Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-15
FORBES AND DIR. COOK, In PRISON,
DREAM OF BEAUTY AND RICHES
Former Writes POetical-
ly of'Fair Hawaii, His
Former Home.
Explorer Urges Polar
Bear ''Farm'' in Antarc.>
tic for Sure Wealth.

tlC EOE cure w cdItIls
Gagged in the walls of the Federal
Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kans.,
two men have built for themselves
palaces of dreams.
Barred windows. rifle armed
guards. rusty shackles of routine
The wild bird Time itself trans
formed into a dull. numbering turtle
But these two middle aged men.
for both of whom unfortunate mis-
takes interrupted careers of honor
and adventure. find an antidote for 1t
all in their dreams.
One of them, former private of
Marines and not many years since
figure of note in Washington. finds
his surcease from sorrow in the past
and writes articles tinged with
poetry about 1t.
He is Charles r. Forbes, former
director of the L. S. Veterans Blu
reau, sentenced to prison after a con-
gressiOnal committee had uncovered
various frauds in his administration.
In the current issue of. the Leaven-
worth New Era. the publication of
the prisoners. he writes of his
Younger days in the South Seas.
Before the World War Forbes was
commissioner of public works in
I Hawaii. a post which he gave up for
military service.
"A cluster of emerald beauty
nestled in the Mid Pacific" he calls
his old home and continues
When the curtain Of night is
drawn over these lovely isles a feel
ing of refreshmet and repose steals
over the Wayfarer as he lies down
to sleep and he is awakened by the
soothing zephyrs from a peaceful
sea while the song birds attune his
soul for another day"
Another Who Dreams.
The other dreamer is not less not
able than Forbes-one endowed with
an active imagination which once
got him into serious trouble. but
which serves him in good stead now.
But the dreams Of Dr. Frederick A.
Cook differ radically from those of Col.
Forbes. He builds his castles in the
future.
Just now DR.. Cook is sensing eco
homie opportunities at the North and
South Poles and their vicinities. There
are enormous fortunes to be made by
young men who are willing to put up
with the inconvenience of life in
those regions. says the doctor, in run
ming polar bear ranches.
At present this monarch of the Ice
fields dwells only in the Arctic, but
this territory will prove too small for
the industry. once it gets on its feet
and starts to expand, the doctor be
lieves. He advocates stocking the
now lifelesS Antartic continent and
the surrounding islands with the
hardy animals.
Cook. who recently was named
editor of the prison paper, knows what
he is talking about. He has explored
both regions and even his enemies ad-
nit that he is one of the most
courageous men that ever sailed into
| the icepacks-if it wasn't for his alb
normally active imagination.
Skins Should Bring 5000.
DR.. Cooks article. entitled Other
| Worlds to Conquer" is altogether too
| good to be confined in Leavenworth.
| 1t follows in part:
1T is a bold step to advocate the
| breeding and ranching of bears as an
agreeable occupation. Nevertheless
believe it can be done with great
profit Furthermore, 1t will furnish
that kick of zest to life that the com
| ing generations are seeking, A ranch
| stocked with 1000 bears would keep
big group Of movie artists and other
| adventures in perpetual motion for
all time.
Bear families should double in
numbers yearly. Therefore an island
stocked with 10 breeding animals.
properly cared for and fed at the end
of 10 years should increase to about
/ 6 900 bears The skins should sell at
| 5000 each, but IL sold at $100-the live
| stock on the ranch would represent
| $500 900.
The polar bear rules the world in
which he lives. He is emperor of the
boreal wilds. and dominates primarily
| by superior intelligence. Physically
and in some respects mentally supe-
| ror to man, his sense Of hearing,
smell, sight and other instincts are
developed to an extraordinary degree.
His grip upon the animal functions
of the body, coupled with some reason
| ing power. are SO quick and dramatic
that the Eskimo assigns to him SUI
! pernatural position among animals
| and above all among the spirits that
mysteriously dominate the icy North.
| In song and story of the Arctic. bruin
| is praised for courage, intelligence and
power-ard his acts are associated
with the gods of other worlds.
Surely the greatest Of all travellers,
| the white bear is an adept far Supe-
rior to man or other animals In a re-
gion where the chill of death Is al
| ways coming from the frosty blue that
pours despair over land and sea. He
enjoys the nude mountains, the charm
of color in sun-burned plains Of snow
! and the dark stormy seas. All ma
ture at it's worst is Joy to his battle
seeking nature. He encircles the
Northern Hemisphere along the outer
edge of the ice strewn circumpolar
sea. In his care-free wanderings he
is equally at home on land and sea.
EN- route to the Pole. for the first
400 miles the polar bear was almost
a constant companion. On our return
a bear saved our lives, and at all times
the bear taught us much about the