THE ARCTIC AMPHITHEATRE

Civilization loves to sun itself in the bleachers while experts exercise Everyone has experienced the thrill of a home run or a touch-down made by another. Much may be said for this division of labor which permits complacent persons the joy of combat at the cost of purely optical exercise. By a simple mental translation, the spectator becomes himself the hero of the hour.

Because of this universal tendency, the world is doubly grateful to Amundsen, who gave free admission to his private fight with the elements. By the help of radio and newspaper, many a stay-at-home has gotten a taste of Arctic exploration causing him to shut the window on the warmest of May days.

Fortunately for civilized peoples, Roald Amundsen has a sense of the dramatic, a fondness for surprises truly theatrical, and also a practical ability in taking care of himself which leads to a triumphant conclusion. By providentially running into a strip of static, the fate of his expedition was shrouded in mystery sufficient to enlist the interest of the most blase.

That the news of the safe arrival of the Norge preempted more, than three quarters of the New York Times front page is a superb tribute to Roald Amundsen, dramatist. To startle a standard, conservative journal into heaving headlines is indeed a feat as remarkable as aerial exploration of the Arctic.