The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-03-25
Byrd Explorers Rediscover Home

The Byrd expedition has discovered more than Spec
tacular geographic and physical facts about the South
polar region, but the additional discoveries have been
made on coming home. They are the realization Of how
sweet can be the comforts and pleasures Of civilization
In q land Of life.
These comforts and enjoyments stand in vivid contrast
to the ~hardships endured on . terrain to all intents -
dead as the surface Of the moon. In the Antarctic, the
expedition existed under deprivation that would have
been CHASTITY but for the alienation Of provisions carried
on its ship and the radio outfit that enabled it to keep
contact with the home world. Only the knowledge that
1t was not permanent immurement that they were under
going, but q temporary adventure in hardship. could have
enabled such stole repression as bore the members Of the
expedition through their experience In the sterile wilder
ness Of night and Ice and rocky grimness.
The party's first reappearance In civilization seems to
have been quite an event. The men found out. once
more, that the mere business Of sitting down to q hot
meal, Of sleeping in q comfortable bed, Of walking along
and hearing the noises Of community life. can be highly
exciting. almost ecstatic.
They had none Of those things In the Antarctic. Now
that they are returning to them they are reveling In
them. They are discovering that the ordinary, taken-for-
granted events Of daily living are genuinely thrilling.
And it Is quite possible that that is the most important.
discovery Of the whole trip.
For . polar continent. after Ill, is not q very useful
thing. It is surrounded by mystery. pervaded with the
menace Of sudden death. hemned In by eternal Loneliness.
and al. Of that; but . few intrepid wanderers 60 down to
it. crawl across it and fly over 1t, take photographs and
jot down notes, and that Is all there Is to 1t. It doesn't
butter any parsnips. It is only q by-road.
This other discovery, however-well, it would almost be
worth travelling to the bottom Of the globe Just to make
1t. Foc most Of Us never quite get in on it. We plug
along from day to day. doing the same old job and going
through the same old routine, wondering, now and then.
what it may all be about; and we never realixe-until
it Is too late-that we are living In the midst Of marvels
and wonders, ~partaking Of daily miracles, treading on
infinite mysteries.
Familiarity breeds. II not contempt, at least boredom.
We don't see the glory Of everyday life-because we see
it too often! 1t Is an old story. We take it too much
for granted.
In that way we cheat ourselves. We tell ourselves that
life would be rich and deep IL only we could share in
great events. perform great deeds. rise to high places;
and so we doom ourselves to Disappointment. For great
deeds. great events and high places are not for most Of
Us. The daily round Is Ill there is: all there ever will be,
to the end Of life. II we bank on the spectacular we shall
inevitably be stung.
Once in q while. though. we make the great discovery.
s-tncredibly-enough It contains richness and depth
beyond our dreams. It can satisfy Us, II te only open
our eyes to it.
Taxes show cigaret smoking is increasing. "Cherchez
les femmes."
The question is. viii airplanes take up the price of
gas?
The girl who runs after q man has to be entirely too
fast.
Next to money the hardest thing to keep Is . secret.
Men who act serious al the time are considered funny.