ENTRANCE TO HUT

A “home” in the polar regions.

Permanent human life exists within some seven hundred miles of the North Pole; none is found within twenty-three hundred miles of the South Pole. The history of Arctic explo­ra­tion goes back nearly four hundred years. The history of Antarctic efforts covers one hundred and forty years. The record of Arctic explo­ra­tion is studded with crushed and foundering ships, and the deaths of hundreds of brave men. The record of Antarctic explo­ra­tion shows the loss of but one ship, and the death of a dozen men.

Copyright, Underwood & Underwood

AT THE SOUTH POLE—PHOTOGRAPHED BY AMUNDSEN

For all those who aspire to the North Pole, the road lies over the frozen surface of an ocean, the ice on which breaks up completely every summer, drifting about under the influence of wind and tide, and may crack into numerous fissures and lanes of open water at any time, even in the depth of the severest winter, under the influence of storms. For those who aspire to the South Pole, the road lies over an eternal, immovable surface, the latter part rising ten thousand and eleven thousand feet above sea level. And herein lies the inestimable advantage to the South Polar explorer which enables him to make his depots at convenient distances, and thus lighten his load and increase his speed.

Copr., 1913, by International News Service

IN MEMORY OF BRAVE MEN