The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-07-08

respoAd. He aid it was quite change
TO switch off from abstract calculations
as to the number of candles needed to
make the band happy during the winter,
or the precise weight Of lead needed to
stop polar bear, to the consideration of
the demands of an occasion like this.
We can take it for granted that an Arc
tic expedition has great charms for us
all. Nine out of ten persons ask first,
s'What is the good?' If you measure by
the almighty dollar, there is no good.
When the idea of finding the Northwest
passage was given, up, the objects of
Arctic exploration became purely scien-
tific. Men wish to know the physical
condition of every square mile of this
globe. just what valuable results will
flow [ cannot say now; but believe
that they will be many.
The principal geographical result of
the last expedition was the determining
that Greenland is an island. The object
Eof this expedition is to explore the land
masses seen by us lying in the ocean
north of the Greenland coast. If those
land masses shall reach far enough we
may penetrate to the location of the
pole. We also wish to explore 800 miles
Of the coast of Greenland that have not
yet been surveyed. AS third object
will be the determination of the trans
verse glacial profile of the country, and
after that the further study of that Won
derful tribe of natives the Arctic High
landers, probably the oldest race on this
hemisphere. They are nearest of all
| men to the primal man. They live on
flesh alone, have neither salt, nor pepper,
nor tobacco. They drink only water
and dress in skins. We shall take with
us a photograph, and when / return I
| shall be able to show you photographs
of these people and reproduce for YOU
| their conversation.
In closing, he expressed his apprecia-
| ton of the courtesy extended him in his
| old home, the city of SO many pleasant
associations for him.
| Mr.. Guptill next said: We have with
| us gentlemen whom we all delight to
honor, our Congressman,
Hon. Thomas b. Reed.
Mr.. Reed was cordially received with
loud applause. He said he could con-
graduate his hearers upon one auspic-
ious thing, that this was an informal oc-
casion, and therefore he should not in
| flict prepared speech to be d cross to
those present and read by people not
present AS citizen of Portland, said
Mr.. Reed, I am glad to help out any
thing that the city of Portland wishes to
| do or attain; and l am glad to honor a
Portland citizen and graduate of Port
land High School. Applause I do
not anticipate that the Lieutenant ex-
/ poets the easiest times in his northern
station; but he may not be the most I'M
fortunate of men. By the time he ar
rives at his destination, shall have ar
rived at mine. While he is going North
to be happy, | am going South to be
be surrounded by those simple natives,
men Of primal race, am to go South
to be surrounded by Democrats, whom
everone knows are children of wrath.
loud laughter and applause If he
came here for sympathy | think l am en-
titled to more than he. Laughter.
| Ever since I read Kane's exploration I
have been interested In the gallant strug-
| giles of those who have endeavored to
enlarge the boundaries of human knowl-
edge. They have had not only the
honor OF contributing to the fund of
human knowledge, but also the pleasure
of recalling their hardships, as Trolans
of old, after they had escaped the united
wrath of the sea and the gods. The
things we are glad to remember are not
always the happy things; but the hard
ships. We delight in recalling the ten
sion of muscle and nerve caused by
carrying on our endeavors; and | unite
with you all in congratulating Lieutenant
Peary. not only for the scientific knowl-
| edge which he will bring back, but also
for the memories which will be delight
| full to him as man of action and of
thought. Loud applause.l
| DR.. Vincent was next introduced as
the surgeon of the party. He said that
| if his achievements up north could
equal his embarrassments here, he