, 1884-12-25
AN ARCrlC cnRIsrMAs DINNER.


From the Current.
1t was Christmas Eve in Grinnell Land,
as in all the world beside. The tempera-
ture was moderate for the season, ranging
from twenty-five to thirty degrees below
the zero Of Fahrenheit. For two days,
however, 4 severe storm Of high wind and
drifting snow had prevailed, rendering our
usual out-ofdoor e~xercise difficult and
dangerous. For seventy days the cheer
less gloom and darkness Of the long Arctic
night had been upon us. leaving their i'm
press in the shape of failing appetites,
fading color and depressed spirits. Now
more than ever came to our minds 4 sense
Of isolation and a remembrance of that
world from which We we're separated by
long and dreary expanses Of ice and snow.
But Christmas Eve had come and it
was time to bestir ourselves and, in a
spirit Of unison with our fellow-men, pre-
pare to celebrate the Advent of our Lord.
Amidst the storm and gloom and darkness
of this day we had made shift to do honor
to the birthday of one of our party-Cor-
poral Saler-but would storm and wind
allay and give us a brighter Christmas =?
This was the question which disturbed
our minds.
At noon. to our great delight, the wind
fell and a few hours later, the snowy
clouds vanished as IL by magic and once
again the starry beauties of the polar
Heaven shone forth in all their glory.
This sudden change spoke well for the
morrow and gave new vigor TO Sergeants
Rice and Brainard, who had set their
hearts upon a fitting celebration of the
coming day. They asked the use Of all
flags, banners and other decorative arti-
cles, intimating at the same TING that my
absence from the mems quarters until 6
p. M. was desirable. At that hour, en-
tering the mems quarters, the results of
their work stood disclosed. The bright
flags, neat banners andgay guidons were
tastefully arranged and presented a
marked and delightful .atrast to the
smoke begrimed walls aud ceiling. In
the most prominent place was hung an
afghan, whose alterations of snowy
wilderness and crimson color were broken
by various devices in delicate needle work.
Its golden anchor of hope, its silver
horseshoe Of luck, its white lilies of pur-
ity, its sweet violets of remembrance, its
polar star and its cross Of faith, were to
us.all emblems ever dear. Wrought by
loving hands in other chimes, its first use
fitness served to cheer and brighten our
lonely Arctic quarters on this Christmas
eve.
After a pleasant and careful inspection
Of the decorations and genial comments on
the care and taste displayed, the distribu-
ton Of our Christmas gifts came in order.
Unfortunately we could not conform to
traditional customs, for the Christmas
tree was wanting. A thorough search the
previous Autumn had satisfied us hat all
Grinnell Land contained but a single liv-
ing variety of shrub or tree-the Arctic
willow. Tho largest specimen of it by US
was but a creeping shrub. as thick as ones
thumb and about a foot in length. So
we were content to distribute our gifts in
a more prosaic manner. Our stock Of
presents was not large. The greater part
of them had been contributed through the
kindness Of a lady in New York city, who,
although ~unacquainted with any member
OF the expedition, had with considerable
thoughtfulness, forwarded some little gift
for each one of the party. The present
for Lieutenant Kislingbury, when opened,
caused considerable merriment, it being a
little wooden dog. IL ELECTED from the
Lieutenant a question to Private Schneid-
err. which has been often heard in lower
ATTITUDES; "Ah, Schneider, don't you
want to buy a dOg2" The appropriate
ness of the remark lay in the fast that
Schneider had devoted himself to the
Eskimo puppies and was then caring es-
pecially for two litter Of them. The
officers mess was the recipient of an ex-
cellent imitation Of an Irish potato. The
commanding officer received a fan, which
was hardly needed to recall the climes for
which it was made. The presents for the
men nearly always included pipes or
tobacco, with the addition of books, states,
pencils, wristlets, etc. Sergeant Rice
thought il an adverse fate which sent to
him-a non-smoker-a pouch filled with
a goodly quantity of the weed. Sergeant
Gardiner was greatly delighted and sur
prised by receiving from his sister a com
forter knit BY her hands. Others who had
been the recipients OF appropriate pres
ents for their outfit on leaving the United
States, somewhat cnvied Gardiner his
Christmas gift from home. A handsome
rug, sent for one Of the men who had
been ordered back in the steamer Proteus,
in 1881, was disposed of by rattle and fell
to Corporal Ellison. The distribution Of
these gifts was made by Sergeant Rice,
who, in presenting them, added IN each
instance a few words Of congratulation or
well meant badinage rs best beitted the
individual.
The gifts from the commanding officer
were now in order. T~wentv-four cans Of
uniform size, numbered from one upwards
were set out on the table and disposed Of
by chance. The highest throw had ist
choice and selected q number which en-
titled him to the corresponding can. As
with Portals sealed Baskets, the privilege
Of external examination was granted and
as in that case where weighty gold and
shining silver lost the prize, so here the
heavier and more attractive cans were not
always the most valuable. In general the