Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-29

has certainly maintained this proportion.
One has heard OF the London pickpocket
who. having attempted to snatch DIR. Nan
sens watch was gripped by the young Nor
wegan and held fast with one hand In a
grip so powerful that, as Mr. Balm has re-
lated. his wrist was nearly crushed and
he said that he would rather 90 to Jail for a
month than let that gentleman get hold OF
him again" At Tromso the other day when
at the Feast of Welcome he was proposing
Captain Sverdrups health, he suddenly
lifted his shipmate up and held him aloft
with one arm, so that everybody in the
crowded hall could get a sight of the com
radc, to whom he admits so great an obli-
CATION. And these things are as nothing
compared to the feats of sheer muscular
strength which, with characteristic modesty
are described in his book on THE First
Crossing of Greenland" and in the book
which he is now writing.
NANSENS ANCESTORS.
There is no country in Europe more demo-
cratic than Norway, where, as long since as
1S4S, all titles of nobility were abolished
and II was made a penal ofTense for any to
use such. Yet even in the most democratic
countries the respect of the people will go
out more readily to the man who comes OF
n long line of ancestors. such as for CEN
turtles have distinguished the name of Nan
sen. Thousands of those who shouted them
selves hoarse during his triumphal prog
ress down the coast of Norway and through
the streets OF Christania remembered no
doubt with heightened enthusiasm, the
Hans Nansen-his direct anccstor-who in
the first years of the seventeenth century
n mere lad-eXplored the White sea, sailed
10 Petschora and indeed, with such equip
mcnt as he had. fought as valiant fight
against the ice and the night OF the Arctic
regions as nearly 800 years after his de-
scendant was to do. No doubt his memory
was many times in Fridtjof Nansen's mind,
as he pushed on and on, further and further
north as a spur and an incentive but as
spur and an incentive alone. There can
be few men, II any, who are endowed with
more modesty.
Since his return to Norway. he has never
ceased to put forward what so many OF his
admirers have appeared to forget, that to
his brave companions of the Fran an equal
share of hcnor is due. He has often COM
planned that the rewards allotted to them
are inadequate as compared to those which
he has received. He will not wear his Great
Cross of the order of St Olaf, because his
crew only received a paltry silver medal
apiece. at might at least have been gold
he says and although he Is poor man, for
every kroner he possessed had been Invested
In this enterprise, he found means to sup
plement with large sum the money recon-
penses allowed them by a government which
has not distinguished itself by llberallty.
TRAITS OF CHARACTER.
There was never shown greater modosty
In greater triumph. His attitude Is always
a depreelating one the simplicity OF his
dress has been even commented upon by
malevolent ard Jealous observers, as an
affectaton. Those who knew him have
talked to him. have seen him In his simple
home, see here only another sign of what
next TO his courage is the most salient
trait OF his character, II Is quality which
no doubt he owes to some extent to the
admirable education which he received al
home His father. Baldur Nansen, held
.rHaHsa Nhs "a a.
boys ought to be brought up. For In
stance, 1t was a rule at Store-Froen, that
the boys turn and turn about, should walt
at table They were allowed no luNurles,
but the luxury Of every outdoor sport TIL
he was l6 years old Nansen never received
moro than pence month pocket money
and in every other respect was the boylsh
inclination to self-lndulgence checked and
combated. On the other hand everything
that could develop manllness, self-rellance
and courage was fostered with the greatest
care and attention. Frldtlof was taught 10
swim when he was 4 years old and was