The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1896-08-20
A PICTURE OF THE ARCTIC RE-
GIoNs IN SUMMER.
Not Realm of Ice and Snow, but n
Land of Butterfiies, Bees and Mos
quitoes-A Climate for Four Months
Hardly to BE EquaIIed Elsewhere.

Just now every one thinks more or
less Of the Arctic regions. The world
is yet wondering concerning Nansen.
An intrepid balloonist is sailing for the
pole. An antipodal interest centers in
our recent visitor, Borchegrevink. who
goes with an Antarctic party from Lon
don in September. Other expeditions
are being organized or promulgated.
While we are .gasping in the ener-
waiting heat of July's sun. we may
think enviously Of those whose homes
are in the far North. Truly they are to
be envied at present enjoying as they
do at this season climate as perfect
as Is to be found anywhere In the world.
Despite the vast amount Of knowl-
edge concerning the Arctic regions.
which Of late years has been spread
broadcast, the popular misconceptions
are as many and as great as when they
were shared by the savants themselves.
The average person conceives Of the re-
gion beyond the Arctic circle as realm
of cold horrors and little beside. The
scene conjured by such imagination is
one of snow and icebergs, stormy
coasts, tempestuous seas, climate Of
intolerable severity. with gloomy skies
brooding over all. OF course snow and
Ice are characteristic of, the Arctic por-
ton Of our globe, but there are limita-
tons asto the ice and snow, and there
are other conditions wholly delightful
propose forthwith in few words to
present a true Arctic picture, though
+, 1t Is the direct opposite of ordinary be-
liefs concerning the extreme North
Here we are in Western Greenland.
1t is July and midnight. The sun
shines clear and singularly lustrous.
Its beams seem to penetrate with a
mild warmth at once genial and stimu-
lating. The air is almost motionless and
balmy as on a May day in the South.
The landscape is of variegated tlnts, the
green of the heritage interpreted with
frequent clusters Of flowers in the shell
tered spots. Butterflies and many in
sects wing a merry flight Sometimes
the mild din Of bumble-bee Is heard.
Scores Of dainty streams and rivulets
hasten in a rollicking course to the sea,
the waves Of which lie placid and SHIN
mering. Merry throated birds sing
their prisons to the sun. There Is a
lingering line Of snow on the inland
mountain peaks, but here at hand Is
the buzzing of myriads OF mosquitoes,
mosquitoes of a size and ferocity that
would hardly shame the distant plains
Of New Jersey.
This the summer in the North, and,
surprising as 1t may be to most, that de-
/ scription applies to thousands of miles
within the circle. 1t Is the same In both
the Eastern and the Western hemis-
pheres.
The truth Of the matter is that the
general opinion ascribes to the Arctic
regions prevalence Of its winter sea-
son throughout the twelve months.
The winter is dreary and severe, though
1t has many attractive qualities. But
the winter Is limited. In May the air
begins to lose its intense GOODNESS, II
even attains to that moderation with
which we are familiar in the early
April. June, July and August are really
summer months, with all the attributes
of the season. September retains some
| ne fho ohar \. = Il
feeble traces are to be found in the on
slaught of cold in October.
/ During the summer the temperature
is both mild and equable. The ner.
curry stands at about the freezing point
in the shade. This temperature Il
maintained even on an elevation oil
5000 feet. The full force Of the sun
however is Of remarkable effect Ou
of the shade the thermometer usually
registers something more than 70 de.
grees Fahrenheit Often so degrees
sometimes more is reached.
Beneath the benign influence of thi
heat, aided by the abundant moistur,
; from the helted ice and snow we ma.
expect and we find fertile areas, ever
in the extreme north, where vegetation
: is profuse. Certain protected slopes ar
made unspeakably beautiful by the lax
uriance of the flowers. Mountain
pinks, potentillas. saxifrages, draba
and buttercups flourish in exuberan
plenty, along with various grasses an,
lichens. Fields Of the yellow poppy ar
E suggestive Of hottest India. Recon
!, classificatio shows that there are ex
. istent in the American Polar tract
a north Of the eightieth parallel Of lati
tude seventy-five species Of fowerin
I plants, besides the multitude Of mosse.
After an understanding of the exten
Of vegetation in the north, one wi
readily believe that the country there
not perptually ice-bound. Doubtless
will excite much establishment in many
bur 1t is fact that as yet there is II
known portion of the earth that re
tains covering of snow Throughout
the year. The heights are bound b
their ice-caps without intermission, blu
: on the sea level the Ice and snow dis
appear for two or three months an
nually. This is true as well of the mir
:, or eievation-up to 1000 or, perhap
5000 feet above the sea. Arctic and Ar
). arctic regions are alike in this.