THE SECRET OF THE NORTH POLE. 109 



be asked for science, but millions freely and eagerly 

 given when the example of other countries, rapidly 

 passing in advance of England through their scientific 

 resources, will force on our attention the folly of a sys- 

 tem which grants thirty millions yearly to secure the 

 means of carrying on war, and refuses a few paltry 

 thousands to secure the noblest portion of our strength. 



(From the Daily News for November 5, 1870.) 



THE SECRET OF THE NORTH POLE. 



IF an astronomer upon some distant planet has ever 

 thought the tiny orb we inhabit worthy of telescopic 

 study, there can be little doubt that the snowy regions 

 which surround the arctic and antarctic poles must 

 have attracted a large share of his attention. "Waxing 

 and waning with the passing seasons, those two white 

 patches afford significant intelligence respecting the 

 circumstances of our planet's constitution. They mark 

 the direction of the imaginary axial line upon which 

 the planet rotates; so that we can imagine how an 

 astronomer on Mars or Yenus would judge from their 

 position how it fares with terrestrial creatures. There 

 may, indeed, be Martial Wheweils who laugh to scorn 

 the notion that a globe so inconveniently circumstanced 

 as ours can be inhabited, and are ready to show that if 

 there were living beings here they must be quickly 



