Evening star., 1935-11-24
Roberts.

New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons.
MONG the number of books of
n exploration which have re-
II Gently come out, this must
a take a leading place. It is
the record, one feels, of a great
attempt at pioneering. For, while
some observers have hinted that. in
his effort to mechanic exploration.
Admiral Byrd has ended the era of
individuality (and so struck a blow
at one more field of romantic enter
prise), it must be clear, from reading
his book, that he and his group were
no less personally pitted against the
elements than have been his prede-
cesSors. Their tools broke in their
hands as frequently and as meal
culably as did those of the earlier
men. But, because they we're more
powerful tools while they lasted they
accomplished vastly more Viewed in
this manner it will be seen that Ad-
miral Byrd, instead of ending the
pioneer spirit by substituting mechan-
ization, has broadened the possibilities
by which that spirit may find its eX-
preston.
Let no one say that because tractors.
planes and radios were included in
this expedition its difficulties were
leSsened. Its dangers may have been.
But its labors, to all evidence, were
increased. The struggles of these men
in appalling temperatures with gears,
generators. clutches, and the like,
make acutely painful reading. Much
simpler, by contrast, seems the prob
lem of the old-time adventurer who,
when his dogs died, kneW-simply
knew-that he too must die, there
being no remedying possible. Ma
chinery, however, usually can be
patched. Ingenuity, therefore, did not
dare relax. These modern explorers
did not engage death at close quar-
ters. They had the specter distanced
by several moves. But to keep these
moves open required of them Wig
ilance that, even to think about, is
appalling.
This will be the chief finding of
the lay reader of Discovery" 1t con-
tains much scientific data and many
technical passages, to be sure, but
these will not tell the tale to many
To them-and one feels that the book
will have a wide public-the story
will lie in the pitting of climate against
machines and the work of human
beings as laborious allies to mech
eniSmS.
To such readers it may occur that
Admiral Byrd has earned credit for
conceiving of this plan of attack on
the Antarctic, but that the next step
will logically be taken in the lab
oratorieS, where metals, fabrics and
oils capable of functioning in sub
zero must be designed. And, having
gone so far into the future, most
of us will contentedly turn back to
Buck Rogers. But the record, painful
and dependent upon skill, as well as
courage, stands, and is perhaps, for
the present at least, the most vivid
presentation of the state, fumbling,
but effective, Of our conquest of ma
terials.
EXPLORING TODAY. BY Lincoln
Ellsworth. New York: Dodd Mead
& Co.
THIS work is not the record of any
expedition, but sort of handbook
on the whole subject of exploration
as it is today. The author, an en-
inent veteran in the field, discusses
Polar and South Sea expeditions,
stratoSphere exploration, mountain
climbing, submarine study, archeolog-
ical undertakings, women in eXplora-
ton and yet other branches of this
kind of enterprise. His book is keenly
written and, though reading it prob
ably will not make explorers of any
of us, it will certainly entertain a
large army of fireside adventurers-
and do SO with entirely satisfactory
thrills
THE UNTOLD STORY OF EXPLO-
RATION. BY Lowell Thomas. New
York: Dodd Mead g. Co.
THIS is collection of short his
tories of personal enterprise and
courage in the field OF exploration,
chosen not from the great names which
the whole world recognizes, but from
the lives of hitherto little-known men
and women. Miss Mary Kingsley. for
example, is one of the group. She was
Victorian gentlewoman who pio-
neered alone in darkest Africa, dealing
with leopards and crocodiles (she
called the latter mighty silurians')
single-handed and without arms, for,
as she remarked, she never consid-
cred it ladylike to go about shooting
things with a gun" Her weapons in
general seemed to be furniture and
dishes which she tossed at the intrud-
ing brutes. Invading the jungle, she
dressed exactly as she had in her ma
tive Cambridge and once, says Mr.
Thomas, when she tumbled accidental
ly into leopard pit her voluminous
petticoats undoubtedly saved her life.
All honor to the gentlewoman. The
world knows little about her. One feels
that it should know more.
Other neglected but heroic figures in
Mr.. Thomas book are the first Rob-
inson Crusoe, who antedated Selkirk
by century and more; the buccaneer,
Dampier, who became a great ex-
plorer and was entertained at dinner
by the secretary of the British ad-
miralty, Master Samuel Pepys, on
which occasion he remarked Gin a
quiet. bashful way Gentlemen,
all your charts of the Pacific are dead
wrong" the unsung Marco Polo of
Bavaria Hans Schiltberger; and
Chang K'ien. who, century before
the birth of Christ, set out to find
foreign markets for the silk of his ma
tive land, China. And there are still |
others.
Mr.. Thomas writes here with the
fair for good tale-telling which has
made him famous. His book is fasci- |
mating. and one feels that it deserves |
to be read widely.
ALONE ACROSS THE TOP OF THE
WORIn The Story nf David Tr.