The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-04-13

Inc record OF American attempts at dis
covery and observation In Arctic and Antarctic
ATTITUDES covers half century Ito say nothing
OF some ventures Of relatively little consequence
In colonial times). and flls q multitude OF VOL
umes. some Of which are out OF print Not only
Is tho literature Of the polar researches under
taken by citizens Of the United States exceed
ingly extensive. but no class OF books can be
named that moro imperatively calls for severe
condensation. For the most part they are
padded with an intolerable amount OF YER
biage and the profusion OF Insignificant details.
contrasted with the jejune provision OF
scientific TRUTH recalls Falstaffs bill OF fare.
There Is hardly one OF these long winded mar
ratves that evlnccs even mediocre capacity
for literary composition and all any one Of their
authors has to tell us OF any lasting value
could With profit to the reader be compressed
within single chapter. We are glad to see q
Boston publisher recognize the fact that II
the story Of American discovery in polar
regions is hereafter to be read at all. the whole
Of 1t must be set forth In compact form. show
ing the results. II any. attained BY repeated
sacrifices Of human life. This ia tho aim which
Prof. ]. E. NoURsE has had In view in COM
piling the volume entitled american Erplora-
tons in the Ice Zones I'd. Lothrop h co.,.
In 664 pages the author OF this compen-
ing in the accounts OF the voyages Of De Haven
and Kane. OF Rogers. Hayes. c. F. Hall. and
Schwatka. OF the cruise and loss OF the Jean
nette. and Of the relief expeditions sent out for
De Long. He has also given summary OF the
discoveries made by the Antarctic expedition
under Wilkes. To those who take anything
more than sentimental interest In this SUBJ
ject this book will furnish all the information
they require. and for our part we should have
boon still more grateful to the author had he
packed his materials into half the space.
The reader who scans these pages In tho hope
OF discovering some justification and reward
for the hardships and miseries endured In the
prosecution Of polar exploration will be dis
mayed to see what meagre additions have in
fact. been made to the stock Of scientific truth.
Nobody. OF course. in our day entertains the
ruerllo superstition that anything would be
gained by planting his foot squarely over the
geographical pole. and the notion that north
west passage to China would prove OF any com-
mcrcial value was long ngo abandoned. II we
strip the subject OF the inflated rhetoric with
which 1t Is usually enveloped In narratives
OF attempted discovery. We shall find
that nearly all the information worth
acquiring can be obtained without any
costly and abortive efforts to reach tho north
pole. through the agency Of the meteorological
stations established In pursuance Of the plans
concerted at the International Congress. and
placed at various points Of the eastern and
western continents between the seventeen
and eightieth parallels OF latitude. The
scope and nature OF the desired informa-
ton were defined by tho late Prof.
Henry. who was by NO means disposed to
discourage the expenditure Of money for scien-
tiNc purposes. We need. he said. pendulum
experiments" In the Arctic region In order to
secure "a better determination Of the figure of
the earth." while TO elucidate more fully the
magnetism Of the earth we require larger
number OF and more continued observations"
In northern ATTITUDES than have yet been
made" series Of observations. also. should
be made for at least year In order to complete
our knowledge Of the tides Of the ocean," and
for periecting our knowledge OF the
winds OF tho globe the results OF larger
series OF observations than those wo
now possess are necessary. as we'll
as additional observations on temperature"
Lastly. tho whole field OF natural history
might be enriched by collections In the line OF
botany. mineralogy. geology and facts OF inter-
est with regard to the influence OF extreme
cold on animal and vegetable life." Now, II the
reader. with this programme In mind. reviews
the chapters In which Prof. Nourse sums up
WHAT Has peen ACTUALLY accomplished, he will
hardly be able to resist the conclusion that
many OF the men permitted to direct American
expeditions In the Ice zones were possessed OF
worry inadequate scientific requirements, know
ing neither what to look for nor where to look
for 1t. They seem to have been chiefly occu-
pied In keeping themselves alive. nor have We
tho least desire to reproach them on that score.
but II this Is really about all they are able to
compass. 1t is scarcely worth while to 60 80 far
from home.
While many OF the expeditions despatched
from the United States have added but little to
the worlds stores. and cannot. indeed. he prop
erly said to have been prompted by scientific
aim being organized primarily for purposes OF
rescue. a notable exception is presented In tho
case OF the Antarctic OK explorations conducted by
Lieut. Wilkes. From the several points OF view
OF geography. metsorology. magnetism. nat
ural history botany. and geology this expedi-
ton was rich In results. Why2 Because In
this Instance the exacting and multlfarIous
work OF scientific observation was not left to
men who had simply received the ordinary Cd
uoation Of naval officers or OF practising physl-
clans but was intrusted to q carefully selected
corps OF trained scientists.
Ths Texas Meet e.