THE RETUKX OF DAYLIGHT. 269 



stratus at sunrise and sunset being the only ones ; very 

 light variable airs and calms, brilliant sunlight, and 

 miles of ice. So brilliant is the glare of the sun that 

 it is imprudent to go outside of the ship even, without 

 snow-spectacles ; for if the eyes do not become painful 

 while on the ice they are almost sure to become so 

 shortly after coming in-board. We have had so much 

 annoyance from the glasses frosting up and thus be- 

 coming useless for seeing purposes, that some of us 

 to-day tried wearing horse hair eye guards. These we 

 found to be excellent beyond comparison. They did 

 not frost up at all, were more pleasant next the skin 

 than glass goggles, although the rims of these latter 

 are covered with velvet, and, curious to relate, I found 

 that my near-sightedness was considerably overcome 

 by them, enabling me to see at greater distances and 

 with more clearness and distinctness than with the 

 naked eye. This is a fact worthy of investigation by 

 an oculist at some future time. 



The bright sunlight out-board also reaches us in- 

 board, and with bright and cheering effect. The air 

 ports and deck lights in the cabin being cleaned of 

 their accuuiulation of ice allow the sunlight to stream 

 in, and cheer and brighten us while the excessive cold 

 keeps us shut up. The cabin has a very dingy look. 

 The smoke of a whole winter from stoves and pipes 

 has colored the white paint work to a decided black, 

 and we are almost tempted to commence scrubbing it 

 before mild weather comes. But as it will turn our 

 dr}^ and comfortable quarters into wet and damp ones 

 for several days, we refrain. Now that daylight makes 

 things visible which lamplight hid, I am finding in my 

 room on the forward and out-board sides accumulations 

 of ice and frost, which the steward breaks up with an 



