THE WHITE WORLD 



are remembered. And one longs once again to experience 

 the thrill of expectation, the hope for and innate conviction 

 of, success, which has beaten high in the heart of every 

 Arctic explorer. 



Is it the quest of the hitherto unattainable which possesses 

 this potent attraction, this more than ordinary magnetic 

 quality? It is possible. We all of us have known in our 

 lives the keen longing for that which was just beyond our 

 reach. There are few greater truths taught than that which 

 is presented to us by the fable of Tantalus. 



If the first Polar explorer had successfully accomplished 

 his purpose and discovered the North Pole, would there 

 have been any further expeditions? This, in my opinion, 

 is more than doubtful. What reason would there be to 

 visit it again? There are no commercial, no social possi- 

 bilities in that great frozen North, nor, from its climatic 

 conditions, can there ever be. 



And this brings us the ever-persistent question, which 

 demands an answer in regard to so many of the endeavors 

 and enterprises of humanity — Cui bono? What is the use of 

 it all? I have no desire to appear pessimistic, nor would I 

 dare, without supreme egotism, to answer the questions I 

 am putting. But these thoughts appeal to me strongly, as 

 they have to many others. Has all the suffering undergone, 

 all the loss of life involved, all the expenditure of money 

 made, been worth the while? Would the knowledge of the 

 exact position of the North Pole be a boon to humanity? 

 What real and vital difference does it make whether Green- 

 land is an island or not? 



Even if these questions were answered authoritatively in 

 the negative, that wouldnot detract, from the splendid aims, 

 the marvellous endurance and the glorious heroism which 

 have ever been displayed in an eminent degree by Arctic 

 explorers. Failures, or comparative failures, seem to have 

 little or no effect, but only to stimulate to new efforts. In 

 spite of all, the search for the North Pole still goes on, and 

 probably will go on indefinitely. Peary, for instance, an 

 indefatigable explorer, has made expedition after expedi- 

 tion. Among his other achievements are the following: 



First — The rounding of the northern limit of the Green- 



