The times., 1897-10-27

ciety accOrds him, did he not have other
characteristics. He has yet the higher
/ qualities Of perception, adaptation and
creation Original work demands original
methods Taxing the good that was III
the past, Nansen devised and followed new
! ways that aid not command the support
OF MS predecessors, and this royal con-
Tiaence III is own ideas was the Keystone
OF his brilliant success. Through montns
OF Arctic darkness, in the dreary desola-
tiOn Oi tne Polar Sea. IN eEhauStiuE Sledge
journeys, IN frightful perils OF the drifting
ice pack, In terrible Sufferings ana priyar
tons, ana In conditions OF the most lnIul-
nenU and thrilling dangers, DIR. NanSen al
ways uoHIiua ted the most adverse environ
uenJ ana made II SuDseTvlent 10 ms single
ann and final success. Patience, fore
slgnt, seIf-cOntldenCe ana hcipfulneSs, con
jOineu 70 a phenomenal auGaclty OF plan
and an amazing skill Of eAecndUn-tnese
explain safe GrlfU across The untnnWn n
Polar Sea, an eNtraO Glnary march 10 Franz
Joseph Land, the timely arrival of Nansen
| at Jacl;son's camp, ana the return of the
Fran 10 Norway. tApplause.l
To illustrate now Iar ne surpassed the
fartheSt north OF his predeceSS Jrs, it is ap-
proprlate to recall an incident in the e.-
forts OF the new world to OutdO the Old.
Half century since the yacht America,
rleighted with the hopes and wishes OF I'll
ardent A meTicans- entered the Royal British
yacht races in order to display the advan-
uagPs OF novel construction. " hen, at the
end OF that notable contest, the success OF
the ! mFriCa was annOunc Ell To ef MA -eSJy
Queen Victoria, she asked, Which is sec
ond?'' Looking far sea ward, where no
British yacht as yet III slght, the oither
r. st, Your majesty, there is no sec
onn.' tAppiause.l
uunureu and odd miles of Dir cary eXpanSe
which separates the fartheSt OF the Ameri-
can expedition from the ultimate north Of
Nansen. We may We'll say Jnat IN these 3u0
years OF effort u reach Tie pole the Nor
wegian has no second. tApplauseJ
The personal introduction was made by
Commodore Melville, who, on being au-
nouI;ced, was himself warmly greeted.
Commodore Melville said that, as the hour
was advanced, and as it was the evident
desire Cf the audience to hear at once
from tire distin ngHished gentleman lie was
abcut TO present, he would not occupy
one more second of time than was neceS-
s8ry in introducing the grandest hero
that ever went out on the ocean" tLong-
continued appIause.l
DR.. Nansen, on rising to speak, WAS
again greeted with an enthusiastic demon
srration, during which the Marine Band,
which furnished the music, played the
nation anthem of Ncrway Sweden. Dr.
Nansen spoke in excellent English and
without notes. lie said:
Mr. President, and members of the Ma
tional Geographic Society-Friends First
OF all, | beg 90 thank YOU, to thank this
society, for the very flatterlng ana most
cordial welcome you have given tne in this
greatest country Ot the new world. 1t is a
welcome all the more pleasing 10 ne be-
cause | know 1T Will touch the heart of
every one OF my counUrymen tapplauseD;
welcome which | shall cherish as one of
the most agreeable recollections Of my life.
j take occasion TO thank most aPpre-
ciatIvely those two prominent Arctic eX-
plorers, who have Just spoken, for the
kind words in which they nave expressed
themselves about my labors anu explora-
tiDnS in the Arctic regions, ana especially
Go | thank all OF those who have spoken
OF the manner in which my work has been
done.
You have spoken too kindly, in my opin-
ion, IS TO my achievements. In fact, wnat
nave Gone is but little. lt was very easy.
tLausnter and appia uSe). 1t was easy, be-
cause the way was marked out for me by
those who had gone before. 1t is with
arctic eXpiora ti0n as il is with all other
fields OF human endea vor, like the eX-
periences of war, for it is not those WHO
nave fought first and the hardest VINO are
proclaimed at last the Victors in the strife.
Applause
Ime secret of success in arctic explora-
tiUn is to take advantage OF the experience
and records OF the adventurous spirits who
have gone before. a ma Kim which is true
of all things in life. One must light his
torch atthe lamp OF experience. Appla use. }
So in preparing myself / read ali the ac-
Counts l could get of the sufferings priva-
tions and other experiences of my prede-
cessors in this aIiuring field OF resea rch
taking care TO avoid their faiIings and
to profit by their successes | read with
interest and profit what had been accom-
plished by American explorers, and, think
ing or them, 1 said any country should be