480 THE VOYAGE OF THE JEANNETTE. 



still alive. That, after all, seems such a negative kind 

 of thing — a living with no purpose, an existence with- 

 out present tangible results, a mechanical supplying the 

 system with food, heat, and clothing, in order to keep 

 the human engine running. 



I have often wondered if a horse driving; a saw-mill 

 had any mental queries as to why he tramped over his 

 endless plank, and what on earth there was accom- 

 plished by his so doing. The saw was generally out of 

 his sight, he perceived no work accomplished, he never 

 changed his position relatively, he worked on and on 

 without advancing a foot, and ended his day's work in 

 identically the same place at which he began it, and, as 

 far as equine judgment could forecast, would do the 

 same thing to-morrow, and every other day thereafter. 

 If that horse had reasoning faculties, I pity him and 

 appreciate now his thoughts and feelings. We are in- 

 dividually in that horse's position — we see no saw, we 

 can detect no work accomplished, we move on without 

 advancing a foot, w r e shall do to-morrow what Ave have 

 done to-day and what we did yesterday, and w T e fill up 

 with oats, so to speak, merely that the saw-mill may not 

 have to suspend sawing. This kind of life is w r orse than 

 Mr. Mantalini and his mangle. With him life was "one 

 demnition grind," but with us it is " one clemnition 

 blank." 



A man up here thinks a wonderful amount of non- 

 sense, says many things which he would be surprised at 

 remembering hereafter, and, if he writes, commits to 

 paper many absurdities which he will laugh at after- 

 wards. But to a physiologist, who could retain his own 

 mental poise and strength under these circumstances, 

 the study of human life and characteristics developed 

 by a residence of white men in the Arctic regions would 

 give materials for a very readable volume. 



