The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-09-07
PEARY's AMBITION WAS TO REACH
POLE.
Wife of Explorer vitality Interested in
Hts Work and Has Herself
Penetrated the Far
North.

New York, Sept 6.--In reaching the
North Pole, Commander Robert Edwin
Peary has achieved the ambition Of
life time AS q boy, his day dreams
were Of an unexplored lane far to the
northward and such printed matter
concerning the polar regions as Tell
into his hands was read with absorbed
interest.
He was born at Cresson. Pa, May
8. 1853. but in his early youth. the
family removed to Maine, where he re-
ceiyed his education. His parents,
Charles N. and Mary (Wiley) Peary
saw to 1t that he received an early
training BETTING a life which prom
Used to be filled with wholesome ac-
tivity.
Instructed first In private schools. he
subsequently, entered Bowdoin College,
from which he was graduated with the
class Of 1877. Throughout his col
leRe career and in the years following
he made close study Of Arctic ex-
ploration, the peculiar fascination
which the subject held for him, deep
ening as he matured.
AS q means of livelihood he adopt
ed the profession of civil engineer. en-
tering the United States Navy in that
capacity Oct. rs, 1881. Three years la
ter, he was appointed assistant engt-
neer on the board which surveyed the
route Of the Nicaraugan ship canal.
North Calls Peary.
In these years his interest in the
mysterious North had not abated and
In 1885 he applied for a leave OF alb
sence of the navy which would permit
him to visit Greenland. His applica-
ton was granted and in July of the
same year he began what proved to be
the first of seven expeditions to the
North. attended with hardship and
some of them with actual suffering
and want; but he presevered with te-
nacity Of purpose that challenged the
admiration of the world and finally
brought him unstinted fame.
Beyond the daring Of his exploits,
Peary's expeditions have had scien-
tific and geographical usefulness thai
has been generally recognized and he
has won the medals Of the American
Geographical Society. the Royal Geo
graphical Society of London and the
Scottish Geographical Society. the lat.
ter honors never having been accorded
in equal number to any other Ameri.
can.
In the navy he won the title of
commander" and the government has
recognized the value OF his exploration
by granting him repeated leaves Of
absence. In 1903 he was made presi-
dent of the American Geographical So
cl6Iy ana Is HcHhbOE VI many otHoE
kindred bodies.
Commander Peary's domestic life has
been so happy that enforced absence
from his family has been one of the
greatest hardships OF his adventures.
In 1888, two years after the return
from his first visit to Greenland, he
married Miss Josephine Diebitsch. who
from the dag of their union has given
his ambition her unSelfish sympathy
fact Mrs
has upon different occasions accompa-
MED her husband for a considerable
distance northward and upon one of
these tripa a daughter was born to
them.
EThe Snow Maiden"
This child, who has always been
called by her father, THE Snow Maid
en-" held for time notoriety rival
ling that of the commander, as the on
ly white child known to have been born
within the Arctic circle
In 1902 after Peary had been absent
four years and hope Of his survival
had been abandoned by many. Mrs
Peary accompanied a relief expedition
which met him and brought him home
1t Is at this point in his history, one
finds the first note of encouragement
| The absence from his family had borne
heavily on the explorer and on his re-
turn to New York, he declared that the
trip just completed to the Arctic seaH
was undoubtedly his last
Asked as to what he attributed hii
| failure at that time, Commander Pear,
said: TT was a matter of funds. Ii
order to be successful one must be pro
vided with funds to enable him to gC
| as far as possible and then be able t.
wait there until the season and othe
circumstances allow him to proceed"
When asked IL he would try again. h
replied:
Undoubtedly have made my las
attempt Ny time is up and 1 am go
ing back to my work in the navy"
WRnderiust Grips Him.
However. the polar wanderlust agail
gripped him and his work was con
tinued. Moreover. the funds wer
forthcoming, and his last and success
full expedition was better equipped thar
those which preceded 1t.
With no hint OF his plans for tn
future, some OF Pearys friends, never
theless. believe he will soon pine 70
new worlds to conquer and that
South Pole expedition may be antici
pAted. In fact, IL was announced NOR,
than a year ago that Peary had plan
ned a national Americn expedition 70
the exploration Of the South Polar re