Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-08
IN THE ARCTIC CIRCLE.
illustrated Lecture by Prof. Gore at
Columbian University.

+ Topics of human interest will afford sub
jects for the course of Thursday afternoon
lectures arranged by the Columbian Univer-
sity for the entertainment and instruction
of the students and friends of the institu-
ton, and 1t was fittingly inaugurated yes
terday by Prof J. H. Gore He edited a
large audience with the subject, within
the Arctic Circle" emphasizing his talk
with colored lantern slides.
After recounting the efforts Of explorers
to penetrate the frozen Businesses and de-
scribing the vast extent Of the latter, which
covers nearly one-third of the earths sur
) face, Prof. Gore recounted the difficulties
and obstacles in the way of expeditions.
Continuing. he said, in part as follows:
Owing to the warm ocean currents that
run into the arctic regions, and to some in
huences that can be explained only by
closer acquaintance, the temperature with
in this region is not the same for identical
ATTITUDES, nor is it presumed that the great
est cold is near the pole At TromsOe, I'M
der the SEVENTEEN parallel, it is quite warm
during July, and flowers grow and certain
crops reach maturity. But eastern Siberia,
IN the same latitude, is a dreary frozen
waste There are three inlets into the re-
gion under consideration, though the Ber-
ing Strait, by way of Davis Strait, on the
west side of Greenland, and the wider chan
mel between Iceland and the west coast OF
Norway.
by the two first named many obstacles
are encountered before the arctic circle Is
reached, but one can sail UP the fjords
that 1ndent Norway's coast and be cog
infant of a northerly voyage only through
the frightening of the day. Few journeys
are so interesting as this Norwegian cruise,
now made possible to meet the demands
OF tourists. For nearly 1000 miles one
glides In and out between snow-covered
"a ,tnio hrn OH
channels frequently so narrow that a stone
can be easily thrown from one shore to
the other. AS We sail along there are times
when it looks as though the pilot were bent
on destruction, so compact and unbroken
is the mountain lying apparently across the
course, but as we swing around we see a
welcome opening which soon develops
seemingly into a blind channel to startle
the timid and reward the hopeful.
Quite within the arctic circle we find
an industry of great Importance, the fisher
les. where 5000 or 5000 boats take from
25OOO,OOO to 100000 Of the roe and liver
filled cod. The broad Vestfjord is crowded
with fishing boats, so closely packed that
1t looks as though one could walk long dis
tances from boat to boat. Sail boats and
steamers are constantly running to and fro,
and nearly all ports are filled with craft of
different Sizes
Speaking of Andree's effort to discover the
north pole, Prof. Gore said: Many have
said that Andree was foolish, and some
Have cdlleu MIN 1901. L may nave echoed
one or both Of these characteriZations but
now after having lived in the atmosphere
in which he worked. and seen the deter
mined way in which he went about to DEM
onstrate cherished conviction, even to the
extent of stalking his life upon the verify
Of his hypothesis, 1 repent the hastily ex-
pressed opinion, and ask forgiveness for
thoughtless Judgment. If you insist that it
was fool-hardiness, pray qualify it by the
word sublime"
The next lecture of the course will be de-
livered next Thursday, March IA, at 4:15
o'clock. 1t will be an Illustrated talk on
Caverns and Cavern Life by Prof. Mer-
rfll