New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-09

lists 10 read their instruments without
the trouble and unrcliabiiity OF lanterns
in stormy weather. The ship itself, butt
at st. Malo. provided an unusual amount
of privacy. each member Of the company
having cabin of his own, instead OF
being forced to share il with compan-
ion in circumstances that are VIGOROUSLY
trying 10 the nerves. ON the subject OF
this polar irritability DR. Charcot writes:
Much has been said about cdfdrd poidirc
uhough II Is too frequently invoked AZ an
| excuse), and II IS certain that TINS ne III
common with no possibility OF ilhIlHS az
! traction from temporary failure OF nerves.
with no hope OF being able L. take mtai
| alone or I'm other company. has its painful
| moments An innocent cTotchct, n
mere mannerism in sitting down, blowing
ones nose or helping one se a, ~ ,. ,"', Se
| remarked, becomes the cause or annoyance
| and may even assume the proportions on u
| grievance; but all that T. needed ~ niue
| education and self-cOntrol. thIdd
DOldire does not create new defects. n
| good fellow remains Il good fellow, ana
man distinguished for his manners remains
| distinguished. What happens Is that char
| acters are made TO reveal themselves as
| thev really arc. But here, else
where. education plays the chief role.
In the matter OF provisions the expedi-
ticn was abundantly provided. even with
| the wine that Is necessary of daily HE
| IN the French. DR.. Charcot expresses
the opinion that a small daily allowance
of alcohol has no harmful effect on
health in polar regions, and on occasion
is even beneficial. While that horror OF
oden days, scurvy, has disappeared, II
| has been replaced. according TO his OBJ
| servations, by what he calls preserved
food sickness" from which he himself
suffered for q while, and which he de
scribes as being characterized by ndema
! Of the lower limbs and myocarditls.
without affection Of the gums. Fresh
meat Is the cure. in this case seal steaks,
which DR.. Charcot highly praises, espe-
cially In combination with sauerkraut.
One wonders If the dwellers in the
tropics can find in narratives of polar
exploration the ever renewed delight that
children of the colder zones find H. them.
1t would appear as If a personal famili-
arity with frost and snow and ice, with
sleet and fog, were required 10 recognize
the romance in these chronicles, 10 feel
and share the cosey contrast of shelter,
however primitive, after a day of danger
and gruelling physical exertion. There
is plenty of peril and hard work Of In
clement nature. In these pages, and OF
delightful physical comfort and warmth.
DIR. Charcot met the crises of his re-
sponsibilty nobly, but in his account Of
them there is a measure of introspcction
that is foreign to the tales If. Anglo
Saxon commanders:
The situation is most grave, and the
moment Is one of those when the RESPONSE
buity Of the head Of an expedition IS truly
ACCOUNTING . If our expedition were
one Of adventure merely. | would gladly
take the risk, but ] must not forget
IL was with anguish Of heart that | made
up my mind.
The expedition was accompanied by
a dog that died. a cat that also died,
but left behind it a numerous progeny,
end by two rats. one Of which was
drowned. DR.. Charcot had hopes of
training the other one but IL was of
retiring nature. The leader became suf
fciently we'll acquainted with a seal and
its young to be allowed to pet them