Evening star., 1950-12-11
By Cupt. John Gioever
Leader, Joint British-scandinavian Antarc
tic Expedition

By Copt. John Gioever
Leader, Joint British-Sca ndinavian Antarc-
tic Expedition
MAUDHEIM, Antarctica, Dec. 4
(By wireless, via Oslo, delaye0
(NANA). Polar Information for
the members of a scientific expedi-
ton is subject to the same condi-
tions and has to meet much the
same demands as marriage.
If life Is to be tolerable the
members must have the will and
aptitude of considering each
others seekings not only in mat
ters which may seem important
but even more in the trivialities
Of everyday life.
Here in Maudheim. where Is
men, by nature individualists. live
side by side, the strain of living
in close proximity with fellow
human beings is sharpened to a
razor-edge sensitivity.
MonotOny Is Difficult.
The first winter passed slowly.
In spite Of the extensive routine
program the monotony Of life in
doors for months on end with
neither the radio nor any other
outside contact was difficult to
assuage. Interests were restricted
and trif1es took on unreasonable
dimensions. During the long,
weary months the worst edges
were smoothed away but some
hard salients remained as irritants
to the winter-worn nerves of the
company. Considerateness had to
be inconsiderately enforced.
Apart from some explosions here
and there. everyday life goes on
comparatively smoothly, due con-
siderably to the International
character of the expedition which
makes for greater individual re-
traint.
Over a drink recently the Scan
dinavian members discussed our
association and each agreed that
all the others, but not he, had
been the victims of the prevailing
winter psychosis. I dare to pre-
dict that in 1852, after two years
Of life in a refrigerator, we 15I
Maudheimians will, if patience
and consideration for others is
any criterion, be ideal husbands.
British Seem Undisturbed.
National characteristics, under
such conditions. are more boldly
displayed: The British remain in
tent on their work and seem un-
disturbed whether it is winter or
spring. Calm and well balanced, |
their imperial training makes
them indifferent to whether they
are cooperating with Scandina- /
vians In the Antarctic or with .
natives in tropical Africa.
A sense Of humor is their valu /
able and necessary contribution.
The variety of Scandinavian
makeup is more apparent, alter
mating from an almost British
unconcern to the f1eriest of Span
ish temperament. For the first
group, adjustment to the party is
q natural process of adaptation;
but for the others it is almost
impossible.
Before our departure for the
Antarctic there were doubts
whether the scientists and the
laymen would make a happy part
nership. Fortunately. we have
had no trouble, though the scien-
lists are surprised at what seems
to them lack of interest by the
laymen in some of their research.
Liberal With Affronts.
"Why should I get excited sew
eral times day." said Knall Elk
strom, Swedish mechanic. "over /
small pieces of ice even if they
have come from a depth of so |
meters (65 yards ?" The most |
entertaining friendship in Maud
helm is between Mr.. Ekstrom and
the steward, John Snarby, Nor
wegian, who bambard each other
daily with rich affrontS.
With the winter over we are
now actively preparing for the ex-
pedition of the spring and sum-
mer, enlivened by good radio re-
ception, bringing kilograms from
home and contact with amateur
radio sets in Norway, the United
States, and Africa. The fumes of
winter neuroses have been dis
persed by the temperance of the
sun. November and early Decem-
ber corresponds to may in Europe,
and, although the heralds of !
spring are few, petrels f1uttering
about the radio masts are as ex-
citing as the first cuckoo.
Driving in our weasel" snow |
tractors, hunting seal along the
rim of the open ocean, we are re-
ceived by hundreds of bowling bull
penguins, curious, solemn, and ex-
cessively courteous. Roasted pen
guin tastes good, but we cannot |