414 



THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



Routes followed by Otto Noedenskjold, 1902-1903 ; R. F. Scott, 1902-1904 ; 



W. S. Bkuce, 1903-1904. 



and we hope that it may be possible to 

 publish here other articles containing 

 accounts of work that in importance is 

 not exceeded by that being accom- 

 plished in any science in any part of 

 the world. 



EXPLORATION AND ADVENTUBE 

 IN THE ANTAECTIC 

 The attainment of. the South Pole is 

 of dramatic and sporting interest to 

 every one, and such expeditions are 

 likely to yield scientific results of value. 

 There is a dramatic appeal in the fact 

 that the most remote and inaccessible 

 ends of the earth have at least been 

 brought within reach, in the north by 

 Commander Peary and now in the south 

 by Captain Amundsen. These quests 

 have to a certain extent been interna- 

 tional games of skill and endurance. 



In the present instance this aspect has 

 been emphasized by the fact that Cap- 

 tain Amundsen secretly departed from 

 his planned expedition to the Arctic to 

 engage in the race with Captain Scott. 

 We may hope that both reached the 

 goal. It is not a matter of consequence 

 whether it was first attained by a des- 

 cendant of the vikings or by the people 

 that sent Cook, Weddell, Eoss, Scott 

 and Shackleton to press each further 

 than his predecessor to the south. The 

 Monroe doctrine presumably does not 

 include in its scope the Antarctic con- 

 tinent; but it seems unfortunate that 

 we have done less than our share to 

 explore the land immediately south of 

 us. 



It probably does not violate the copy- 

 right so carefully guarded by the New 

 York Times on behalf of Captain 



