Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-10-11
Exploring the Unknown.

associates from their Arctic expedi
ton, with a confession of failure and
a story of terrible privation and mar
row escape from death, adds another
to the long list of such attempts and
disappointments. Taking them all
in all, it is doubtful if their results
are worth the suffering they have
cost. That they have added some
thing to geographical knowledge Is
true; but it is Of little or no practical
value, and if it had remained con
cealed in the icy fastness of the
frozen north it would have been just
as serviceable to the world. There
is certain qualification of curiosity
in the tales told by these intrepid
adventures with regard to distant
and mysterious regions; but the IN
formation is not such as represents
an adequate compensation for the
associated labors, perils and sacrl-
fees. 1t is protitless to the world at
large to know that the northern Dor
der of Greenland is covered with an
icy cap several thousand feet in thick
ness; that travelling in that region is
extremely hazardous; that certain
bodies of water up there have given
dimensions, ard that there is really
nothing to be found in the prevail
ing desolation that anybody wants.
This is all that there is to show for
the money spent and lives lost IN
Arctic exploration, and II is unreason'
able to claim that 4 conclusion so
senseless and useless is a justification
in the case.
1t is easy to say that these explor-
ers of the unknown have displayed
qualities of high courage and forti-
tude, and have been animated by
motives Of creditable order, and 1t
is true that no blame is TO be attrlb-
uted to them in the respect OF manly
and consistent devotion to an ideal.
They have borne all sorts of hard
ships and exposed themselves to all
sorts of dangers in search of the rap
ture of discovery. Many have re-
turned horribly mutilated by the re,
morseless cruelty Of the winter that
they encountered; others have re-
NAMED, absorbed into the eternal
silence of the north land, victims OF
their own ambitious temerity. There
is infinite pathos in the records OF
their journeyings and their suffer
ings, the stormy vicissitudes through
which they passed, the days OF be
numbing cold and gnawing hunger
the solemn and empty nights, wher
all that was left them was the privel
eye to pray. In several instances
they were saved as by miracle. Or
at least one occasion (the Jeanette
expedition starvation was averteC
only by canniballsm. These things
are a part of the literature of hero
ism and unhinching pursuit OF
chosen object, and the names o.
those who invaded the solitude of th'
Arctic region are held in tender re
membrance. But, after all, was /
worth while? Was it not waste o
energy, and a misdirection of en-
deavor that might have been turned
to better account?
There is nothing to be said III dis
paragement of the spirit of inqulr.
and venturesomeness TO which tn
world is indebted for the greater par
of its geographical and scientif
knowledge. Many signal and usefu
discoveries have been made by zeal
Gus explorers of the unknown, tena
cious searchers after the APPARENT
impossible; and it will not do L
question the sounduess of all enter
prizes of this kind. The particula
task Of trying TO reach the Mort
POLE, however, has been in progres
so long, and has yielded so little, tia
it may properly be characterized a
piece of folly, Notwithstanding tn
examples of bravery and enduranc
that it has furnished for our admir'
ton and inspiration. There are othC
and more advantageous forms of Sc
vice for those who wish to earn di
tinction and to promote the interest
of civilization. When so man
wrongs are to be righted, so man
misfortunes are TO be alleviated, s
many good causes are to be chan
pioned, it is certainly not wise
divert talent and effort to the sol
ton of the Arctic problems. III
fascination to which men are draw
in that direction is itself a mystel
like that to which it leads, and tho
who feel it seem TO find it irresistibl
but there is reason TO believe tn
they might discern more prohtab
opportunities for their powers, al
achieve a fame that stands for pra
tical benefit TO the world.