218 EFFECTIVENESS OF THE COMMITTEE ON OCEANOGRAPHY 



1896, before the days of dirigibles. He hoped to be able to steer his balloon to 

 some limited extent by means of a drag rope and a sail, and to be able to keep the 

 balloon up during the time required for the winds to carry it across the unknown 

 regions. He went to Spitsbergen in 1896, intending to start from there in his 

 balloon. He did not, however, think the meteorological conditions sufficiently 

 favorable for a start that summer. He therefore returned, and postponed his 

 start till the following year. 



In the meantime we came back from our expedition in the Fram across the 

 unknown north Polar Sea, and our meteorological observations collected during 

 3 years in those regions were naturally of great interest to Andree. At his re- 

 quest I sent him a full extract of them when he was again on his way north to 

 Spitsbergen in the early summer of 1897. I also sent him a letter in which I 

 pointed out that, as he would see, the prevailing winds and the meteorological 

 conditions during the summer months would not, as a rule, be favorable to his 

 undertaking. And I expressed the hope that, as he had once had the courage 

 to return when he saw that the conditions were unfavorable, he would be able 

 to show the same courage again. 



He wrote back from Tromso, thanked me for the documents and my kind 

 advice, but declared that he would not be able to show that courage a second 

 time. 



On July 11, 1897, the noble Swede and his gallant companions started on their 

 flight from Spitsbergen into the unknown. They never returned. 



This was certainly the noble spirit of adventure, which did not shrink back 

 before risks. We cannot but admire it, but we profoundly regret that those 

 splendid qualities could not have been used for a better purpose. 



Why do I give these examples from the life of exploration and adventure? 

 Because all of us are explorers in life, whatever trail we follow. Because it is 

 the explorers with the true spirit of adventure we now need if humanity shall 

 really overcome the present difficulties, and find the right course across that 

 dangerous sea ahead of us which I mentioned at the beginning. Mind you, 

 you will all find your adventure, for even life itself is an adventure. 



But try not to waste your time in doing things which you know can be done 

 equally well by others. Everyone should try to hit upon his own trail. Do not 

 lose your opportunities, and do not allow yourselves to be carried away by the 

 superficial rush and scramble which is modern life. The first great thing is to 

 find yourself, and for that you need solitude and contemplation — -at least 

 sometimes. 



I tell you deliverance will not come from the rushing noisy centers of civiliza- 

 tion: it 'will come from the lonely places. The great reformers in history have 

 come from the wilderness. 



My friend Knud Rasmussen told me a remarkable story about a medicine man, 

 a conjurer of the primitive Eskimo of the "Barren Grounds" in northern Canada. 

 I should like for your benefit to repeat it here. This simple savage who had 

 hardly ever seen a white man, said to his friend and colleague Rasmussen: "The 

 true wisdom is only found far from men, out in the great solitude, and can only be 

 attained through suffering. Privation and suffering is the only road to wisdom — 

 and they alone can open a man's mind for that which is hidden to others." 



I think those words of a savage show more understanding of the secret of wis- 

 dom than you will find in a great many people in our countries. He went on to 

 describe how in order to become a sage, i.e., a medicine man or conjurer, a man 

 has to fast for 14 days in an unheated snow hut at the coldest time in the middle of 

 winter. Then comes another medicine man with a drink of hot water and a little 

 raw meat. And after that the man has to go on fasting again as long as he pos- 

 sibly can. He should never finish his struggle for wisdom, but most people are 

 satisfied too soon, and that is the reason why there is so little wisdom in the world. 



This is the true spirit of adventure, which must always press on. It makes one 

 think of those lines by Tennyson: 



"This grey spirit yearning in desire 

 To follow knowledge like a sinking star, 

 Beyond the utmost bound of human thought." 



These are questions well worth thinking over, but I tell you there are many 

 people who do not get time even to think over what they themselves hold to be 

 the purpose of their lives. What is the purpose of yours? Are you, all of you, 

 certain you have the answer ready? 



Are you out for happiness? Well, many people are. But believe me, my 

 friends," you need not look for it. The great thing is to do your best and to be 



