CONSTITUTION DAY ON BOARD THE <FRAM.' 145 



On our proud vessel flags waved from deck to masthead, 

 looking like points of fire in the snowy landscape. Every- 

 thing had been polished up and decorated for the occasion, and 

 a little band of men in their Sunday best were eagerly engaged 

 on preparations for celebrating the day in proper style. Maybe, 

 that in the midst of the work and the merry-making they thought 

 of their flag and country. The doctor had fixed up the programme 

 for the day in the after-cabin ; it was as follows : 



PROGRAMME. 

 MAY 17, 1899. 



7 a.m. Choral music from the fore-cabin. (Solo by R. Stolz.) 



8 Breakfast a la Lindstrb'm. (Toasts for the day to be proposed by 



Simmons.) 



11 Procession to the Seal-hole in Rice Strait. 



12 noon. Salute. Speech in honour of the occasion. (By a dilettante.) 



Unveiling of Fosheimsseter. 

 1 p.m. Diner a la ' 3 Kroner.' 



Cafe, liqueurs. 

 6 Supper, with sups to follow. 



In the evening dancing and music in the fore- and after-cabins, fireworks, and 

 the midnight sun. 



N.B. No newspaper will be issued in honour of the day. Ed. 



Out in the sound was a heap of snow round the hole in the ice 

 where the temperatures were taken. This heap was to do duty as 

 a stand; thither we were to walk in procession, and from there 

 the doctor was to make a speech in honour of the day. 



At eleven o'clock the procession left the ' Fram,' with Baumann 

 at the head of it, carrying the Norwegian flag ; next came a picture 

 of the ' Frarn,' painted and borne aloft by the mate ; then came 

 the doctor with an opposition banner for even in our little 

 community there were discontented spirits who wished for modi- 

 fications in our constitution. On the opposition banner were 

 inscribed the words : ' Down with the Porridge : up with the 

 Cheese.' This was a loyally presented protest against the oatmeal 

 porridge which, together with tea and sandwiches, had at first 

 been served some four or five times weekly.* Under this banner, in 



* Partly in order to save the other provisions, we ate a great deal of porridge 

 for supper the first winter. Nobody could know how long we might have to make 

 VOL. I. L 



