The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-09-15
THE GARDEN OF EDEN.

was the north pole the original
Garden Of Eden2 There is room for
speculation. The Atlanta Georgian
comments as follows:
If the somewhat sensational theory
OF DIR. William F. Warren, dean of the
Boston School of Theology, will stand
the test Of the scientific retort, DR..
Frederick a Cook-when he discov-
cred the north pole on April 21, 1905
actually stood upon the site OF the
Garden of Eden.
Moreover, he was the first man to
re-enter the ancient abode OF the hu-
man family since the flaming sword
was stationed at the gates OF Paradise.
Think Of it!
The verdant garden Of the Old Tes-
lament scriptures at the north polel
Humanity's ancient seat in the region
of icebergs and of polar bearsi
The place where God walked in the
cool Of the day-where our first par
ents wore garments made Of fig leaves
and felt no discontinue on account OF
climatic conditions-where every man
ner Of fruit and flower abounded in
perfection-and where in the midst of
of good and evil.
According to DR. warren's hypothe-
sis, the dialogue between the woman
and the serpent must have occurred at
the precise point from which the
earth's axletree emerges-at the very
pole itself.
For the tree in question occupied the
center Of the garden.
Viewed in this philosophic light, It
is easy to understand the eagerness of
the human family to attain the goal
Of polar research.
We never suspected It before-but
the effort to clutch the north pole is
only another phase Of the desire to
recover the lost paradise.
DR.. Warren's startling theory was
first advanced in a book which ne pub
lished in 1885, under the title Of Eden
Found" 1t came from the press OF
Houghton Mihlin G. Co., of Boston
The proclamation Of the New Eng
land preacher may provoke a smile.
But really it is much less heterodox
than some of the religious doctrines
which bear the same local stamp.
The least investigation viii show that
DIR. Warren's pet hobby lacks much
Of being ridiculous.
If the earth in the beginning was a
mass OF molten matter, then, in the
gradual process of cooling by means of
| radiation, it follows that the poles
would be the first places cool enough
to furnish abode for human habita4ion
And, upon the basis of evolution. Il
is perfectly rational to suppose that
for an indefinite length of time the
most temperate conditions prevailed at
the polar extremes
Moreover, 1t is one of the persistent
traditions of every nationality that the
original habitat Of the race was In the
far north.
Up to this point, then, there is moth
ing unscientific at least in the idea that
the north pole furnished the original
seat OF the human family, and that 1t
was the cooling OF the earth's surface
at the poles which gradually started
the strains Of migration toward the
more temperate latitudes.
But there is one very grave objection
to this point of view.
1t may be stated in the form OF a
question thus:
/ Would the Creator have planted the
Garden of Eden In a region which in
theoretically dark half the year?
4 Under such conditions, would the
picture portrayed in Genesis come
within the possibilities7
In reply, it may be said that dawn
and twilight are so prolonged at the
north pole that darkness prevails about
the apex of the earth for only about
seventy-six days. and that during much
/ of this time light is dispensed by the
moon and also by the aurora borealis.
Captain PIN, OF the English navy,
has divided the polar calendar as fol-
lows: 194 days OF sunlight, forty-seven
days OF dawn, forty eight days OF
twilight and seventy six days of dark
ness.
/ The Georgian holds no brief for DR.
Warren. Other difficulties win have
to be overcome before his theory can
be made to square with the account ia
Genesis The delnge In particular will
have to be considered; and we prefer
for DIR. Warren himself to tackle the
deluge.
But the view which he advances il
By no means as absurd SIS it appears
TO be at first sight.
On the whole. IT win set people to
thinking.
And Uncle Sam may wei be proud
OF his new asset If on investigation II
proves to be the original seat or the
human race and the lost paradise OF
the Mosaic legend the Garden OF
Eden.
r. Colonel Grasse Is certainly en-
titled to 4 lot OF commendaaion.
/ ~ Some Of the senators and con-
gressnen who were held at Washington