Evening star., 1933-05-07
ARCTIC VILLAGE. BY Robert Marshall. New
York: Harrison Smith & Robert Haas.


and white pencil drawings. The text does
justice to the pictures. 1t accomplishes two
things-it tells an interesting story Of explora-
ton and life In the Arctic and 1t gives much
sound information about the country, the peo-
pie and their communal life, sex customs,
economic problems, recreations and philosophy.
Mr.. Marshall, after graduation from the New
York State College Of Forestry and the Harvard
Forest School and four years Of work with the
United States Forest Service in Montana and
Idaho went to the Arctic and stayed there for
over a year. Blank spaces on maps" had
always fascinated him, and he had been in the
Arctic once before. This time he went by air
plane the 200 miles from Fairbanks to Wiseman.
the chief settlement in the Koyukuk where
every inhabitant OF the town, Eskimo and
white, met him at the landing field. The in
habitants numbered 1877.
The description of Mr. Marshalls log cabin,
where he settled down for the Winter, sur
rounded by steep, rugged snow-covered noun
tains, and its furnishings, notable for their
maximum Of utility, will arouse the admiration
of every practical housewife. His book collec-
ton, which included THE Life of Sir William
Oser." "Middletown," Anna Kareniria," The
Magic Mountain" and the plays of Euripides,"
in addition to practical works sociology
physics and medicine, was "a splendid collection
for year Of isolation but the isolation proved
50 extremely social that did not have time 10
read q quarter Of the books" The villagers,
with the exception Of q baby and one Eskimo
woman who could not speak English spent
hours visiting him In his cabin. and he returned
their visits. He also made many excursions to
the two gold mining centers nearby at Nolan
Greek and Hammond River, where the miners
welcomed him With overhowing hospitality.
allowed him to work with them and only with
great reluctance permitted him TO depart.
Longer dog-mushing trips Snug nights IN
snow-surrounded camps" the exploratio Of the
course Of an unknown river and visits to the
most remote mining camps Of the region added
to the wealth Of his experience. And all the
time, everywhere, there was conversation about
all the subjects which interested his various
companions, and all the subjects on which be
wished to pick up information. In the icy
mornings at Wiseman, after his cabin had been
warmed by the iron stove. notes were written
up, when visitors did not interrupt, perhaps
furnishing material for mere notes. And this
world far distant from standardized civilization,
did not seem to him isolated or lonely but, on
contrary, seemed full of human interest
and natural, unspoiled beauty. After an eve
ming walk in the freezing air, with the northern
lights rolling brightly across the heavens, he
would reflect that life could not possibly be
more splendid" It Is not possible in available
space to quote any Of Mr.. Marshalls descrip-
tions of his neishbors and friends in outlying
places nor to give his observations on family
enforcement sickness and health, education,
amusements religion and many other subjects.
The book is the choice of the Literary Guild for
May.
SIR HENRY MORGAN: Buccaneer and Gov
ernor. BY W. Adolphe Roberts. New York:
Covic;-Friede.
A s 'lord of the buccaneers that scourged the
u Spanish Main," Morgan's fame has never
died. A Welshman, q freebooter, knight,
Governor of Jamaica. favored by Charles II.
distrusted by James H. he ran his course by
the time he was So and died in Jamaica. drink
ing and laundering blasphemies almost to the
last Less than four years after his death An
earthquake obaiterated the cemetery where he
was buried and IF the Caribbean claimed the
great buccaneers bones, melted and destroyed
them utterly. merging them with the waves,
the poetical logic of that end cannot be ques-
toned" He had lived more at length for his
time than many who lived less intensely. In
the first two chapters of this biography M
Roberts describes buccaneering in the seven
teenth century, its Port of Orgies Port Royal
in Jamaica and The Brethren Of the Coast" :"
the buccaneers themselves.
1t is probable that Morgan went from Wales
to Jamaica in 1852 when he was about ~ years
old, where he joined q relative. There Is an
unsubstantiated story that he was before that
time held in servitude as an indentured laborer.
sold for debt to plantation owner of Barbados
He rose rapidly to success in the most popular
and lucrative occupation of his time. The
standard exploits Of the buccaneers, such Is
boarding gaEeons and raiding coast towns, were
too tame for him. He directed his fleet toward
Porto Bello, strongest bulwark OF Spanish
might in the Caribbean" marched upon it with
about 48O men. blasted its three large fortresses
and captured the town. "Rapine and pillage
began prematurely, twin scourges from hell. Let
no one imagine that distinctions remotely sug
gesting humanity were made that day." He
sent first for the monks and nuns and forced
them to place scaling ladders against the walls
of the one remaining castle not yet captured.