The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-28

in all my work which have contributed
also In this instance, have been tho
utilization of the Eskimo for the rank
and file of my party, and the use of
the Eskimo dogs for tractive power.
In this last expedition l had. for the
first time In my Arctic work, suit
able ship for the purpose"
The Eskimo as Peary Knows Him
And this brings us to the Eskimo.
Just how valuable an aid did you find
him?
One OF the strongest points in my
favor answered Mr.. Peary. "a point
not previously possessed by any other
white man. has been my ability to utll-
lie the utmost efforts and the entire
resources OF this tribe of Eskimos in
carrying out my campaign. My Es-
kimos were more than mere source
of information. they weye friends"
An added warmth and enthusiasm
crept into MIR. Peary's voice. Here. II
was evident he was touching upon an
intimate matter-a matter not of
things and places but of hearts and
living beings-whom to mention stirred
warm memories. "Friends-in the
best. the test sense. While to their
Ignorant and childlike minds the sig
niflcance OF my mission was sealed
book, they knew at least that 1 was
bent upon quest which was matter
of deep. personal interest to INC. For
that reason they went with ms into
the unknowab1e. willing to face dan
ger, even death. IL l might, through
their aid. realize my hopes. have
never witnessed greater loyalty, have
never seen the sense OF self more
completely subJugated. Hundreds OF
miles through unknown waters and
upon treacherous ice, my faithful Es-
kimos have gone with me into regions
as strange to them as to myself. Alone
nothing could induce them to go be-
yond the border of their familiar re-
gions: but with me as their guide.
their father" they went willingly and
unGuestionably as children.
THAT the Eskimo is not without hui
man emotions of family affection and
the sense Of mutual helpfuiness is for
chilly brought out in several ways-es-
pecially through certain customs of the
country. While he leads an essential
lv animal life-the fundamental mo-
tives for existence being. having
enough to eat and be clothed with. he
has the human mind and is capable of
genuine emotions of joy and sorrow,
which we might attribute to him. For
instance when an Eskimo mother dies
her child is not allowed to live but
must be strangled, the theory being
that so long as it needs the mothers
special care 1t Is kindness to The child
to kill 1t rather than to allow 1t to
struggle through It's babyhood mother
less. A cruel law. you say? When I
tell you that the father does the
strangling, you Will think 1t crueler
still. And yet he suffers as keenly as
an American father would. But like
the stoic he knows that 1t Is to be,
he is convinced that It is lor the
child's good. and that suffices. I have
had the Eskimo fathers tell me of
these experiences with the not tears
streaming down their checks.
another case which camc to my
notice showed the devotion OF parents
| for an unfortunate child devotion
! which touched me deeply because II
| involves the patient care OF lie time
| and actual deprivation. This son mar
| ried and had his home, but rheu,rla-
| tism developed until he became help-
| less. His wife deserted him and mar
| rled another man-one who co:.ld Sap
| port her. Ills condition became worse,
until he Is now practically in q condi-
! ton of living death. His entire body,
| excepting his neck and hands, Is osst-
| flying. When he became he. pless his
| Ola parents look MIN DaCR nome ana
cared for him. Each day when 1t was
I pleasant they would carry him outside
the hut in order that he might see the
| world go blythe Eskimo world on
| parade is, SO you may imagine. a not
over-Eay or hilarious sight. But it
was the one bright spot in poor Tah-
tarhrah's day. When wanted his
father to sell me his dogs for sledgir g
purposes he refused because it would
| deprive him Of the means to carry his
helpless son about. Each time that
have gone North have visited this
faithful old couple. Each time the
boys condition Is worse. They have
no hope for his recovery. or his ever
being other than a helpless invalid
demanding their constant care. But
they are faithGul-and Will be to the