THE 
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE. 
Wols Ll. 1890. No. 3. 
THE ARCTIC CRUISE OF THE U.S. 8S. THETIS IN 
THE SUMMER AND AUTUMN OF 1889. 
By CHARLES H. STOCKTON. 
A GERMAN writer of note once said, in the course of discus- 
sion upon certain French characteristics, that “the trouble with 
the French people is,—they do not know Geography.” 
Whether this is still true of the French, as a nation, or whether 
the authority may be considered a good one, it is not pertinent for 
me here to say ; but I feel that of the nations of the world, this 
country, above all others (England, perhaps, alone excepted), 
should not have the want of knowledge of geography classed 
among its national failings. 
We have, however, very much geography yet to learn, as indi- 
viduals and as a nation; not only of countries beyond our own 
but particularly of our own continent and our own domain, 
while commercial geography is almost an unknown and forbidden 
study. 
Professional geographer as I am, as member of the naval ser- 
vice, I find that every cruise adds to my geographic knowledge, 
and in giving an account of the cruise during last summer of the 
ship which I had the honor to command, I trust that I may be 
enabled to present some geographic facts as interesting to my 
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