The Washington herald., 1906-11-30
PEARY WITH FAMILY
First Thanksgiving Neal at
H0me in Two Years.
LAST DINNER NEAR THE POLE
Muak Ok Did Service for Turkey
Then, but Plum Pudding Brought
Memories of Loved Ones to Crew.
Spends Happy Day with Wife and
ChiIdren-PersOnaI characteristics.

Surrounded by HIS wife and children
and few immediate relatives, Lieut..
Commander Robert Z. Peary. the man
who has been farther away from clviliza-
ton than any other human being. and
EearesJ the north pole. ate his Thanksgiv-
ing dinner yesterday at the one place in
the world that he can call home-a two
story frame dwelling on Twelfth, just
above L street northwest.
Two years have passed since the ex-
plorer has partaken of his Thanksgiving
turkey in Washington. and with his fam
I ily. The event was naturally one Of JOY.
not Only IN his own heart. but in three
other hearts in the Peary family Young,
but not too young TO appreciate the home
coming Of their father. the Peary chill
dren were as happy yesterday as any in
the world
A Year AgO-and Yesterday.
Too young. perhaps. to appreciate the
great achievements Of their parent, but
old enough to realize the love Of a father.
I the little boy and girl sat at the dinner
table yesterday and played about the
house, listening TO tales of the far north
which the whole world would be only too
glad to hear
: Within less than 500 miles Of the north
pole. his destination. and on board the
Roosevelt in the arctic sea, Lieut.. Peary
at IFS Thanksgiving dinner one year ago
yesterday. There was such a contrast
/ between the annual event Of last year and
/ that Of yesterday that to a washington
! Herald reporter the explorer recalled and
/ talked Of the features Of both days-and
mole particularly Of yesterday.
Yesterday a little girl occupied the
chair at one side OF the worlds most
northern man. To his left was little Rob
ert. three years old. A year ago two Off
+ GERS ate II either side OF the explorer
AMI instead Of turkey, as of yesterday
/ musk OK beef occupied q large platter in
/ the center Of the ships table, thousands
az miles from where the naval officer is
. to-day.
Musk OK Takes Place of Turkey.
To an American Thanksgiving Is a day
or feast. no matter where he Is. on land
OF sea. OF In the arctic or going toward
the south pole. There was no turkey on
the Roosevelt last year, but other luxu-
Ties for which the day is noted had been
, provided, among other things being plum
+ pudding This had been taken aboard the
+ vessel for just such events as Thanks
giving Day and Christmas
Lieut. Peary spent the holiday with
his family after an absence Of sixteen
( months. The whole day and the evening
I were devoted 20 his children and Mrs.
I Peary. There we're few callers az the reel-
dence, the commanders friends appre-
ola.
absence there should at least be one day
in the year that he could call his own
I and that was yesterday.
Attired in comfortable. loose leather
/ slippers stand-up collar with a vide
opening in front; a black bow tie careless
Iy arranged by the hands which had
| buried records Of his accomplishments in
[ the ice Of the great north, dark, easy
fitting coat and with trousers of mixed
gray, the northern traveller lounged about
the house, enjoying the comforts Of home
as only a man Of family can.
some Personal Characteristics.
Lieut.. Peary IS a man Of slightly more
than medium height, straight and solid,
with all the appearance Of an officer OF
the United States navy. At first meeting
his voice and manner are grun and
brusque but upon better acquaintance Of
even only a few moments. one feels per
fectly at home in his presence. He is open
and frank and always willing to talk OF
his achievements, but not unless he Is
questioned concerning his travels.
Peary has a rugged appearance. with a
light complexion. His eyes are clear. and
\ he speaks with great expression, slowly,
in q way. but as one who knows what
d. he is talking about. He has a sandy,
rather dropping mustaChe. which he is
in the habit Of pulling, or. 10 speak more
/ correctly. lingering, when he thinks or
when in conversation about an interesting
b lsubiect-particularly the discovery Of the
r north pole To a certain extent his fore
head and the lower part of his face bear
70 wrinkles.
n Lieut. Peary was asked yesterday where
ne expected to eat his Thanksgiving din
T ner Of 1907. whether in Washington or in
! the lands of the frozen north2
Next Thanksgiving. where!
That's rather hard to answer" the ex-
/ pIorer replied. In fact, I haven't the re-
! mOtest idea"
On board the Roosevelt, Lieut.. Peary
I has a pianola which was played at inter
walls during his long voyages. for amuse.
ment and deviation from the aTduouS
= duties about the ship. and studying over
: his maps and plans. The ships surgeon
had q graphOphOne on the vessel, and
1 these two instruments were used for the
entertainment of the officers and crew
D after the Thanksgiving dinner Of one yeai
y ago.
= But with all his enthusiasm for his triT
to the north. and the excitement accom-
panied by reaching a point nearer The
: north pole than any other living man
Lieut.. Peary was not as happy an ind
r vidual when he accomplished this record
e. rs he was yesterday-with his family II
{ Washington.