The New York herald., 1879-11-17
LITER A TURE.
The Early Life and Arctic Voyages
Of Nordensk kjold.
A SCIENTIFIC MORSE FAMILY.
Notes from the World of Books
and Authors.

NoRDENsKJoLD's LIFE AND VOYAGES.
''The Arctic Voyages of Adolf Erik Nordenskjold.
1s5sls79" is the title of handsomely printed vol
of 400 pages octave illustrated and literally sup
piled with well made maps of polar region countries.
But 1t strikes that its title is likely to mslead the
reading public Put forth at this particular period'
book with title given above is almost certain
to be regarded including full record OF the LAST
famous voyage Of the Swedish exporer-as Nor
denskj0ds own record Of his discovery of the North
east Passage. or at least record made from MS
material by some authorized person. How couia
1t be otherwise when q book which pre-
tends to give an account OF Nordensk-
53ld's "Arctio Voyages announces on its
title page the voyage of ..1s79" as Of those in
cluded in the chronicle? With what zestnaturalists
and geographers-the world Of persons interested in
polar and in general scientific problems Will seze
this handsome volume. and how their prehensile
fances will anticipate q rich banquet upon the OBJ
servations OF nature in new world OF man whose
competence to comprehend and honestly set down
what he sees is recognized. But the book is not at
all what 1t will be imagined to be- 1t does not con-
tain word OF what tho world hopes to see in Nor
denskj3ds story 1t states it is true the origin
OF the last expedition. and gives account Of 1t
to the time which it beset in the ce the points
of that outline which was sent overland from the
ship and which is familiarly known already.
This fact of its character clearly understood the
book may be commended as one likely to have much
interest for what it really does contains well
digesed narrative Of the past life and earlier ctiv
ties Of man who has suddenly become famous
Famous men are apt in this age particularly. to be
men who were unknown to the world day before
yesterday. and this is true from Nordenskj0ld to
Bismarck, and when an unknown man dawns upon
the world the foremost agent in some great
achievement. there is legitimate curiosity to 60
behind his greatness and to trace HIM from his ORR
gin up to his zenith. Adolf Erik Nordenskjold is
Finn. and born at the Finnish capital. Helsng-
fors the 18th of November, 1882. He WILL there's
fore, tomorrow have completed his forty-seventh
year. Since 1858 he has been identified with nine
Arctic expeditions the old scandinavian sea-rangng
blood urging him into the tide of adventure.
couple OF years ago he wrote an entertaining au-
photography, which Mr.. Alexander Leslie. the COM
piler of the present volume has drawn upon largely
to give good idea Of the life in youth OF his hero.
An ancestor of the great explorer. who settled in
Finland, named Nordberg. His son. Johann
Erik. changed the name to Nordenberg about 1860.
He credited with practising the black art by
the enlightened people Of his day, but was in reality
merely close student of nature Thus it will be
that two centuries since the scientific bent Of
the family was declared. In 1710. when the plague
devastating Finland he adopted the strange pre-
caution Of taking his entire family on board vessel
loaded with provisions and cruised about in the open
sea for months, keeping clear of the land, to which
he did not return until the beginning of ILL.,
when the plague had disappeared. Here too. the
student of heredity may perceive the spirit which
takes out in the long Arctic expeditions when
year two of life in the icy solitudes is matter
OF course. Johann Erik's two sons were members
Of the Swedish Academy of Sciences. Both were
al
eestor Of ell the Nordenskj0ld families in Sweden
and Finland One Of his sons settled at Frugord.
where he built him strange residence. which still
remains in the possession of the family. IN the
middle Of this house Is hall two stories high.
AROUND the upper part Of which runs broad gal
tcry, In which collections in natural history
arranged They were sturdy. shifty, studious,
travelling brood these Nordenskj0lds. and we ind
Of them in trouble with the Finnish Church
for proposing o union Of all Christian churches
and FOR being concerned in the surrend der
Of Tavastehers in the of 1742 An
uncle Of the explorer was jealous alchemist, and
united with this passionate advocacy of the aboli
ton of slavery. He died Sierra Leone. In Africa.
Of injuries received from the blacks during at
tempt at colonization. undertaken with view to
form free negro State-curious place to hnd
Finn. but singularly in the old Morse vein. Nils
Gustaf Nordenskj0ld the explorers father. born
in 1792 and became Of the leading mineraogists
Of Europe. journeying all over Europe and as far
east as the Ural Mountains. He published q great
many scientific works, was made Councillor Of
State and received many distinctions from foreign
governments. It amid such scientific surround.
ings aud family traditions that young Adolf Erik
Nordenskj0ld began first TO look around him in the
world. The strange old Morse home. with its cabi-
nets. and stuffed animals was his nur-
mothers milk. No wonder that as boy he was
collector of minerals and insects. After studying
time with private tutor he was sent to tho
gymnasium (academy) at Borgo. For the first year,
finding himself free. he worry idle and
marked "unsatisfactory" in nearly tho whole of the
subjects studied Next year. however, he did better.
and year later QS49 rs tho result OF o veritable
school strke." he left Borgo and entered tine Uni
versity of Hesingfors In 1863 he passed his exam.
nation and made tour through Russia. and return
ing on the outbreak OF tho Crnean devoted him.
self to study. pubshg insoveral papers OF Finnish
minerals and mollusks. and obtaining two scientific
government posts. with small salary attached to
one. These however. he lost through mock politi-
cal speech made ut tavern at Th0lo. where himself
and Q number of young companions were cele-
brating by dinner their combined fate
days. In order to understand how politics
concerned that remote place 1t must be
remembered that Finland since its forced union
with Russia In 1909 has enjoyed certain relics OF the
old constitutional rights which were common to all
territories ruled by Sweden. Tho Firms still
look lovingly to Stockholm instead of to st. Peters
burg. and Russia has found 1t hopeless task to
crush tho outspoken spirit Of its subjects in tho
Northwest. While Poland is called the Ireland OF
Russia, Finland stands toward It about Scotland
did to England hundred years ago; not strongly
loyal, but only sentimcntaly disoyal. So the boys
were reported to the Russian Governor. grim dis
ciplinarian named Won Berg. who did not under
stand FREQ speech in any Of the dominons Of the
Cxar. Nordenskj0d was already known to Won Berg
as ono Of band who had driven student spy out
of the university. and the young man. as he puts
II. "aot double dismissal without further cere-
mony." This was In 1856. and the offence was max