226 LIGHT SCIENCE FOR LEISURE HOURS. 



the polar ice-wall to the north-east of Spitzbergen is; 

 more likely to be successful than the search for a pas- 

 sage in any other direction.' 



So that ( 1 ) Dr. Petermann, regarded by our reviewer 

 as an eminent geographer ; (2) Von Mildendorf, whom 

 he regards as a distinguished savant ; and (3) the re- 

 viewer himself, who no doubt does not regard himself 

 as either shallow or stupid, seem all agreed as to the 

 very points which the reviewer has spoken of as in- 

 volving stupidities and shallow nonsense. Certainly 

 they all agree as to the only points which seem in the 

 least worthy of discussion. 



What, then, the reader will ask, is the matter in 

 dispute? Over what momentous question have the 

 angry words quoted above been bandied ? 



After diligent search for the apple of discord, the 

 student of the review will be led to the conclusion that 

 it is neither more nor less than the name ' Grulf Stream.' 

 We have seen that Von Mildendorf calls the warm 

 current which passes by Nova Zembla the Grulf Stream. 

 In this, it appears, he has shown shallowness and stu- 

 pidity. Dr. Petermann has equally committed himself, 

 or rather has committed a more serious offence. For 

 Von Mildendorf might have used the offensive epithet 

 only through inadvertence ; but Dr. Petermann not 

 only uses it, but has the hardihood (we might almost 

 say the cruelty) to maintain that ' it is a matter of no 

 consequence.' Moreover, as our reviewer sadly admits, 

 ' other physical geographers ' agree with Dr. Petermann. 

 The reviewer is so grieved by the defection of the 



