The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-12-10
PULPIT AND PLATFORM.
ARCTIC EXPLORATIONS.


ture was illustrated by a series OF photograph
| ic views brought upon the screen with great
clearness by means of the magic lantern by
Mr.. Fuller of the Portland Natural History
| Society. The large and intelligent audience
present enjoyed a rare treat Indeed, the lee
ture was graphic and life like picture of that
vast wilderness of ice in the far North. of
which we know very little. The lecture was
enlivened by a number of spicy anecdotes told
by Mr.. Hodson in an inimitably happy style.
The following is an abstract of this most adj
mirable lecture;
I was this morning reading an account in
yesterdays edition of the N. Y. World of the
late Congress of Geographical Societies at
Hamburg at which it was resolved that the
great powers be memoralized to establish per-
manent observatories in the Arctic regions.
1t was suggested that the United States should
undertake two of them, one being at Lady
Franklins Bay, where the discoverer wintered
four years ago. For this reason, and also be-
cause of the work done by Kane, Hayes and
Hall, and because an American Arctic ship is
even now wintering in the eternal ice, the sub
ject of Arctic exploration is one that should
possess the very greatest interest Tor lnhabl-
tantS of this country.
The history of Arctic discoveries date back
thousands of years. would not commit my
self to the novel theory lately broached by
writer in the n Y. Herald that the ArgonautS
were Arctic explorers, but Pythias of Marseilles
undoubtedly reached the ice north OF Iceland
800 B. G. The Norsemen discovered Green
land in the ninth century and their colony
lasted more than 400 years. The Irish and
Morse at the same time discovered North
America. In the Middle Ages such men as
Nicolo Zeno and Nicolas de Lime almost
equalled the feats of modern travellers in the
North. In the 10th and 18th centuries the
English and Dutch seamen strove to reach the
East by the North, Northeast or Northwest
passages. and the names of Davis, Hudson and
Batfin stand forth prominently in the category
of these worthless. Arctic exploration was en-
tered ON with enthusiasm in the present CEN
fury by the English navy. and alter the UNI
happy loss of Franklin and his comrades the
government has expended S35, 900, 600 in search
expeditions. America of late years has taken
position in the list of Northern ex4 lorers, and
the heroic labors OF DR.. Kane are we'll known
to all his cOuntrymen.
The English expedition of 1886 was under
taken by the government to follow up the re-
searches of the American Capt. Hall, who per-
ished in the far North, beyond Smiths Sound,
in the midst of his successes. The expedition
consisted of two ships of the royal navy and
100 officers and men. 1t cost the government
$500, 0O0 The vessels left England May 20,
1875, and after stormy voyage across the
Atlantic at length reached Batfins Bay, and
having visited different Greenland settlements
to take in dogs, Esquimaux dog drivers and
other necessaries proceeded North through
Smiths Sound They with difficulty worked
their way through the surrounding ice and
were more than once within an ace OF being
crushed between closing bergs: The Dlscov-
cry wintered in Lady Franklins Bay; the
Alert proceeding 80 miles further North and
attaining higher latitude than any ship had
ever yet reached. The winter was spent by
the officers in taking magnetic, astronomical
tidal and other observations. The temperature
was duly registered twice in every twenty-four
hours, and once fell as low as 73o. The Arctic
night lasted 142 days and the crews were
amused by plays, concerts, lectures, night
schools and every available means. A paper
was printed from time to time, an ice theatre
and smithy were constructed, ana every
means taken to drive away ldleness ana mel
ancholy. The ships were kept warm inside by
snow heaped around their sides and by small
stoves
In the spring sledge Journeys we're undertaken
the main one from the Alert towards the
North Pole, one towards the West and another
towards the East along the South Greenland
coast. Because of the heavy nature OF the ice
the Northern party only travelled 6O miles
from the ship Yet as they often had to un-
load the sedge which carried their tent, cloth
ing and provisions, and carry the things piece
meal returning again and again, they IN az
travelled 700 miles, going and returning. Ii
they could have done this in a direct line it
would nearly have taken them to the Pole.
One of their men died from scurvy from which
all the party suffered severely and it was with
difficulty that they could reach the ship The
sufferings of the other parties were equally
severe, two of the Greenland party succumb-
ing to scurvy. The Eastern party travelled
the coast line for 200 miles.
Finding that, so far from there being an
open Polar Sea, rs it is constantly covered by
heavy Ice, that no more work could be done
by remaining, and also that the whole Expedi-
ton was weakened by the terrible ravages
of scurvy, the Commander Sir George Nares
resolved to return. The voyage South was
attended by the same difficulties as the North
ern journey, and the Expedition reached Eng
land after seventeen months absence, having
reached $50 20' 30" North-the most Northerly
point ever misunderstanding decided tho char
acter of the Northern Ocean and traced
considerable extent of coast, and having made
extensive and valuable observations of the
Geology fauna and flora of the region visited
in addition to the observations already alluded
to. Prof. Nordenskjold in the Norwegian ship
Vega has Just made the N. E. pass, sailing
from the Atlantic to the Pacific along the 81
berian coast. Mr. Gordon Bennett of the N.
Y Herald last July sent the 'Jeannette" from
San Francisco to the North and she is now
.wintering near Wrangall Land. Capt. How
gate of the signal service, Washington, has
long hoped to establish an observatory IN Lady
Franklin Bay, Lat. 81 dogs. Al MINIS N, and
$500 was voted for that object by Congress
some years ago 1t is much to be wished that
this country should follow up the wish of for
mer explorers in this direction and it is quite
possible that the Jeanette" may attain the
long-wished for pole.
MRS. JARLEY's wAx-woRKs.
We have laughed till our sides ached at the
comicalities of Mrs. farley in Dickens "Old
Curiosity Shop" We turn to it for an even
ing's amusement just as we select the famous
Bardell-Pckwick Trial, because it is one of
the funniest of the great novelist's creation
The scene in the wonderful museum of the
energetic Mrs. farley has been fruitful
source for representation upon the stage. 1t
never fails to be the hit of the day. We have
had here the great and only Mrs. farley in
pas. years and once more on Tuesday night at
the Portland Theatre she will make that.
familiar bow and smile that original smirk
before the public. Her "fggers" have been
carefully painted, puttied and busted and will
90 through their startling and life-like move
ments with all their old-time grace. Who has
not laughed at the dear old lady's astonishing
descriptions and running comments on her
better for it we may add. Notwithstanding
the persistent urging of her numerous patrons
she will come out of her retirement but Tor
one night, and it behooves all to give her
grand reception. she VIII DC aOtenQeu ny ner
old and faithful supernumerary George and
little Nell who will wind up the figures. To
any one who has seen this renowned show
''the delight of the nobility and gentry, a
simple mention that she will az pear is sutfi-
Gent To those who have not, we can only
quote her words of ADVICE
'eIf know'd donkey wot wouldn't go
To see MRS. JARLEY's wax-work show
Do you think I'd acknowledge him?
Then run to Jarley's.
Prof. Morse will lecUure on Japan, Dec. IT.
The committee have ordered only five reserved
sea IS is be sold to each settee, thus securing
plenty of room for the listeners to laugh in.
g rhe Origin and Influence of the Leading
Determinations of Christians will be the
sui. ,,ect of Rev. Mr.. Dalton's lecture this even
ing in ST. Lawrence street church The lee
tule is free to all.
Chaplain McCabe will deliver his celebrated
lect are on the bright Side of Life in Libby
Prison." at City Hall, Thursday evening.
MUbIC AND THE DRAMA.
THE LILIPUTS.