The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1907-04-05
LIFE ON MONT BLANC.
Scientific Observers as Badly OF
There as Arctic Explorers.

~. aEaaAhN -aaHHH
IAfe in the observatory on the sum
NIT Of Mont Blanc is even frostier
than ON an arctic expedition. The OBJ
%servatory vas founded by Pierre
Jansen, the French physicist, in 1898,
and since the first ascent OF the noun
tain In 1856 o temperature above
freezing was never recorded there un-
til 1906. when for q few minutes a
temperature OF two degrees cent?
gradeo or about SO degrees Fahren-
heit, was observed.
The observatory Is generally occu-
plea from about the beginning of
June to the end Of September. These
arc the utmost limits at which men
could live there. The work is both
astronomical and meteorological.
Ono Of tho greatest drawbacks to the
work Is the stream OF tourists i'm
July n August, who expect to have
everything shown to them regardless
OF the loss Of time to the men of
science.
NV iSoOp w. uC COuNICIlG, In n
recent account Of the work on the
mountain top dwells on the courage
that 1t takes to spend weeks and
months amid tho monotony OF tho
snowfelds and glaciers. The me-tal
depression is all the harder to fight on
account Of the physical conditions. to
which 1T Is very difficult to become
accustomed.
AT that elevation human beings arc
tortured by an unceasing thirst. quo
TO the rapid evaporation Of moisture
from the body. On the other hand.
the appetite almost entirely disap-
pears.
At first all the system can stand In
a rev glasses of warm tea daily, with
plenty Of sugar and pulverized milk
IN 1t. Recourse to alcohol is absolute.
ly forbidden. Spirits Of all sorts arc
found to be exceedingly harmful.
When the men begin to get accli-
mated, n diet principally made up OF
meat is found to be best The mat
IS carried up from Chumounix and
frozen IN order 10 insure It's prese,va-
zion.
!. Is stored in the cellar of the OBJ
~Servatory, where the temperature
ranges from II to Is degrees Fahren-
heit. Canned or preserved meat ia
never used. 1t is found TO be ZOO
trying to the digestive powers in That
region.
The meat is for the most mart
boiled. Green vegetables are eaten
with it to prevent scurvy or similar
disorders.
The process of cooking is far moro
tedious than at ordinary levels. Ao
water boils far below 212 degrees. 1t
takes -four or FIVE times as mucn boil
ing to render the food fit TO be eaten
as 1t does III ordinary places.
n scientific men who spend their
summers ut The observatory have 10
live in Arctic clothing. They spend day
ana hiShC lii All atmosphere a, l.eeA-
Ing point. 1t is true that the building
Is warmed with fires OF coal and wood.
But it Is only warmed 80 degrees Fah-
fenleit. The moisture from the
breath Of the inhabitants c~ondenscg
on The walls in a thin coating OF ice.
II icicles depend from the ceilings
II beams an ~lintcls. When 1t gets
a little 90 warm The ice melts nnd
there Is a veritable rainfall in every
room.
The observers gradually learn to DO
comfortable at SO degrees. They take
off their gloves to handle the more
delicate instruments. They sleep In
bags II keep their health. When
they so homo for the winter they
don't feel the cold. Their scientific
work is, besides, generally recognized
as compensation for all they endure
to accomplish IT..