The National tribune., 1886-02-04
CIRCUMPOLAR RESEARCH.
Comrade Greely's Book on Life in Arctic Ice Fields
About TO De Issued.

To THE EDITOR: The work on which Lieut.
Greedy has been occupied so long is at last
almost ready for sale. On Feb I6 Charles
Scribner's Sons will have it ready for the public.
1t will be brought out in two large volumes of
500 pages EACH The price is $40 for the set
Both volumes will be delivered together
Lieut. Greedy has begun his work with a
sketch of previous Arctic expeditions and the
results accomplished by them. This is treated
somewhat extensively. He gives a brief his
tory OF the International Union, in whose serv-
ice he established himself at Fort Conger in
Lady Franklin Bay. All the European Gov
ernments had sent their expeditions to establish
the circuit of posts from which they could lay
siege upon the North Pole Some Govern
ments, including the United States, had two
posts, but Fort Conger was the farthest north
of all. Lieut. Greedy dwells especially upon
the expedition Of Sir George Mares, who win
tered near his own quarters. Then follows a
description of life at the fort, how the observa-
tions were made, what occupied the time
and the minds of the men, their dsappoint-
ments as the second year rolled ON and no ship
appeared, and especially narratives of the eX
petitions that were made, including that of
Lieut.. Lockwood, who reached the most north
erly point ever known. Thrilling adventures
and perilous escapes make the history Of the
retreat the most exciting part of the narrative.
Then the tone of the work becomes more sol
emn. Tales of adventures cease. A few thoughts
of Lieut.. Greedy, the simple diaries of himself
and his men-these make up mournful rec
ord. The narrative ends with the arrival of
the relief expedition.
From beginning to end the subject is dealt
with eXhaustively. Especially is this the case in
the scientific parts of the work These are
mingled to some extent in the narrative in such
a way as not to weary the general reader. The
purely technical scientific facts and the tables
of observations are, however, relocated to
numerous appendices, where they can be taken
unauthorized So far as the illustrations are
concerned, their accuracy will give them z.
claim to superior value to any previously pub
lished in books OF Arctic exploration. The rea-
sons of this are simple. The negatives of the
photographs which were taken by Rice, the
photographer of the party, were preserved and
brought home intact. This has never been the
case before in any Of the extreme Arctic expe-
ditions. Lieut.. Greedy set great store upon
them, and every precaution was taken to guard
them, even in the days at Cape Sabine. The
photographs have been completed from these
negatives, and the finest wood engravings made
directly from the photographs These are
numerous in the books, but ill addition there
are some sketches which would, perhaps be
called fancy" though they were made under
Lieut.. Greely's immediate supervision.
The title of the work is, like the author, very
modest: "Three Years of Arctic Service" A
fine steel portrait of the author-who is, in
deed, a handsome, intellectual-looking man
faces the title page.
1t is quite certain that many members of the
Grand Army of the Republic will take special
interest in Lieut.. Greelys book, for he is one
Of the noble army of its 100000 members Post
Lafayette, 140, Department of New York, to
which he belongs, desiring to honor their fell
low member, comes to the front with the first
subscription for u set to be bound "as hand
somely as can be made" We heartily wish
that many members, of the Grand Army may
follow the example Of Post Lafayette.
Lieut.. Greedy will receive a copyright roy
atty Oh every volume sold. He has earned,
what he ought to receive through the sale of
his book, fortune and if the members of the
Grand Army recognize his heroic services and
one-half the merits of his book, he will surely
reap rich harvest.4J. III. G.