The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-06-17
WHAT BAYARD TAYLOR THINKS OF TRAVEL
LING IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS


Bayard Taylor has returned TO Stockholm from his
northern trip, and in letter to the Tribune dated Feb
ruary IT, thus up the relative pleasure of travel in
the Arctic and in tropical zones
- precisely two months since our departure in
December, and in that time had performed journey
Of 1900 miles, $50 Of which by reindeer and near
y 500 inside OF the Arctic Circle Our frozen had
peeled off, and the skin showed signs of the dam
age they had sustanedso that had come of the
tight not only without scar but with marked increase
of robust vitality.
81 must confess however, that interesting as the
journey has been, and happily have endured its
posure. should not wish TO make it again. Ii is well
to sec the North, after the South; but there
one who visits the tropics WITHOUT longing after to
return again, imagine there is no one who having
seen winter inside the Arctic Circle would wish to
see another In spite of the warm gorgeous and ever
changing play Of color lowering the path of the
seen sunn spite OF the dazzling auroa dances and the
magical TRANSPORTATION of the oressthe absence of true
daylight and of all signs warmth and life exercises
last depressing influence the spirits The snow
beautiful while the sunrise setting illumination lasts
wears CHASTITY monotony at all other times, and the
air, 80 exhiarating, even at the lowest temperature
becomes enemy to be kept out when you know his
terrible power TO benumb and destroy.
10 the native OF warmer zone this presence of
unseen destructive force in Nature weighs like night
mare upon the mind The inhabitants of the North also
seem to undergo species of Information well the
animals Nearly half their time is passed in sleep they
arc silent in comparison with the natives of the other
OF Is little eNuDerant Rayety ana
cheerulness but patience indifference, apathy almost
Aspects of nature which appear to be hostile to often
develop and bring into play his best energies but there
are others which depress and paralyze his powers am
convinced that the extreme North like the tropics is
favorable to the best mental and physical condition of the
human race The proper zone of man lies between 80
and SO deg north.
$40 who has not unusual capacity to enjoy the
experiences of varied travel should not recommend
such journey. With me the realization of a long-che
ished DESIRE the of novelty the opportunity for
rastng extremes and the interest with which the peo
pie inspired me, far ouweighed all Inconvenience and
privaons. In fact, was not fully of the gloom
and cold in which had lived until returned far enough
southwark to enjoy eight hours OF sunshine and tenn
perature above the freezing point 1t second birth
into living world Although had experienced little
positive suffering from the intense cold except the
turn from Muonovara to Haparanda bodies had al
ready accommodated themselves to low temperature,
and the sudden transition to 80 deg above
upon us like the warmth of June.
Mr.. friend. DIR. Kane, described to the COM
fort he felt when the mercury to deg below Zero
making it pleasant to be on deck The circumstance
then incomprehensibe to me- but is now quite plain
also realize the terrible suerngs of himself and his
men, exposed to storm in temperature of Az deg
when the degree of cold with very light wind
turned my own blood to ice.
Most Of physical sensations relative, and the
mere enumeration of 80 many degrees of heat cold
gives no idea of their effect upon the system, should
have frozen ut home last winter at temperature which
found very comfortable in Lapand with my solid diet
OF meat ana Duter ana my garments OF reindeer The
following is correct scale Of the physical effect Of cold
calculated for the latitude Of 65 deg to 40 deg north
" 10 deg. above zero-Unpeasantly
tZero--Mid and agreeable.
" 10 deg. below zero Pleasantly fresh and bracing
g 20 deg. below sharp but not severely cold
Keep your fingers and toes in notion and rub your
occasionally.
" 80 deg. below Very cold take particular care
of your and exremitics cat the attest food and
plenty of it.
40 deg. below-Intensely cold keep awake at all
hazards mufe up to the eyes, and test your circulation
frequently that it may not stop somewhere before you
know It.
" so deg. beow--A struggle for life