Year: 1874

There is perhaps no influence so subtle,
vet so constraining, as that of climate, sun
and air. And the sensation OF the Arctic
double day, light perpetual, is something
quite new and extraordinary, exciting yet
invigorating. 1t enables one to go to bed
at O'Clock and rise again at 5 without the
least feeling of lassitude. Only very little
sleep is required where the life-giving rays
never desert us. An approximation to
this higher animation may be felt in the
Shetlands, where the children may be seen
PLAYING on the hillside and in daylight till
IL, and people turn into bed very late
and reluctantly. Yet the extreme north
of the Shetlands is only as far north as
Bergen, at which place the Arctic vOyager
feels already, and with intense regret, that
the long days have left him, that the nights
of the less favored Southern countries are
beginning, and that gas in the streets and
candles in the house are not caSt-Off alb
surdities. Indeed, as to latitude, Norway
NAV be almost said to begin where Great
Britain ends. Christiansand, the extreme
southern point of Norway, is in latitude
IS degrees, on the same parallel with the
south of Sutherlandshire, about DunrObin
Castle and Lairg. Thence Norway ex-
tends for more than thirteen degrees to
beyond II degrees, or a degrees beyond
the Arctic Circle. The entrance into the
Arctic region makes more sudden and
violent change in the summer climate than
might have been expected. No experience
in the long days in the north of Scotland,
or even at Throndhiem (631o), gives any
adequate forecast of the true Arctic night.
Near the Arctic circle you may, for about
a fortnight at midsummer, see the sun de-
scend below the horizon at ten minutes
before twelve, leaving a subdued light, as
if he were behind a cloud, and rise again
at ten minutes past, nearly at the same
spot, which of course is north, with en-
hanced splendor For a few minutes of
the suns absence night-chill is percepti-
BILE, which is dispelled directly by his ris-
ing rays; but so far we have not yet
reached the Arctic summer. The next
night, if you have been voyaging on mean


while, you must be deg ee or so within
the circle, and if the weather is fine and
the northern foriZon free from high land,
you may carefully watch the golden orb
mot generally so red as with us) descend
toward the horizon, but, when about three
times his own diameter from the horizon,
after few minutes ofapparent stand-still,
begin to rise again. moving toward the
east. The heat and brilliancy of the
sun this night are such that parasols are
generally used, till the interest of the few
minutes of crisis causes them to be discard
ed, and that if there be not too much
wind, holes may be made in wooden
clothes, pipes lighted. ETC., by ordinary
burning glasses; the sun may be gaZed on,
though with some pain, by the naked eye.
The further north you go the higher is the
suns lowest point, till at TrOmsO (6S' 400
he is five or six times his diameter above
the horizon, and the longer is the period
during which he never sets, which is full
month at Hammerfest (7S0 4O). The
amount of light of course diminishes dur
ing the evening, but after 1880 remains
the same, and appears toward midnight
rather to increase. 1t has greater softness
than the light of day, and sheds pecu-
liar warm glow over the sea and rocks,
which must be seen TO be thoroughly un-
derstood. After midnight it is Interesting
to watch the evening light change its
character; about 1890, or rather later, it
assumes a whittier color, more like what
we know as early morning light an hour