THE WHITE WORLD 



pioneers of the old school who worked with inefficient 

 implements and almost perished, tell only tales of woe. 

 Those of the new school, profiting by the experience of 

 the men of old, and utilizing the more perfect modern 

 equipment, are enthusiastic about the pleasures of the work. 

 The fact is, that one can find both comfort and discomfort 

 to his heart's content while wandering over the wild wastes 

 of polar ice, but he seldom thinks of the comfort until he 

 has returned and passed beyond the reach of discomfort. 



Soon after the announcement of each projected modern 

 expedition, there have poured in hundreds of applications 

 from young men, and from women not so young, to join in 

 the effort to explore the polar regions. It is curious that 

 so many should volunteer their services for so arduous a 

 task. Why is this pole-seeking so popular? Surely these 

 aspirants are not familiar with the real phases of the life of 

 the explorer. From beginning to end the work of an ex- 

 ploring party is hard; to endure hardships and to suffer are 

 the normal conditions. On such expeditions there are few 

 servants, and few men to do the drudgery of daily work. 

 Officers, as well as sailors, must mend their own hose, wash 

 their garments, cook, and fill the places of carpenters, shoe- 

 makers and what not. The work is like woman's work; 

 it is never done. People often ask, " What do you do to 

 pass the time?" One is never more busy, or more thor- 

 oughly occupied, than when performing the duties of a 

 well-organized expedition. There are thermometers and 

 barometers to read and record, astronomical and nautical 

 observations to be made, magnetic and auroral phenomena 

 to be noted, and clouds to be studied; then there is the 

 prosecution of the never-ending series of studies bearing 

 upon the fauna and flora of the region. This is the work 

 at headquarters, which must be continued every hour of 

 the night and day, throughout the year. Moreover, there 

 is the field work, the work of surveying and exploring the 

 unknown stretches of land and water which is the real test 

 of endurance. 



Let us follow briefly the life of a sledge traveler. He 

 starts out for a determined poleward dash, taking with him 

 no money to buy necessities and comforts en route, no trunk 

 or little luxuries; nothing beside his bed and his tent, 



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