162 ARCTIC VOYAGES. Chap. VI. 



useful hints. Our theatre was now laid out on a larger 

 and more commodious scale ; its decorations much im- 

 proved ; and, what was more essential both to actors and 

 audience, a more efficient plan adopted for warming it, 

 by which we succeeded in keeping the temperature several 

 degrees above zero on each night of performance throughout 

 the winter."— pp. 122, 123. 



And he adds, in a note — 



" I cannot omit to mention, that just before we left Eng- 

 land, a large and handsome -phantasmagoria, or magic lan- 

 tern, had been presented to me, for the use of the expedi- 

 tion, by a lady, who persisted in keeping her name a secret 

 from those whom she was thus serving. This apparatus, 

 which was excellent of its kind, was frequently resorted to 

 during this and the succeeding winter ; and I am happy to 

 avail myself of this mode — the only one in my power — of 

 thanking our benefactress ; and assuring her that her pre- 

 sent afforded a fund of amusement, fully answering her kind 

 intentions." 



No man was better acquainted with the character 

 and feelings of seamen than Parry. He knew that 

 mirth, and other excitements to cheerfulness, if too 

 often repeated with little or no variation, are apt to 

 lose their effect. Fully aware of this, and with a 

 view to higher objects, it did not escape his reflec- 

 tion that, during the long winter nights, when for 

 a certain period the whole day was in fact a night, 

 an opportunity might be afforded for instructing* the 

 men of both ships in at least the elementary parts of 

 education. To this end he says, 



" To furnish rational and useful occupation to the men, 

 on the other evenings, a school was also established, under 



