THE HEART OF A CHILD.
Why was I riven a child's wIM heart?
AM the world seems sordid aad dull
and oor to. uu"
ft tu different In the dan of play
When the soul iu brave and the heart
waa kit.
And one rode away to fairyland on a
painted rocking horse.
Uy friend, you will never understand
How I dream of those rides to fairy
land! Of those Ions, sweet rides In the n relit
room
When one started off with a leap and
bound
On one's steed go quaintly caparisoned
To the silvery Bound of little bells that
twinkled In the doom.
Uy friend, you are fair and strong and
true.
With your sun-gold hair and your eyes
so Diue;
But why have you stolen my heart to
day?
For It Is such a strange and wayward
ming
(And birds that are caged will not al
ways sing).
And a child's heart, what should It
know of love? It only cares for
play.
GATHERING NUTS IN MAY.
There was a hint of autumn in the
woodland tints, where the colors shad
ed from the softest gray-green through
russet tones to deepest red and brown,
and the breeze that swept over the up
lands was suggestive of chilly October,
but the golden spell of Indian summer
lay on the valley, touching the ripe
peaches with an added bloom and woo
ing the late roses to unfold their fra
grant hearts before It was too late to
give their sweetness to the dying sum
mer. In the rector:' orchard, under the
shadow of the fruit-laden trees, village
lads and lasses hid and sought, and out
In the meadow the children laughed and
played and danced to the muslc'of their
own voices.
The professor stood at the outer edge
of a circle of infant revelers, his spec
tacles pushed up on his broad brow, his
loft Hamburg hat tilted forward to
ihleld his eyes from the sun.
Gray eyes they were, with a keenness
In them that waa reflective and that
lent them a clearer vision for thing
that time had set at a distance than
for present realities.
The Iron-gray hair was brushed back
ind outlined features that were not un
handsome, though their sternness gave
aim a semblance of severity, until he
ml led.
When the professor smiled children
understood that the tall figure with Its
Inclination to stoop was not likely to
prove aggressive, and that the learn
ing contained In that massive framp
sould be put aside with the spectacles:
ilso that the professor might have been
foung once, before the weight of a
laurel wreath had puckered his brows
and powdered his hair with the frost
that cornea before winter.
He was smiling now and looking with
ippreclatlve Interest at the game In
progress. '
'Do you hear what they are sing
ing?" he aaked the rector's wife.
Mrs. Errlngton detached herself from
he tea urn to answer carelessly, " 'Nut
ind May,' Isn't It?"
"The delightful Irrelevance of chlld
iood," pursued the professor, "the sub
.Ime faith In the Impossible. 'Here we
.ome gathering Nuts and May so early
n the morning!" Not content with de
manding their autumn and their spring
i tthe same time, they must have it
sarly In the morning, too; all the world
it their feet, with youth to make them
njoy it. They have faith enough to
remove mountains, but I am afraid the
lays of miracles are past."
Mrs. Krrington's glance lingered on
him for a moment, and then traveled
to where a girl In a white dress stood
jnder the trees that bordered the rec
tory garden.
"There Is Evadne," she said; "how
fresh and cool and sweet she looks.
Don't you think so, professor?"
He adjusted his spectacles to give a
conscientious answer.
"Miss Evadne Is always pleasant to
look at," he said, as he gazed with n
palnBtaklng air In her direction; "at
this distance I do not see her as plainly
la I could wish."
"And Bhe is always pleasant to talk
to," added Mrs. Errlngton; "go and ask
her If she would like some tea, pro
fessor." He went obediently, and the white
figure moved to meet him, while the
echo of the words "cool and fresh and
iweet" floated still In his ears.
"Is that meant for an excupe or an
apology?" asked Evadne sweetly.
"Does my errand need either?" he
questioned In return, with his usual
gravity.
"You seem to consider so," said she,
"In which, if you will not think me con
ceited. I will confess you are unusual.
There ore people," she continued, noting
his puzzled air, "who will come and
talk to me without any errand at ail
merely for the pleasure of the thing."
A little smile was playing around her
mouth, and through her curved eye
lashes the sparkle of her eyes meant
mischief.
The professor pushed his spectacles
up again; when people were close to
him he could see better without assist-
"There are people," he said, 'who
might venture to come to you on their
own merits. Miss Eva. I am one of the
fortunate few."
No?" she queried, lifting her eye
brows, "yet your merlta are by no
mean Insignificant They are public
property, professor, and we
at them down here.
are very
I have
ven," she looked away from him, "felt
a Uttle alarmed at the thought of them
sometime, and wondered Whether we
I1 seemed very stupid and dull to so
Warned a person as you."
"tupid m dull," be echoed the
words Involuntarily, while he was think
ing what a dainty outline the contour
of her cheek and chin made like a pink
sea shell, and what a singularly sweet
Intonation she had! '
"You agree that we ore ro," she said
after an instant's offended silence. "You
add candor to your other merltH, pro
fessor, I see. V.'ell, the school treat Is
over. I mutt be colng homeward. Good
evening."
She stretched out a rmall white hand.
Me took it and considered for a mo
ment. "Do you go acrors the fields?" he
said, "or round by the road?"
"Across the fields when I have some
one with me."
"Should I count as some one, or am
I too "
"Too what too candid?"
"Too old," he said thoughtfully.
She looked him up and down.
"I suppose that you are twice my
age."
"More than that. I am sure."
"Has anybody ever called you any
thing but professor?"
"My mother calls me John."
"Any one else?"
"No one, since I was a boy."
They were crossing the meadow now.
In the distance Mrs. Errlngton waved a
good-by to them. They had forgotten
about her.
"Which wou'd you rather be yourself
at your age and with your knowledge,
or an Ignorant person like me?"
She had taken off her hat and waa
dangling it br a ribbon from her arm.
Her hair was all ruffled, and one little
tress with a glint of gold In It kissed
her cheek lovingly.
They had reached the stile and he
stopped to help her over It before he
answered. Then he said:
"Miss Eva, do you think It possible
for any one to gather nuts and May at
the same time?"
"Yes, if they get up early enough In
the morning."
What difference does that make?"
"The difference of not leaving things
till they are too late."
He was still holding her hand. She
gave It to him at the stile, and appar
ently he had not remembered to give it
back. Her eyes were like stars, and
there was a roseflush like daydawn on
her cheeks.
"How is one to know whether It is
too late or not?"
"I thought you knew everything, pro
fessor. And you called me stupid and
dull Just now, so my opinion can't be
worth having."
"I thought you knew everything, pro
fessor. And you called me stupid and
dull Just now, so my opinion can't be
worth having."
"I called you stupid and dull? Do
you know what I think you?"
"You think roe a vain, frivolous girl."
"I think you the most perfect thing
on God's earth."
'Professor "
'I have another name, Evadne."
'When you have quite done with my
hand "
"I shall never have quite done with
It. I want It for my own."
"Such a useless, silly little hand."
"Such a pink and white little hand.
Like a May-blossom.
He lifted It to his lips.
About Resin.
Tn the davs of the poet, Ausonlus, the
Boll of Arcahon were already famous
for their
"Groves whose rich trees wept odorous
gums"
and the fresh forests planter since their
time have given renewed stimulus to
what mlKht. with proper organization,
become a very profitable Industry. As
t is. the methods might hardly have
been changed since the days of the
Gauls.
At any time the reslner can be S'-'en
In the forests perched upon hi long
pole, fitted with its little steps, that
seems at first to be leaning against
nothing. He rests It partly upm one
nee. Darlv on the pine In which the
scar Is to be made some thirty Inches
ong by four in width. .At the bottom
the resin Is caught In a llttl earthen
pot, which takes about three weeks to
become full. It Is then emptied into
buckets and the buckets Into vats, the
contents of which are in turn distric
ted Into barrels and carri 'd by mule
carts to the manufactory. The fore
sight and economy employed by the
French In their development of this
Industry stand In glaring contrast tn
the Improvident waste of present and
future material in the forests of Geor
gia and Florida. The trees of A rea
ction are not scarred until they ar)
some twenty-five summers old; and
only three or fpur cuts are made each
year which may reach from th- bot
tom as far as fifteen feet up the trunk.
For twenty years this process may con
tinue, and in some cases for far longer,
the older trees bulging out to a great
ze and producing timber of a muoh
firmer eraln than those which have
been but lightly wounded. Pall Mall
Magazine.
"Now," said a schoolmaster, a he
displayed a bright 5-hllllng piece be
tween the tips of his finger and thumb.
the first boy or girl that puts a riddle
to
me which I cannot answer will re
ceive this aa a gift,"
"Any more?" he asked, as soon as sil
ence was restored ana no one imu
claimed the coin.
'Yes elr," sang out a little fellow
from the farther end of the school.
Why am I like the prince of Wales?"
"The prince of Wales?" raid the maj
or thoughtfully. "The prince of
Wales?" he repeated to himself. "Really
Johnny, I see no resemblance In you;
I'll give It up."
"Because." cried the lad, Joyrully,
m wiun fur , Tid-
Bltf.
A MONTANA ICE MINE.
Nature Aote the Part of loe Man In
Little Wolf Mountain.
Seven miles to the north and a little
to the east of the Cheyenne Indian
agency In Custer county, Mont., Is a
well filled with Ice tha texcltes much
curiosity among the ranchers and cat
tlemen of that section. Every cowboy
who visits the well has much to tell
and invariably advances his own ex
planation. Many Ingenious theorlei
are given which tend to Indicate thai
mankind of all degrees of scientific
knowledge put forth an effort to find
the origin of things; however, thej
all agree that the Ice forms in the we!
during the summer and that it actuallj
thaws during the winter. This appa
rent contradiction of the natural lawt
that govern the outside world has car
ried the fame of the well for mlle
around and people have traveled great
distances to witness the formation ol
Icicles during the hot weather of July
Several years ago three men pros
pecting for silver, mistaking certain
colors in the rocks, began sinking a
shaft; at fifteen feet it was disagreeably
cold; at twenty feet the cold had In
creased so rapidly that they were thor
oughly frightened. They could fee!
currents of cold air rushing up from
the crevices In the rock; they Imagined
they were digging into some mysteri
ous underground cavern; they hac'
heard Just enough of wonderful adven
tures of digging into caves and under
ground lages, and being alone In thlf
wilderness where the very stillness per
mitted the ears to hear and the mind
to imagine all sorts of grewsome pow
ers hidden beneath the rock, so thor
oughly filled them with fear of Im
pending danger that they abandoned
the work which has since gained such
renown.
In comparatively recent geological
times vast beds of lignite coal were
formed over the eastern half of Mon
tana, extending into western Dakota.
The burning of these beds of coal was
the beginning of the bad land forma
tion. The fine deposits of clay abovi
the coal were burned as brick ar
burned In a kiln and formed the scoria
Where the heat was greater and rock
and sand were present it melted and
mixed with the coal and coal ash, form
ing large, cinder-like rocks, which are
sometimes mistaken for lava. As the
coal burned out from beneath the clay.,
now baked into scoria and melted Into
cinders, It broke into small divisions
and fell promiscuously down into the
pits thus formed. Volcanic ash is
found scattered over the Little Wolf
mountains ana tne eastern portion 01
Montana. It must have drifted with
the wind from powerful eruptions in
the Rocky Mountains, as there are no
indications of any volcanic action in
the vicinity of the Ice well.
If Ice were to be put into the well
during the winter it would keep
throughout the summer nearly as well
aa If stored away in ordinary Ice
houses. By chance nature has formed
almost the identical conditions that
man haa made use of to preserve Ice
throughout the hot weather. The shaft
Is the canity in which to store the Ice;
the volcanic ash, filling into te open
apace between the loosely piled rock,
erves the purpose of sawdust In keep
ing out the warm draughts of airs.
During the winter the well Is nearly
filled with snow; enough water frum
the early spring rains finds it way
through between the rocks to mix" with
the snow and freeze Into one solid maHs
-f Ice. The Ice in the well Is formed
by the cold of the winter season, but
Joes not begin to form sometimes-tlll
ihe winter is half gone. In turn, it is
melted by the heat of the summer, but
loes not begin to melt until the summer
is half over. In the early part of the
summer it Is stll Jfreezlng In the well
ind during the first half of the winter
It Is still melting.
The w-sll acts as a refrigerator. It
receives the heat slowly and than gives
t off Just as slowly. "f the earth re
elved and gave off heat readily the
hottest weather would be in June, and
the coldest In December In fact, the
seasons follow nearly a month behind
the sun. The conditions surrounding
the ice well cause It to follow the sea
sons from six to eight weeks later.
Those visiting the wel ldurlng the first
half of the winter find water, and those
visiting during the early summer find
It still freezing, even finding small Ici
cles forming as the water coming from
bove drips over the rocks on the sides
down near the ice.
It is a fact that if on a hot day you
walk rapidly Into the cave to wher
the Ice Is, It feels as though a strong
current of cold air were blowlnt
against your face. The sensation Is so
decidedly real that It requires careful
demonstration to prove to the contrary,
and even then It almost seems al
though th edemonstratlon has been a
mistake. It can be easily tested by us
ing smoke, or better still, a rather
heavy colored glass. Again, If one
should stand without the entrance In
the cave on a very warm day, near
enough to feel any draught that may b
stirring, none can be felt coming from
the cave. If one sheuld stand directly
ibove the Ice well on a hot, still day,
even putting the face down to the very
opening Into the well, no upward
Iraught of cool air can be felt; but go
down Into the well, and one would
tate positively that there was nn up
ward draught of extremely cold air.
In an account of a five years' sojourn
n the Mackenzie river, Edouard de
Salnvllle mentions the entire absent"
3f consumption amon the natives, and
:he occurrence of colds only on eontstt
with civilisation. The curious expert
ment was tried of opening a soldered
line case in a perfectly healthy carmi.
ind distributing the contents. On the
Following day every member of the
samp developed a violent cold, which
waa cured with camphor. The cast
tad been packed In Winnipeg.
FUNNYGRAPIIS.
A BRIBE.
Doctor Yell, Johnny, what can I do
for you? Johnny What will you take
to tell pa that I ought to have a bicy
cle? New York Journal.
AT BREAKFAST.
"The landlady says coffee still keeps
up." "Well, I don't see how the coffee
we get can keep up. It's so weak I
should think it would go to bed."
CHEERFUL IDIOT.
"The bell," said the prosy boarder,
"haa almost superseded the knocker."
"And that is the reason," said the
Cheerful Idiot, "why it is a knocker."
BOTH HAS-BEENS.
"The Spanish war killed me deader
than a door-nail," remarked the Klon
dike Joke, "but there some consolation
In knowing that the war Joke la Just
as dead as I am now." N. Y. Journal.
NOT A GENIUS.
Greene Since all geniuses axe Insane,
I suppose It's a compliment when you
tell a man he's crazy? Miss De Witt
What an Insane Idea. And then he
wouldn't speak to her for a week.
A SENSITIVE SOUL.
Visitor Do they treat you well here?
Prisoner Ginerally they doee, only dey
hurts me feelln's by deir lack of con
fidence. Dey won't let me have a latch
key. New York Journal.
CONSOLATION.
My dear young woman do not blame
a man for attempting to deceive you.
A man does not have much regard for
woman does not consider worth
deceiving. Boston Transcript.
PROGRESSIVE.
"This army scandal appears to be
folng from bad to worse." "That's so.
I didn't think there could be anything
more objectionable than General Ea
gan's beef till I heard his language."
Washington Star.
ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW,
"This really pains me, Willie," said
the old gentleman, as he picked the boy
ip and laid him acrose his knee. "Well,"
replied the boy, resignedly, "at least 1
have never been fool enough to deliber
ately hurt myself." Chicago Post.
FRIGHTFUL SUFFERING.
The Major Did you suffah much from
thirst, cunnel, when you were cast on
that desert Island?
The Colonel Why, aftuh six days of
untold agony even watah tasted good,
New York Journal. . ,
t
A GASLIGHT ECONOMIST.
Mother Nellie, dear, do you think
that your.g man who has been calllne
n vou twice a week for some time is
Matrimonially inclined? Nellie I really
Ln't know what to say, mamma. He
nas SUCH a kiioluil ul kccliiur U1ID III
the dark. Chicago News.
FROM THE BOY'S STANDPOINT.
w "WeU, I only hope," remarked Mrs.
Browne '-that our new neighbors will
!e aa satisfactory as our old ones."
"Oh, they're away ahead of 'em, ma!"
eic'almed her young hopeful. "They ve
got ten children, only three of 'em are
girls, and the cook gives you tarts when
you don't even tease for 'em "
OVERDOING IT.
Hicks It's all right Indulging In a lit
tle hyperbole when you are making love
to a woman; but there's such a thing
as overdoing It.
Wicks As for example?
Hicks Why, Dubleupp. He has been
married three times, and he told Mlas
Kwarry the other evening that she was
the first woman he ever loved. Boston
Transcript.
A DELICATE PLEA.
"Father," Bald the boy who was look
ing pensively at the sunshine and lux
uriant foliage which told of approach
ing June.
"What is It?"
"Whert do you suppose General Funs
ton would be today if his father had
punished him so that he was afraid to
go in swimming?" Washington Star.
GIVING 1I1M A POINTER.
Mrs. Neurlch How's my son gettln'
along with his lessons?
Private Tutor Very nicely, madam;
although it is rather dlfllcult for him
to catch an Idea at times.
Mrs. Neurlch Well, I'd have you to
know he don't have to catch 'em. We
can afford to buy him all the ideas he
needs. Chicago News.
COOLING.
They were seated at the Ice cream
(able.
"Oh, dear!" said the sweet girl, fan
ning her cheek. "I'm melting."
The young man saw an opportunity.
"I knew It was rather warm," he
said, "but I did not think it was as
hot as that."
"What do you mean?"
"Why, hot enough to melt pure gold."
Chicago News,
AN INVESTIGATOR.
"Stop!" shouted the shoe clerk
"What's the matter with ye?'
nulred the customer.
In-
"Why, what In thunder are you pour-
Ing that shoe polish on your trousers
for?" demanded the clerk.
"See here, young feller, ye may think
ye can bunco yer Uncle Ezra, but I ,
rneu I'm smart enough to test thet I
: L wore leav.n' the
shop," retorted the customer, with a
cunning smile,
ru!.- hi imarantee?" asked the
"Say didn't ye guarantee this here
Maetln' not to soil the pants T" d-
manded the customer severely. "An'
by gum, look at them pants! Jest lool
at them pants!" he continued excitedly
"I s'pected that ye were lyin', an' nov
them new pants Is ruined, plumb ru
ined. I'll sue ye fur 10,000 damage!
ye see if I don't." New York World.
KNICKERBOCKERS.
It is told of a certain bishop that
while dining at the house of one of hii
friends, he waa pleased to observe tha
he was the object of marked attentloi
from the son of his host, whose eyei
were firmly riveted upon him. AfBW
dinner the bishop approached the boj
and asked:
"Well, my young friend, you seem t
be interested in me. Do you find tha
I am all right."
"Yes, sir," said the boy, with a glanci
at the bishop's knee breeches. "You'n
all right; only (hesitatingly) won't you
mamma let you wear trousers yet?"
ADVERTISEMENT ANSWERED.
At small Edith's school the teachei
dally gives the children written exer
cises In the English language; some
times they copy poetry from the black
board, or write letters or answer ad
vertisements. The other day this "wan'
ad." appeared on the board, and all th
little glrle were required to hand ir
written applications In reply:
"Wanted, a milliner. Apply by lettei
to Miss Smith, No. 10 Blank street.'
Small Edith's application was promp
in arriving and It read as follows:
"Dear Miss Smith: I saw you warn1
a milliner. I hate to trim hats. Can't
you get somebody else? Please let nv
know right away. Edith Jones."
UNPLEASANT REMINDER.
Jamie don't go to church often, bul
his mamma took him there last Sun
day. Now she wishes she hadn't.
He sat demurely enough until the
tenor, who indulges in a dreadfully in
excurable tremolo, had finished with a
solo. Then he spoke up.
"Mamma," he asked, in a shrill
whisper, "what makes the man's voice
shake so?"
"Hush, dear," said mamma, "I don't
know."
"But, rr.amma," the little scamp per
sisted in a Htlll louder whisper, "you
know when papa's voice shook the oth
er night you said it was beer!"
And that's why Jamie's church privi
leges have been so rudely cut oft.
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
FOUND AT LAST.
"Is the editor in?" asked the caller.
"No, sir," answered the sad-eyed man
at the desk. "Do you wish to leave any
word for him?"
"No, I want to see him personally. 1
will come again. But you might telJ
him I called."
"Yes, sir. What name, please?"
"My name Is Dunston."
The man at the desk Jumped up wild
ly and grasped him by the hand.
"Found !" he exclaimed In a vole
trembling with uncontrollable excite
ment. "Thank heaven!"
"What do you mean?"
"You're the missing rhyme for
Funston."
The sad -eyed man was the office poet.
SHINGLES WERE NEEDED.
"Ma, the castle roof Is dreadfully Id
need of shingling."
"Get It shingled."
"But th' blawsted carpenters won't
trust, don't ye know?"
"Is It a large leak, my child?"
"The whole blawsted roof, mummer."
"You'll have to come to It, me poor
chlia."
"I knew It, mother."
"When do you start?"
"I sail for New York on Monday,
mother. I want to land one of 'em be
fore the fall rains set In."
"You have no choice, my son?"
"None, mother. All American heir
esses look alike to me."
"Well, cable me as soon as you hook
her, me boy, and I'll set the shinglers
at work."
THE WAY IT WAS DONE.
A boy was summoned to testify In B
case of assault In which one man hii
another with a shovel. A host of wit
nesses had been called, who "beat about
the bush" tn the most tedious and pro
voking manner. This annoyed the law
yer for the prosecution, who broke out
as follows:
'Here, boy, we've been going around
and around this case for hours, and
yet have no evidence to convict the
prisoner. Now, sir," he savagely con
tinued, "do you hear me? I want you
to come to the direct point. Did yov
see the blow struck?"
'Yes, sir."
'Ah, ha," chuckled the lawyer, rub
bing his hands, "we have something t
work upon. Here, my good lad, tak
this cane (holding him his walking
stick). If you saw the blow struck, you
must know how It waa given."
"Yes, sir, I "
"Now, then, no words about It. I tel!
you! tnunuerea me unci -mtiiui . n
the complainant and you are the prls-
oner. NOW, just, raise inv buv;r bnu
show the court."
The bewildered lad did "raise tin
stick,'' and the next moment it cami
down upon the bald head of the aston
lshfld lawyer, and sent him staggerlni
i to his seal.
I "That's the way It was done, sir,
said the boy, amid the strleks of laugh
ter of the whole court room. The dls
comflted counsel, with a ghastly at
tempt to smile, said he had done wltl
the witness the evidence was direct
OVERHEARD AT LINCOLN PARK
"Where are you going, my prett:
maid?" "To see the animals, air," sh
said. "May I go with you, my pretti
maid?" "I don't like monkey, air.
she sald.-Chlcago Slews.
IN THE ANTARCTIC.
3n Portion of iha Glob That I
Practically Ui. known.
Perslrtenly, as becomes men con
vinced cf the ultimate success of their
efforts, a sanguine band of savants and
explorers have beset successive govern
ments with appeals to take up ant
ixctic exploration. Their perseverance
las so far been unavailing, although
It Is not easy to understand why, or to
isslgn any definite reason for such
t range unwillingness. Remembering
how rich were the results garnered
from the labors of Sir James Clarke
Ross and his gallant coadjutors in the
stanch, but undoubtedly clumsy, old
Erebus and Terror, and how vast was
the field opened up for subsequent
workers, the fact that from then until
now no attempt has been made to fol
low up this great work becomes utterly
inexplicable. Yet, believing, doubtless,
"that all things come to those who
will but wait," for half a century all
those inerested In this great question
have waited, scarcely ever relaxing
their efforts to awaken the powers that
be to some recognition of the pressing
:lalms of science to be heard in the
matter.
It must be borne in mind that in that
vast and almost unknown area, more
than twice the size of Europe, one ex
pedition, however well equipped, can
not in the nature of things hope to
Jo more than settle a portion of the
problems that silently await solution.
What is undoubtedly indicated as the
ideal treatment of the antarctic ques
tion is the establishment of an inter
national polar commission, such as at
tacked arctic problems in 1882. A cor.
don of expeditions surrounding the
southern polar regions, representative
f all the great civilized powers, and
working in harmony upon preconceived
lines toward definite ends, would all
more in one season to the needed data
for the solution of the world problems
involved that isolated efforts could do
In a great many.
After all, this planet of ours under
the distance-destroying touch of these
latter days has dwindled into a very
small place. And it seems preposter
ous that a region like the antarctlo
should have been allowed to retain so
long the secrets it undoubtedly holds.
The Illimitable area of stormy waters
that rolls its unhindered way around
our globe, where no busy keel ruffles
the wave or smoke of panting steam
ship mingles with the pure, keen air
how strange that It should for so
long have been allowed to maintain
its primitive seclusion! Those appal
ling barriers of apparently eternal Ice,
along which Ross sailed for hundreds
of miles, watching with an lndescrlb
able fascination the baffled billows hurl
themselves against the glittering cliffs
that rose sheer from the sea for hun
dreds of feet what lies behind them?
Those burning mountains flaming high
amid their frozen fastnesses, and light--Ing
up the gloomy sky for many leagues
throughout the long, long winter night;
have they no story to tell? And,
spite of all belief " to the contrary, it
may be that a land fauna will be found,
that some animals may have been fit
ted to live In that wonderful country,
which, as far as Is yet known, is abso
lutely sterile.
Many flrmky believe that a warm po
lar region exists at the southern end
sf our earth's axis, but with recent
light upon the theory of a warm actio
sea, within the encircling barrier of ice
there can be little expectation that any
such marel will be found in the ant
irctic. The explorers will be fired with
the thouht that whatever their hard
ships, a virgin field lies before them If
by any means they can get behind the
icy barrier tat seems to shut off Ant
arctica from a prying world, and that
alone, apart from any discoveries they
may make, is sufficient inducement to
adventurous men to make them face
any hardship. To stand where human
foot has never before trodden, to come
with the torch of science Into the very
penetralia of nature, for this men In all
times have risked all that life held
dear, and In so doing have rendered in-
calculable services to their kind. One
by one, the closed doors have been
made manifest, and now at the close of
the nineteenth century only this one re.
mains.
What should encourage all those whe
hope for great things from antarctlo
researches Is the fact that the earliest
explorers were able to reach such high
latitudes In small, weak sailing ves
sels. Weddell's voyage was made In a
brig, te Jane, of 160 tons; and he wa
accompanied by a cutter, the Beaufoy,
of 65 tons. He was totally unequipped
for conflict with the ice, unprovided
with instruments for taking observa
tions; he was Just a humble sealet
earning a precarious livelihood. Yel
he reached a latitude (74 degrees, IF
minutes S.) only about one hundred
miles short of that attained by the well
found and specially sent expedition un
der Ross and Crozler. For both Wed
dell and Ross were dependent upor
the wind entirely for propulsion, and
consequently dared not risk what even
a low-power steamship might do wltb
Impunity. Besides this, their Inability
to get swiftly from place to place hin
dered them from finding any shelterei
nook where they might have laid theli
vessels up for the winter In case thej
ad wished to do so in order to beglr,
telr labors as early In the ensuing
prlng as possible. But it Is hardly
necessary to enlarge upon the Immense
advantages latter day explorers pos
sess In steam; they are ufflclently ob
vious. So, too, wIMi all the other ac
?essorles which science haa provided
for her servants, most of the sufferlnfl
tnd hardship attendant upon all theM
conflicts with the primeval force ol
nature has beea greatly mltlgatetf
where not altogether removed.