Evening star., 1899-08-12
ARCTIC HEALTH RESORTS
Spitsbergen and Iceland Are Suggested as
Eligible Locations.
Some OF the Attractions of the Far
North-HealthfuI Erect of
the Air.

From the Fireside.
The fascination of the far north Is not
influencing men like Nansen, Jackson and
Peary alone. Even the pleasure seeker has
been attracted, and it is not so very long
ago that the Lusitania woke the arctic
echoes with the strains of a string band.
Another trip was made to Spitzbergen. and
one of the party gave a striking picture
of polar charms I'VE were invading" he
wrote, "the very sanctuary of solitude; we,
with our string band, our trained cook,
our costumes made in London and our
end OF the century habits and customs
what had we to do here disturbing the 81
lence of the frozen quiet? And yet how
strangely beautiful it was! OF almost every
other famous scene the traveller asks him.
self: of what does this remind me-? OF the
coast line of SpitZbergen there is no rival
south OF Itself. Could you imagine yourself
on some Alpine height, surrounded by vast
mountains, cut off some few thousand feet
from their submits by level line of olive
gray clouds, you might get an idea of the
outline of that wonderful scene. But no
words can give the faintest impression of
the marvellous atmospheric changes pro-
duced by the sun toward midnight Look
ahead, and the snowy peaks are glowing
pink with approaching sunset look back,
ana the spires Of snow are lying in that
dead white light which precedes the dawn,
and midway between is long stretch that
is neither sunrise nor sunset. 1t is a period
of its own. AS the heights vary, SO you
think you are catching the last gleam of
a dying sun or the first flash of its ris-
ing. The sun at midnight we saw not At
about a quarter Of an hour before the bells
told it was midnight a bank of thick
clouds slowly rose and hid the sun from
our too curious eyes; another half hour
and he was bright again; but the sun at
midnight was always curtained for US. 1t
was difficult to force ones self to bed, SO
fOh md yprin ha
attractions that met the .eye."
The Arctic Circle az a health resort
sounds somewhat eccentric; but it is not
beyond the dreams of the doctors Recol-
lect that DIR. Nansen has declared that his
medical adviser on the Fran had a sine
cure while the crew were in the furthest
north Every one was absurdly healthy"
remarked the leader of the expedition. "A
man with an ache or pain would have
broken the monotoLy."
Is it more extraordinary that Spitzbergen
should become sanitarium than that
Davos in winter should have won the ap-
proval of the medical men for consump-
tives? Davos was originally discovered by
the Germans. Thirty years ago a Teutonic
physician accompanied by friend wander
ed to the spot, and with difficulty obtained
lodging in solitary dwelling. The doctor
was suffering from consumption, and to his
delight and astonishment found himself
rapidly growing better. He considered that
the high Alpine air was an admirable tonic;
sea, the sun beat down with immense power
through the rarifed atmosphere, and that
the pine forests which clothed the hillside
were fraught with healthful influence The
German doctor, happily recovered, started
the theory for his countrymen that in cases
of phthisis cold climate was better than
warm one. This medical heresy, for such
1t would have seemed at the time grad
ually made its way. The theory was that
in this cold climate the living germs which
cause pulmonary disease cannot exist and
are gradually extirpated. The Germans
came in crowds. Gradually, to Gefray the
expenses, they rasorted to every means of
earning a livelihood. They opened all kinds
of shops, hotels pensions: gave lessons in
every province of education-languages
natural science, painting and wood carving.
In the next century we may see SpitZ-
bergen fourishiLg health resort. We are
getting tired of the continental cures. Arc
tic baths sound invigoratirg, and arctic air
is certainly free from noxous microbes.
The only disadvantage is the long sea voy-
age, which. however, may be declared to
constitute part of the treatment. But If
Spitzbergen be too far distant, why not
patronize Iceland? Iceland is one of the
most interesting places in the world; it's
physical features are very remarkable and
not less so Is the history of its people. The
Icelanders, as race, are noble, intellectual
and brave; their government is thoroughly
republican in spirit and all citizens have
equal rights and perfect religious liberty.
The Morse language is still spoken in Ice
land.