Evening star., 1925-08-02


said DIR. Donald B. Macmillan, who
is on his way to the top of the world
for the seventh time. Macmillan Sc
lects the men for his expedition care
fully. weighing each ones tempera-
ment and character before accepting
him.
There must be no discord, no en-
mites, no cranks. The loneliness of
the Arctic, the close quarters In the
iglOos and the endless monotony of
the days without newspapers or d.
version. are a severe test of good
nature. Murders have been committed
and primitive hatreds aroused on ex-
petitions mot MacMillan's) because
enough care was not exercised in the
choice of men.
A Good Laugh.
"A good laugh" according to Mac
MILAN, will keep the spirit of the
party happy and friendly when nerves
have become so that every man Is on
edge. After a few weeks crowded
into small quarters each man knows
his shipmate so well that there is
nothing left to know. AS time goes
on the men are wont to keep by them
selves, or to take their dog teams and
dash off on visit to their Esuuimo
friends, perhaps 100 miles away, to
get away from each other. They are
sapped dry of everything. Talked
out. With the radio, conditions are
better, but one of my most important
tasks is to keep the men in good
humor and on friendly terms"
Friends who have often heard this
Arctic explorer who has dedicated
his life to solving the mysteries of the
Far North, anthropological, geograph-
lcal, and so on through the science,
talk about the difficulties of keeping
the members of his expedition in good
humor decided to add their bit to the
present expedition by presenting Mac
MILAN with Log of Laughter''-a
laugh day for 80 days, as an anti
dote for bad nerves.
Stories were contributed by the
Governors of Maine and Massachu-
setts, by the mayor of Boston, by
famous theatrical stars, by the cine
ma child favorite, Jackie Coogan;
Senators, milionaires, sportsmen and
friends, who have known the bachelor
of the North since childhood. Each
was asked to send the story he con-
sidered the most humorous. So when
the good ship Bowdoin, presented to
Macmillan by the alumni of his alma
mater, pointed her nose around the
rugged rocks of Monhegan Island
table in the cabin of the commander
of the expedition a square bundle
done up in a crash towel. The towel.
which served for the cover is to be
given to- some Eskimo, who will in
deed cherish It. as It means a recess
from drying the face and hands,
which are washed IL the body is not,
with coarse dried grass. Ninety
sheets of paper, each separate, with
a frontispiece that says:
A LOG OF LAUGHTER:
One Laugh a Day.
Presented to
Lieut.. Comdr. Donald B. Macmillan
with the love and well wishes
of his friends on his Seventh
Expedition to the Arctic.
The idea is that Macmillan will read
one story each day and tell that story
at mess. While the ships are en- route
the stories will be radioed each day
to the Peary SO that the scientist. the
aviators and the crew of that yacht,
under the command of Lieut. Comdr
Eugene Macdonald of Chicago, can
also laugh and keep in good spirits.
None On-Color.
Not one story is off color. Among
those who contributed stories was
Don Marquis, who sent his book. The
Old Soak's History of the World tsaid
to be one laugh from beginning 10
end. accompanied by letter which
was a laugh itself. In the letter Mar
quis wrote: Il will not sit down and
write any laughs for Macmillan. much
rs ] admire him. From the way the
weather has started out | think the
explorer has the laugh on us. but
/ incloSe copy of the old Soak's His
tory of the World written in cooler
moments and which some of my
friends say is funnier than hell" The
book is autographed with an inscrip
ton that shows how dear to the hearts
of all men is he who braves danger
for the sake of achievement.
Other contributors were Ernest
Thompson Seton, naturalist; Charley
Winninger, actor and intimate friend
of Macmillan; Blanche Ring. in private
life Mrs. Winninger; Senator Copeland
DIR. Eugene Lyman Fiske of the Life
Extension Institute, Bruce Barton
Alvan F. Fuller, Governor of Massa
chusetts; Mayor John F. Hylan, James
NJ. Curley, mayor of Boston: Frieda
Hempel. opera singer: Lieut.. Comdr
Charles NJ. Lyons of the U. S. N
Spike MacCormick of Bowdoin College
Irving Herriott, attorney. of Chicago
Sport Hermann, friend of MacMil
Ian and yachtsman of fame; NJ T.
Hennessey, one of the best known
political writer's of New England
Jackie Coogan, Mrs. Edith Hughes ot
Bismarck. n. OAK, one OF the clever
est politicians in the country; Gov
Brewster of Maine, Mr.. .and Mrs
Charles H. Innes of Boston (Mr Innes
being State chairman of the Repub
Iican party of Massachusetts, and Mrs
Innes, formerly Edna Bates. of musi
cal comedy fame): Wellington Cross
known as monologist and musical com
edy actor, and Craley Sewell the
grandfather of the expedition, college
mate of Macmillan and also fraternity
brother.
Frieda HempePs Story.
Some day the whole log may be
available for copying. In the mean
while. here is the gist of few of the
stories which will bring laughs to 81
men who face death hourly as they
sail northward and bunt the iceberg.
and nose their way to Etah, the best
equipped Arctic expedition that ha.
gone forth.
Frieda Hempel wrote about a negro
! in the South who during the wal
, wanted to get into the fight. His con
, tinuous plant was I wan wah" H,
| was finally enlisted and giver the jot
! of manicuring the mules. His plain
| continued, II want wah." AS time
went by this negro recruit by de
vious routes reached France, but h,
was not sent up to the front and hi.
! buddies had to listen to his continu
| GUS lament, II want wah." The day
came when his outfit was sent up t.
the front, but all was silent, excep
! the lamenter. After some days o.
f! Inactivity the enemy began to bonn
bard the line and a shell fell where
| the II want wah" stood. After the
excitement was over his fellow fight