The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1871-01-11
Ghe 8nl!gtin.
LIFE AT THE SOUTH POLE.
NV xununI ordeal

The Land Of stro & aiannnrhs sing
lar Annual Ordcai.
Bv the arrival Of the good ,hip W asp,
C,p;,in jenkins, who has boon sailing 10
the vicinity Of the noN South Continent
AVS the New York Globe, some startling
peuuliarites of the jewellers at the anti
podse arc brought to light IL is again Ia
be remarked. however, tina. human nature
maintains its most striking peculiart e'
all the world over. Only change The
costume, climate, traditions, AID the age
and almost precisely the same idiosyn-
crscies noticeable in one race will bciound
cropping out luxuriously in all the others
Thus though the inhabitants Of the An
tafctic region, designated "Spooiake, ' oHs
their Hcsh raw, and VI possible VINO IN
alive, vet in their manner Of heePinG
festive occasions their practices are wonuer
fully like our own In tboirannuai lestlNh'
entitled the .New SEASON., everybody IL
expected 10 keep open house fo' the entire
dsy. and all who enter habtation are
booked for nj least a "tobah labout ten
poundsl Of meat, and dobah near hall
q rallonl Of liquor. If the visitor fail. to
appropriate at least this amount he i
ever after regarded as outlawed--a man OF
neither power nor roliance--in short. he
Is said TO hI,oa weak stomach. Tho
greatest pains are taken from carly child
hood 10 brace the digestive organs in every
conceivable way so that when the annual
festival comes off, the yodng. men may
conduct Themselves with becoming Dig
nifty. For week before the great day no
solid food whatever Is eaten, and the
greatest labor is spent in Preparing large
quantities both of solids and liquids for
the browning tete. Not only must the
young men DO able to bolt at least the
amount specified, but they mus, be able -
carry IL away gracefully. 80 wonderfully
do they succeed in training their stomachs
that often young man is seen
walking away from neighbors
house with AT least forty pounds more sub
stance slowed awfy beneath his lockers
than when he entered the hospi,able bar
Dor. Unless man devours the stipulated
quantity, Re is considered disrespectful TO
the hostess, and is thenceforth regarded IA
an enemy. During the year when
youngster gives any sign of weakness, the
cry Is Immediately raised. Hell never
stand the New Season So dire is the
fear of not being able to come safely out
Of this ordeal. that often the day after the
festival individuals are found lying IN OBJ
scure pieces literally burs,cd open from
head to foot During the day they are ox-
pected TO visit all the prin ipal magna,cs
OF the village, and at each place an i'm.
mense plate Of meat and pitcher Of
"tungbec Oiquor) Is placed before them.
The old men Of the village they are
called old at the age Of twenty-seven, rs
The stomach soon breaks down on account
OF the tremendous strain remain n, home
with their wives 10 receive the pallants.
II Is the object Of the young man, no mnt-
ter how he feels, TO keep up an appearance
OF the most exuberant spirits, and even
when of'e. ed his 70 ,tieth plate Of meat. and
ditto "tungbee," his "point' u TO appear
~ though his appetite still retained the
kee.sst edge. Often when the poor fellow
Il At his last gasp, and feels "thc feather
10 approaching which will break the cam
els back" he takes tho blue goblet iron
the hand Of q simpering Hcbc, and with
heavenly display Of ivory aud roll @
the eyes rs IL "ho heard an an angel sing,
gulps the stirring humber and backs grace
fully from the rancho. For two week
After the great festival, all the young iaol
Who have survived the ordeal ARE TO b
found secluded in the neighboring cave,
while in every direction the miserabl
wrecks Of those who attempted 10 bc he
rocs, but failed, are 10 be seen strewcd owe
the hills and fields. Unlike our own glo
rious land Of the bars and stars. stomach
here Is everything