EDITOR'S PREFACE. 



will be seen that practically the only land the 180th meridian crosses is 

 that fragment of farthest and desolate Siberia, mentioned above. In its 

 onward course to the South Pole the 180th meridian, like the meridian 

 of Greenwich, on the exact opposite side of the world, passes entirely 

 over water, so far as known. 



In a chapter of this book reference is made to the beautiful little 

 story of Edgar Allan Poe about the young sea captain who could not get 

 the consent of the father of his sweetheart to marry her. The father 

 meant to tell the young captain that it would be impossible for him to 

 consent to let him have his daughter. To make it as strong as possible 

 the father said to the young navigator, ''whenever you can prove to 

 me that there are fifty-four Sundays in one year, you may have my 

 daughter." Being an experienced navigator and knowing that a Sun- 

 day or any day may be gained by crossing the 180th meridian in an 

 easterly direction, the young skipper accepted the father's offer as a 

 bargain. After a two years' cruise the young captain came back and 

 demonstrated, after long and patient explanation to the girl's father 

 that he had actually found fifty-four Sundays by turning his ship 

 around and crossing the 180th meridian twice in an easterly direction. 

 Much to his joy the young navigator found his lover's father a man of 

 his word. In crossing the 180th meridian in a westerly direction a day 

 may be lost. It is here, as time is measured, that every day begins 

 and ends, being reckoned from the meridian of Greenwich; 



It matters not whether we can make up our minds as to the practical 

 usefulness of the North Pole and the vast unexplored regions surround- 

 ing it. The fact remains that it is, without doubt, the most important 

 geographical discovery since Columbus discovered America. This dis- 

 covery will undoubtedly give a great stimulus to explorers all over the 

 world to make efforts to reach the South Pole. When this feat is accom- 

 plished it would seem that there will be no more " worlds to conquer.'* 



