Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-16
LITERARY IN HIS STYLE
Round, Well Garnished Tale" Is
Editorial Estimate.
WHAT SCIENTISTS THINK OF II
Intensely Interested in First In
stallment as Printed in The Star.
Explorers Words Ring True.

The first installment of DR.. Cooks own
story of his dash to the pole. as set De-
fore the Washington public in The Star
of yesterday exclusively, created sensa-
ton.
Every one, from the newsboy in the
street to Washington's most eminent sci
enlist who is anxiously awaiting the Off
cial data of the two arctic explorers.
read the narrative with intense interest.
In the street cars, in the hotels. the
clubs and in all the government depart
ments copies of The Star. opened up at
various pages on which was printed the
thrilling arctic romance, were in evil
dence.
Compliment for DR.. Cook and his story
was universal. 1t was q general COM
ment that the Brooklyn explorer gave
a straightforward statement of facts.
clothed in dramatic literary style. Sub
sequent installments of the running story
are awaited with impati tience by all who
read the Introductory chapter.
Editorial Comment.
The Washington Post, editorially COM
menting on DR.. Cooks story, said this
morning:
copyrighted story of his trip to the north
pole has appeared. and others are prom
ised. Judging from the minuteness of
the detail into which the explorer is
delving in the beginning, 1t will require
some time for the recital Of the entire
tale.
lat this time. however. 1t is detail that
pleased with the description of the frs,
leg Of the journey, which goes little be-
yond Cape York, and is still far short OF
winter quarters at Etah.
DIR. Cook devotes himself to a descrip-
ton Of the northland itself, its rock
cliffs. its glacier fronts. it's icy waters
teeming with life. He does all this with
foreshadowing of no mean ability as q
wielder of the pen.
''He takes the reader to visit the vii
lagos of the EskimoS along the north
shore of Baffin bay. and gives him a lool
into the manner of life of these people
of the far north. He goes into their vii
lages and barters trifies for furs ant
ivories OF great price. He tells the home
stories Of members of the tribes.
Now, all this has little direct bearing
on the actual discovery of the pole, bu
1t Is the local color and human Interest
that embellish any tale and carry its
other features home to the multitude
fight for the top Of the world should
make the remainder Of the tale one OF
dramatic force and of many attractions
aside from the recital of facts.
incidentally, the manner of the telling
Of the story throws strong light upor
the character of the writer. There il
little Of the mathematical scientist ir
the teller of this story. His would never
be the blunt and concise report of one
disciplined in the army or the navy.
His report is to the people, and he
knows the manner in which they want 1t
A ta Wi
and shadows and a constant appreciation
of the dramatic. is to be the result The
man is one OF the people. full Of rec
blood. lover of glory, something of a
sensationalist. and armed with large
sized ladle and a good story. He prom
ises to work overtime
Army and Navy Opinions.
Interesting and convincing is the
opinion generally expressed in army and
navy circles in regard to DR.. Cooks
initial story of his polar experiences. AL
though officers are open in expressions
of admiration for the literary character
of the production, they are unanimous
In their declination to discuss the merits
of the controversy between Cook and
Peary as to which is entitled to the
credit of discovering the north pole.
Several privately admitted that DR.
Cook seems to have altogether the better
Of the controversy. so far as developed
on the general ground that Peary's
journey to the pole demonstrated that il
was possible achievement. which. in the
first place, was the main reason for
doubling that Cook had reached there
Because Of Commander Peary's connec-
tion with the navy and the possibility
that his alleged requirement of territory
in the polar region may become an in
ternational question, the service officials
studiously declined to talk for publica-
tlon about any phase of the arctic con-
troversy.
Moreover. as one officer explained it.
the regulations strictly forbid public
discussion of official questions at all
times. and especially when they are mat
ters Of dispute
Gen. Davis, judge advocate general of
the army: II have read the first install
ment of DR.. Cooks account Of his dis
covery Of the pole. and found it very
good reading: If he keeps on giving such
interesting details of his arctic expert
ences 1t will hardly fail to be convincing. -
Scientists Absorbed in Narrative.
Perhaps most interested of all are
Continued on Twelfth Page)