Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-08-17
Saturday. August II, 1907.
Peary and His Work.

One Boston editor, plainly in a yer!
dyspeptic mood, recently took occa
sion to make some very unkind fling.
at Commander Peary. The article ir
question was entitled "Peary's Coco
Job and it went on to say that Peary
work in the lecture field that would
make the combined salaries Of several
admirals look rather small. 1t Is
charitable to suppose that the writer
of this was not aware that the money
which Commander Peary has obtained
from appearance on the lecture plat
Arctic work. 1t is a fact that he has
several times exhausted both his own
personal resources and those of his
wife In the work that he has ac-
complished against such fearful odds.
The article also declared that there
are plenty of officers in the American
navy who would exchange lots with
Peary and call themselves extremely
lucky in the bargain" Such an at
tempt to make out that Commander
P-ary has had an easy lot in life and
that he is in any way Sinking duty
and responsibility as an American
officer, merits prompt and emphatic
rebuke. 1t is not only with the con-
sent and warm approval Of his SUI
periors in the navy department that
Peary has doggedly worked on the
Arctic problem. but his work has been
such rs has made him a credit to the
service and an American of whom all
good Americans are proud. 1t is to
tho credit Of American people in gen.
eral and to the American navy, of
which he is an officer, in particular,
that Commander Peary has added SO
much to the worlds knowledge of the
Arctic regions and that he has placed
the American flag nearer the pole than
any other flag has ever been carried.
That bit Of sentiment in itself is some
thing worth well worth treasuring in
these times when sordid considerations
Of money making are considered all
important by so many people.
For many years Commander Peary
has heen doing this Arctic work under
conditions which would have daunted
and defeated less resolute soul. He
has fought on nearer and nearer the
goal which brave men have tried for
centuries to attain. working under con-
ditions of privation and hardship of
which most of us have absolutely no
struggle has called for a heroism and
IL loyalty to 4 cause such as are not
often found. No man who has ever
met Commander Peary personally or
who has ever heard him lecture would
be capable Of the narrow and I'M
gracious criticism in which this Bos-
ton editor INDUCED. No characteristic
Of the man is more noticeable than his
modesty and self-effacement. He is
working. not for personal glory, but |
for the honor of the American name !
and the American flag, and in the SER
vice Of science
Of course this petty and peevish Bos-
ton editor is the exception. The |
American people as n whole are proud |
of Peary and they glory in what he
has accomplished. They honor the
splendid personality of the man, and |
they also honor the government which
has allowed him the opportunity to
carry Oh such a work. They hope he
may he spared to carry that work to
a successful conclusion and crown his
many years of exploration in the froz-
en- North by being the first man to
reach the pole itself They give him
their sympathy in his disappointment
that his departure is delayed, and they
will heartily and prayerfully wish him
victory and a safe return when he |
turns the prov of the Roosevelt north
ward rext spring