The Washington herald., 1906-11-29

Back from the frozen arctics. crowned
with the glory Of "farthest north
Lieut. Commander Robert f. Peary last
night slept under his own roofree. and
two little children who for sixteen
months have been straining their eyes
northwaTd. where one Of them was born,
are the happiest youngsters in all the
world
Mrs. Peary's long vigil ended several
weeks ago, when she hurried on to meet
her husband. Little Miss Marie Peary
and Master Robert were compelled to
wait here on the tip-t0e Of expectancy,
and. when. shortly after O'Clock tonight
the front gate of the rambling home on
Twelfth street northwest clicked. they
sprang from their beds TO greet the
gaunt viriIe man who rushed into the
house TO clasp them in his arms Two
big tears rolled down the great explorers
cheeks, the boy and EirI smiled like the
sun in April. and Mrs. Peary hovered
about all three. choking with emotion
and happiness and JOY. No happier home
coming in all America could there be
than that, and neither Columbus, return
ing to Spain, the discoverer Of a new
world. nor Caesar. triumphant in his con-
quests, had an ovation TO compare with
the tender. warm clasps of children's
arms which was the homage to Peary.
Came Home Unattended.
UnheraIded. and accompanied only by
his wife the explorer reached Washing
ton at 9 o'clock. on the Congressional
Limited from New York, after an absence
of more than sixteen months. In his
demeanOr there was no indication that
those sixteen months had accomplished
more than had Davis. or FrObisher. or
Kane, or Nansen. Peary swung through
the deserted depot. where his presence
was unsuspected even by the station
hands. and, carrying his own formidable
looking grip, he boarded street car for
home.
Il didn't really realize how near home
] was until I boarded that car" said he
with a smile. Then, al Of a sudden
we'll. you know how those things are"
Little Robert, who is three, scarcely
touched his supper, because of his tenn
pestuous excitement. and was put 20 bed
under protest at o'clock But he awalz-
ened quickly when his father arrived.
Then such a time as they did have Rob
ert was only a year and half old when
his father went away. and babies change
so much in sixteen months that the ex-
IlOrer discovered in his little son things
more precious than ne had found in the
frozen North. Finally the household
quieted down. and the reporters found
Lieut.. Peary in his parlor.
Too Tired TO Talk.
I'm too tired to sit down" he said.
"and I've answered all the questions
there are. but if I can tell you anything,
I am at your service. Tomorrow is
Thanksgiving Day, and I am going 10
devote It entirely to my family 1 shall
not be interrupted for anything. and
shall not receive any callers. I've been
away for long time, and one day at
least belongs To my wife and children
exclusively.
Il have not made any definite plans. I
haven't any appointment to call upon the
President. although I shall do so. shall
not report to the Navy Department to-
morrow, as il viii be a holiday. Within a
few days 1 expect to return to New York,
but that is indefinite as yet, and I may not
be able TO get away this week. If nothing
prevents. ] shall return to Washington to
spend Christmas with my family"
As he talked, the naval officer with arc
tic tendencies paced up and down the
room Every now and then he would
caTess with his feet. unconscioUsIy, q big
polar bear skin. mounted. with ferOciOus
Jaws and long white hair which seemed
TO remind him OF the ice drifts and foes
and 'bergs which he has left behind him
for the present. but which haunt his
memory. Tusks Of the walrus and a few
other mementOes of former frigid trips
gave 10 the room a semi-arctic appear
ance. so that every time Pearv cougbed
the reporters expected to see an Esquimo
bob into the room.
Comes Back to Take Cold.
Ridiculous as it mag be. Pearv. who
braved the rigors Of Greenland like man
nursed on ice, returns to Washington.
where the temperature is 20 above zero.
and pretty cold at that for local peopIe.
to catch cold.
You see sneezed Peary. IT'S like
this. I've been up there where the tenn
perature is about fifty or sixty degrees
below zero. In Boston and New York it
was pretty raw, but when I got to Wash
fngton tonight I found it 50 close that I
am taking cold"
The reporters, wrapped in heavy over
coats shivered. 7 don't wear an over
coat in this climate" added the explorer.
when l come back from the North I in
variably take cold. However. it is not
uncomfortable up there, despite the in
tense cold. II is simply 4 question Of
food and clothing. and I suffered no
more from the cold than one does in this
climate"
DO you think that the north pole will
be discovered eventually" he was asked
Most assuredly I do. There isn't any
question about that. II is simply a ques-
ton now of method.
Think SIedEe Is the Thing.
Lieut.. Peary is stin an advocate of the
dog and sIedge theory. He believes that
the pole viii be reached by that method.
and while he said he did not want to
criticise the theories of any other men,
he does not believe that the airship or
balloon scheme of reaching the great
goal is feasible. Peary got within IA
sea miles Of the pole, the farthest north
ever reached by any man
with the exception Of the question OF
dogs and food. said he. Il do not con-
Wide Boards. - Per 100 II.