Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1857-07-30
A BIOGRAPHY OF DIR. KANE BY DIR,
ELDER.

Messs. Cbilds & Peterson announce that they
will soon publish memoir ofthe fate of DIR. Kane,
by Dr.. William Elder. This to many persons, on
both sides OF the Atlantic, must be. gratifying
news, and tho forthcoming work will doubtless be
looked for with likely interest Certainly no no
ber subject for biography has been furnished
i, witAin the present century, aud wo are glad to
think it has been committed to entirely compe-
tent hands. The gentleman who has been enga-
ged to prepare 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 exc
cute it coaScencousy, and, therefore, thoroughly.
| lie has, we learn, been furnished with the neces-
sqry materials for hi' purpose by the family of DIR.
Kane, and by Mr. Grinne Lady Franklin, and
all those who bad any available knowledge to
contribute. In view, then, of the completeness
of the data supplied, and the eminent qualfca-
tons of DR. Elder to the best possible use of it,
we may confidently promise that the biography
he is employed upon, will no. only possess the ab-
sorbng interest which belongs to the events of
very remarkable life. but be einyestod with that ad
ditiona charm which the most vigorous and viva.
cious style Of narrative can impart to the heroic
incidents of personal history
As regards the need of such memorial, there
can, we Think be no doubt. Apart tlom any
qualification it may afford the immediate friends
and relatives OF the deceased or the curiosity of the
age in which lie lived and acted out of the mar.
veous career of self sacrificing adventure, peril and
endurance which has won for him wide and glo-
rious renown among his contemporaries there is
a moral significance in 20 illuStrious life, which
requires that should be preserved and transmitted
for the benefit Of posterity. Highly as we esti.
mate the services that DR.. Kane rendered to sci.
ence in his explorations, and the profitable results
to which they may yet lead, and much as we
prize the modest, though fascinating and intelli-
gent 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 be has bequeathed to
his race everywhere, and the salutary influence
which that example may continue to exert on sue.
ceding generations Of men. That is the true, the
paramount value Of all biograpy that deserves to
be written, and we venture to say, that an instance
of individual history, comprised within period Of
thirty odd years, more deserving 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 an.
nals. The world knows already the prominent
events Of his latter years. 1t has read in his own
simple narrative the scenes oftErilling danger, Of
severe suffering, aud OF mhacuous fortitude
through which he passed in his devoted search for
the lost English nayigators amid the frozen. re-
gions of the pole. But ,hese arc but manifesto.
ions Of character which make it the more impor-
tant that we should penetrate into and descern the
processes and agencies of education which ulti.
mately expanded into and bore such noble fruit.
The man, therefore, who, is writing his biogra.
ply from the beginning, admits us to clear, ia
miar view of the inner life of DR.. Kaue--a view
of the workings Of his soul in its growth towards
thst heroic breadth and depth of Development,
that greatness of proportion aud generous Yigor of
tone which were revealed in action aud achieve.
ment will perform work which alone can epa.
Gle us to understand the admirable character and
career whicl, are the subject of it, aud make
thema luminous guide to Others who may aspire
to like virtues and like distinction. DR.. Elder,
we believe, will thdeavor to do this, and our
knowledge of his talents and bis zeal assures us
that he will satisfactorily accomplish his task. =
Until the volume IS issued from the press, the
mpatience to peruse it will doubtless increase, and
we dare to predict, that when received, it will be
found one of the mos. originally written, most in
teyestng, and prac' icalIy useful memoirs ever
given TO the pubhc,- Phlade}pkia EveaiaG
Jomaoi, ' ae- r ~
. ~ y