The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1894-12-22
AT THE NORTH POLE.
THERE WE WILL FIND TIE FOUN-
TAIN OF PERPETUAL YOUTH.

TAIN OF PERPETUAL YOUTH.
Those Who Want to &c Made Young as
Well As Those who Would Quickly Grow
Older Can Be Acco,nmodated-The Views
of a Well Known Geographer.
There has been much discussion OF
the advantages to accrue to the world
from polar exploration, and while there
is q general agreement among scientific
men that the information to be gained
by it is of sufficient value to warrant
the expense and loss of life incident to
it / am not aware that any direct eco
nomic results have ever been claimed for
it. Certain ideas have, however, recent
~ occurred to me, which point to very
great economic advantages to be attain
ed not only by polar exploration, but
by literally reaching the pole, adyan-
tages SO great that almost any expend-
iture of life and treasure will be war
ranted. l am sure that when these ad-
vantages have been pointed out men and
money will be forthcoming without
stint not only to reach the pole, but to
make tho path to it easy and plain to
tread.
Before going any further / wish to
say that I have no ak to grind. l have
no desire to command an expedition or
to accompany one. My sole object in
publishing these matters is to aid my
fellow men.
All of US have read accounts of the
search made by the S%paniards centuries
ago for the fountain Of perpetual youth,
for those waters which would obliterate
, wrinkles and restore gray hair to its
original hue, give back elasticity to
! the limbs and fire to the eye. Those
! hardy explorers pursued their search in
the wrong quarter of the globe.
We all know that if we travel around
the earth in the direction in which the
sun apparently moves on returning to
the place of departure we find that
we have saved a day; that we are a day
younger than our friends who have re-
manned at home. To go around the
earth on the forty-ffth parallel of lati-
tude requires about go days. Therefore
it is possible In that latitude to save
n day in 60, but as we go northward
the circumference of the earth diminish
es, and it is possible, other things being
equal, to make the journey in less time,
but with each circuit Of the globe, what
ever the length Of the journey, a day is
saved. Near the pole, where the Cir
conference of the earth becomes a mere
trife, perhaps a quarter of a mile, per-
haps 100 yards, a day may be saved in
five minutes, in one minute. Sixty DAYS
may be saved in an hour, a year Of life
in q Gay. A forenoon jaunt around tic
pole will do all that the fountain Of
eternal youth of the old Spanish explor-
ers was expected to accomplish.
But this result, the restoration Of
youth to the aged, is but one of the
useful purposes to which the pole can
be put. Not only the aged, but unrlar.
ried ladies who have passed the first
bloom of youth and have thus ceased tc
attract may here restore their co1neli-
ness, GOV their blooming cheeks and
rounded forms, and thus prepare for 8
second campaign against mems hearts.
But this is not all. 1t is sometimes
an advantage to grow old, and by tax.
ing the opposite course around the polls
we may add years to Our lives in hours.
The fashionable woman is encountered
by young children. She sends them tc
the pole, and they grow up with exceed
ing rapidity. For an hour they are
trundled against the sun in baby car
riages, the next hour they spend upon
their feet, and before the day is passed
they are grown to mems and woren's
estate, and the mother is free of their
charge.
The course of true love does not al
ways run smooth, and many a young
man and woman pledged to one anoth-
er, are prevented by cruel parents from
being joined because of their extreme
youth. A trip to the pole will quickly
remove this difficulty.
So I might go ON and instance hun
dreds of different conditions which
might be remedied were the pole easy
Of access. Many of them readily occur