The San Francisco call., 1897-04-11
NANSEN'S ACHIEVEMENT.

FARTHEsr NORTH BY Dr. Fridtiof Nam
Harper d Bros, New 1ork. or SAFE py
A. NJ Robertson Post street, City Price Slo-
DR.. Nansen's new book is record OF one OF
the most heroic achievements OF modern
times. The work is OF thrilling interest and it
teaches a life lesson of bold and persistent en-
deayor which has value far beyond the ad-
ditfon the results OF the expedition give 10 geo.
graphical knowledge. Admirable as was the
wisdom which foresaw The solution oil the
problem OF virtually reaching the north pole,
il is farm more a subject fOr pride that so daring
q nl.n as Nsnsen's could be resolved upon and
the purpose persisted in through such ardu-
ous labors and continuous peril
The work under review consists of two large
handsome volumes, and Is complete record
of the Arctic voyage OF exploration OF the ship
Fran during the three years from the mid
summer of 1898 10 the mids ummer OF 1896,
and also a record OF the fifteen months sleigh
Journey by Dr.. Nansen and his companion,
lieutenant Johansen, across the ice foes to
the farthest point northward ever reached
nv man There is an appendix by
Otto sverdrup, VINO became captain of the
Frzm after NanSen left the ship 10 go on his
perilous search for the pole. The work con-
tains I2O fullpage Illustrations and sixteen
colored plates in facsimile from Nansen's
own sketches. These pictures ada wonder.
fully TO the interest of the narrative.
Dr. Nansen says it is futile to argue that
these perilous trips of discovery are inexpedi.
ent, for the spirit of man Will never rest salts
fed until every loot OF the globe has been
trodden and every problem solved. Since
Nansens theory of the correct method of
reaching the pole has, by the results of his
expedition, been so fully vindicated we may
now confidently expect that the exact mathe-
msticai point OF the pole will be reached
ere long, and all the Arctic regions
thoroughly explored and mapped He
studied the problem of Arctic exploration
until he came to the conclusion that there was
q great ocean current flowing from the New
Siberian Islands westward across the polar
regions, and that the surface of this current
was an immense icefioe. Consequently the
only way for ship to closely approach the
pole was for her 10 sail lar to the north of
Siberia in midsummer and be frozen into the
foe drifting with it across the pole. The
Fran Jailed to start into The current far
enough north, and for that reason Nansen un-
dertook the sleigh journey, which carried him
closer 10 the pole than any OF his predecessors.
DR.. N"nsen. besides being a fine scholar and
bold explorer, is also good writer, and he has
told his story with simple eloquence that is
delightful 10 read. 1t is said that lie has al
ways been good at narration, and even at
school he had a fine aptitude Tor com position.
Long before this great work he had written
books ana magazine articles in which his Wig
orous style and letical treatment OF his sub
tect aroused very favorable comment. His
success in telling OF this last great expedition
is commensurate with that with which the
latter was rewarded.
The woTd-pa1nting is in fact, so vivid and
complete that it makes the reader almost feel
as II he were accompanying Nansen TO the
Land o: the Midnight Sun and helps 10 satisfy
both our deS re for further knowledge OF that
hitherto inaccessible region and our curiosity
10 learn something about the men who accom-
plished the wonderful journey. In achiev-
ing such results on paper the author gives evil
dence OF rare capacity in the literary art.
One of the surprising facts recorded in the
narrative is the comfort with which the men
could live in the extreme cold OF those high
latitudes. 1t is true that Nansen and lis COM
paniOn suffered terribly during their long
sleigh journey but even when the tempera-
ture fell to 50 Fahrenheit below the
men were still ab. To enjoy long walks over the
great plains OF floating ice, and persp pired so
freely under their fur coverings that they were
frequently forced to discard them.
The honoTs which are being acco rded to DR..
Nausen are richly deserved AS long as the
human race produces heroes who, like him,
willing to sacrifice their lives for the ad-
vancement OF scientific knowledge, and pos
sessed OF such strength of purpose and un-
daunted courage he displayed through a
terrible three years test in the execution OF
his plans, We can hope Tor continued progress
in subduing the earth TO mans necessities and
enjoyment II is a story OF strenuous en-
deavor which VIII stir the blood OF every lover
OF human heroism.