56 



The National Geographic Magazine 



CAPTAIN KOALD AMUNDSEN IN THE CABIN OE THE GJOA 



deavor is as wide as human nature and as 

 all-embracing as the world itself. 



Captain Roald Amundsen, the pleasant 

 duty devolves upon me to present to you 

 on behalf of the National Geographic 

 Society this gold medal. It is presented 

 to you because of what you have so 

 splendidly accomplished. It is in recog- 

 nition of your arduous and intelligent 

 service in the great North. It is because 

 of your scientific investigation with re- 

 gard to the Magnetic North Pole. You 

 have removed many of the doubts, much 

 of the theoretical assumption with respect 

 to the Magnetic North Pole and have 

 established well-authenticated fact with 

 regard to it — an achievement that is 

 yours and only yours since the history of 

 the world began. 



This medal is presented to you further 

 because of the fact that you are the first 

 one to sail through the Northwest Pas- 



sage in your own vessel. Many intrepid 

 and resourceful explorers have for more 

 than three centuries ineffectually at- 

 tempted what you in God's providence 

 have accomplished. There are many 

 names associated with the attempt to ac- 

 complish what you have achieved. Their 

 efforts were not crowned with the same 

 success which have crowned yours ; yet 

 they each and all served to reduce greatly 

 the zone of the unknown, and each and 

 all have in a measure contributed to the 

 triumph which finally is yours. I was 

 gratified to read in your modest account 

 of your own achievement the liberal 

 praise you gave to all who have devoted 

 their service to the accomplishment of the 

 Northwest Passage. You are honored 

 here in an especial degree. 



It is a happy circumstance that there 

 are assembled at this hospitable board 

 tonight not only men distinguished in 



