38 
SCOPE AND VALVE OF ARCTIC EXPLORATIONS 
Liitke, Pachtussof, Krusenstern and Zivolka, stand forth in the 
annals of the world. 
In Hedenstrdin and Torrell Sweden finds examples that have 
borne such abundant fruit in the late active labors of her en- 
thusiastic sons. 
Once it was said that the almighty dollar was the object and 
end of American endeavor, but when American treasure — not by 
the millions but b}'’ the billions — was poured out and lives by 
the hundreds of thousands were joyfully given for an idea tlie 
men of the new world rose to a higher place in Euroj)ean esti- 
mation. 
A fellow-townsman of mine was a petty officer under Sir John 
Franklin, and among the hundreds engaged in tlie Franklin 
search none had a more altruistic and generous spirit than the 
American Elisha Kent Kane. Hayes left no danger undared to 
reach his “ Open Polar Sea.” Rodgers dared all, in Arctic ice as 
in the War for the Union. De Long and Ambler knew how to 
die, but not how to desert a helpless comrade. Hall followed the 
Arctic sledge to his veiy death. Lockwood, whose personal toil 
and suffering accomplished the farthest north and set the goal 
beyond which some more fortunate rival will soon pass, met 
with fortitude and sweetness the harsh fate which debarred the 
world from placing its laurel wreath save on his grave. 
I can scarcely say aught of British effort in a field that has 
been peculiarly England’s for the past three centuries. And 
how, among her innumerable Arctic dead, shall I single out 
representatives, worthy exam piers of British courage and effort? 
Like Macbeth’s kings, the line stretches out to crack of doom. 
Great were the daring navigators of the sixteenth and seven- 
teenth centuries — Chancellor and Davis and Frobisher, Hudson 
and Waymouth, Bylot and Baffin ; but were they greater than in 
their way were Cook, Hearne, and Mackenzie in the eighteenth ? 
And when we come to their worthy compeers of this century, 
there is barely room for the names of these daring spirits. Here 
is Britain’s unequaled roll : 
Austin, Back, Beechey, Buchan, Clavering, Collinson, Crozier, 
Forsyth, Goodsir, Inglefield, Kellett, Kennedy, Lefroy, Lyon, 
McClure, Maguire. Mecham, Moore, the immortal Nelson, Os- 
born, Penny, Pirn, Rae, Richardson, James C. Ross. Jolm Ross. 
Sabine, Saunders, Scoresby, father and son ; Simpson, and 
Stewart. 
