The Portland daily press., 1898-04-08
TO THE NORTH POLE.
A Chance for a Young Doctor Who
Doesn't Care to Go.

Hero is chance for young doctor who
doesn't want to go to the North pole-tor
the sake of glory-to go there in return
for several thousand dollars in the money
Of the republic. 1t is letter written by
Lieutenant X. E.. Peary to DR.. Hill Of
Wateryille and is MS follows:
My Dear DIR. Hill: Having just thrown
off my publisher, the "Old Man OF the
Sea," who has been oinging to my back
{ the past several months, I feel like q
new man.
am writing you in regard to a sur
geon for my next expedition, and am go
ing to try to tell you what l want. When
you have finished reading you may be
tempted to say that l must leave the
earth in order to find such a paragon.
Nevertheless I bslievs that the man
want can be found.
Physical Requirements-Youth (about
$751; strength, health, and absolute sound
ness, blonde complexion, wiry physique,
sanguine temperament.
Mental Requirements-Chee
reliance. not afraid of work Of any kind,
capacity for self amusement, and an in
lest in zoology, botany, or some similar
b anch of science.
Professional Requirenents-A good
practical knowledge of medicine and
surgery, such as would be expected of q
high grade medical graduate, supple
mented with two or three years OF nos
pital or general practice.
The tpye of man have in view IS the
intelligent ambitious farmers son, who
has been Obliged to make his own way,
who knows what work is, and who re-
CARDS his profession as his means or OBJ
tanning a living, and who owes his pro-
fession al education entirely to his own
energy and ambition.
The man who is eager to go because 1t
is a polar expedition. and he will see his
name in all the papers, and be hero,
ETC., etc., is just the man that do not
want. l would rather have one who, as
far as his personal inclinations were con-
c,rned, did not want to go, hut 70 whom
J3e money was an object and who would
yec give his Loyalty and best energies in
return for it.
1t is to be distinctly understood from
the first that there will be absolutely
nothing in the work for my surgeon ex-
cept the salary, which will be generous,
and whatever reputation he can gain
from his special scientific investig ations,
for which he Will receive full credit
There will be no writing for the papers,
publishing of books, no lecturing for him.
What he can look forward to will lie
his return at the end of three or four
years, during which time he has incurred
no expense, to find several thousand dol
lars awaiting him, with which he can
buy Il good practice, marry If he wishes.
settle down and havs his work bring him
all the practice he can attend to.
While he will be engaged tecause CT his
professional abilities, and will be the sur
e on of the expedition, the demands upon
lin in that line viii probably DO less than
in any other, and his actual duties will
be more nearly those Of an assistant, or
foreman, and / shall expect him to be
ready to turn bis hand to anything, and
relieve me from the beginning of many
fetaiIs of t work ST Oh as checking the de-
livery of supplies, issuing stores, making
meteorological RECORDS, taking charge of
hunting parties, preparing meat, making
sledQes, keeping the log, cooking. driving
dogs, ETC., etc work which in many in
stances will require him to take off his
coat, roll up his sleeves and pitch In the
same as one of the sailors, and the sane
Us do myself.
II you can put me on track OF such
man l shall be very much obllgea anc
will make an early appointment with MN
so that we may come to full understand
ing.
One or TWO other things that escaped
me; vans man who neither arihks
nor uses tobacco, and who would ha7'
moro or less of q patriotic prlde ID lh'
work.
Very sincerely,
r. e. PEARY.