The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-10-16

horizon. There Is no night. At sunset
and at sunrise storm clouds hide the
bursts Of color which are the glory OF
twilight, and the electric afterglow Is gen
orally lost in the dull gray which be-
speaks the torment of the storms Of the
setting sun,
The gloom Of the coming winter night
now thickens. The splendor Of the sum
mer day has gone. A day of six months
and n night of six months is often as
cribed to the polar regions as whole, but
this is only true Of very small area about
the pole.
As we come south the sun slips under
the horizon for an ever increasing part
of each twenty four hours. Preceding
and following the night as we come from
the pole there is period Of day and
night which lengthens with the descent Of
latitude.
il is this period which enables US tc
retain the names of the usual seasons
summer for the double days, fall for the
period of the setting sun. This season
begins when the sun first dips ur ,er the
ice at midnight for few moments.
The Arctic Night.
These moments increase rapidly, yet one
hardly appreciates that the sun is de-
parting until day and night are Of equal
length, for -ie night remains light, though
ems and darkcns and the sun sinks until
at last there is but mere glimmer Of the
glory of day.
Winter is limited TO the long night, and
spring applies to the days of the rising
sun, period corresponding to the autumn
days of the setting sun.
At Annootok the midnight sun is first
seen over the sea horizon on April 23. Ii
dips in the sea on August 10. 1t thus en-
circles the horizon, giving summer and
continuous day for lis days. 1t sets at
midday on October "a and is absent Il
period of prolonged night corresponding
to the day and rises OH February 20,
Then follow the eye opening days Of
spring. In the fall. when the harmo-
nizing influence of the sun is withdrawn,
there begins battle of the elements
which continues its smoky agitation un-
til stilled by the hopeless frost of early
night.
At this time, though field work was
painful. the needs of our venture forced
US to persistent action In the chase Of
walrus. seal, narwhal and white whale.
We harvested food and fuel.
Before winter ice spread over the hunt
ing grounds ptarmigan, hare and reindeer
were sought to supply the table during
the long night with delicacies, while bear
and fox pleased the palates Of the Eski-
mos, and their pelts clothed all.
Many long journeys were made to Sc
cure an important supply of grass to pad
boots aud mittens, and also to secure
moss, which serves as wick for the
Eskimo lamp. The months of Septem-
Der and October were indeed important
periods of anxious seeking for reserve
supplies.
Aid from the Eskimos.
There was complex activity suddenly
stimulated along tho Greenland coast
which did not require general supervision.
The Eskimos knew what was required
without a word from rs, and knew better
than we did where to find the things worth
while. An outline of the pole, campaign
was sent from village to village, with o
few general instructions.
Each local group Of natives was to fill
an important duty and bring together the
amount of material required
for our house and sled equipment Each
Eskimo village has as rule certain game
advantages.
In some places foxes and hares were
abundant. Their skins were in great de-
mand for coats and stockings, and Eskimos
must not only gather the greatest number
possible but must prepare the skins and
make them into properly fitting garments.
In other places reindeer were abundant
This skin was very much In demand for
leeping bags, while the sinew was re-
lulred far thread, IN still ether places