we think, be no doubt Apart
from any qualification it may afford the
Immediate friends and relatives of the de-
ceased, or the curiosity of the age in which
he lived and acted out the marvellous career
of sclf-sacrificing adventure, peril and en-
durance which has won for him wide
and glorious rcnown among his cotempora-
ries, there is a moral significance in SO IL
lustrious life, which requires that it should
be preserved and transmitted for the benc-
fit of posterity. Highly as we estimate the
services that DIR. Kane rendered to science
in his explorations, and the probable results
to which they may yet lead, and much as
we prize the modest, though fascinating
and intelligent record hc has left of his
last expedition, we hold that the chief worth
of all lie has been and all he has done,
consits in the shining examples of human
|
character which lie has bcqueathed to his
race everywhere, and the salutary influence
which that example may continue to exert
on succeeding generations of men. That
is the true, the paramount value of all BIZ
ography that deserves to be written, and
we venture to say that an instance of in
divilual history, comprised within period
of thirty odd years, more deserving of per-
manent record and better fitted to stir
strongly all the springs of virtuous emula-
ton than that of the young Arctic hero, is
not embraced in human annals. The
world knows already the prominent events
OF his latter years. 1t has read in his own
simple narrative tho SCIENCES of thrilling
danger, of severe suffering, and of miracu-
lous fortitude through which he passed in
his devoted search for the lost English
navigators amid the frozen regions of the
pole. But these are but manifestations of
character which make it the moro impor-
tant that VIC should penetrate into and dis
cern the processes and agencies Of educa-
ton which ultimately expanded into and
bore such noble fruit. The man; Therefore,
who, in writing his biography from the be-
| ginning, admits us to a clear familiar view
of the inner life Of DR.. Kane-a view of
tue workings Of bis soul in its growth to-
wards that heroic breadth and depth of
development, that greatness Of proportion
and generous vigor of tone which were re-
vealed in action and achievement, will per.
form work Which alone car enable us to
understand the admirable character and
career which arosthe subject of it, and
make them luminous guide to others who
may aspire to like virtues and like distinc-
ton. Dr.. Elder, we believe, will endeavor
to do this, and our knowledge of his talents
and his zeal assures us that he will salts
factorily accomplish his task. Until the
volume is issued from the press, the impa-
tionce to peruse it will doubtless increase,
and we dare to predict that when received
it will be found one of the most originally
written, most interesting, and practically
useful memoirs ever given to the public.
-Philadelphia Euening Journal.
THE Journey of Gfs.-Ten thousand
human beings set forth together on their
journey. Alter ten years, one-,hird, at
least, have disappeared. 1.-THE middle
point of the common measufs of life; but