The Northward Course of Empire. By Vilhjalmur Stefansson; (Hump. 7s.
6d.) The Northward Course of Empire. By Vilhjalmur Stefansson; (Hump. 7s. 6d.)
Mr. Stefansson, without any very great hope of being believed, sets forth the advantages of the Arctic Circle as a residential area. He has lived there himself for many years at a time, and finds that the charm does not wear off. Further, he demonstrates by means of a chart an historical prediction that within the Circle lies the future of man's highest develop- ment. Man, he argues, can adapt himself to a climate colder than the one he is used to, but not so easily to one warmer. But in that case surely any move to the North is a step to be post- poned with every effort : for when the human race is ultimately crowded at the Pole, where further can they go to be cool ? Moreover, he is at great pains to impress on one the intense heat of an Arctic summer. But that is one of the strongest points against him : for a wide range of temperature is in- finitely harder to bear than any single extreme of heat or cold. But Mr. Stefansson is no mere crank : he has practical experi- ence of his subject and is, further, a competent geographer ; his book is an unusually interesting one.
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