SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 March 1928, Page 11

SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE

ADDRESS BY DR. NANSEN. “It is time to begin prospecting in new lands. We need you, young friends, with fresh eyes, capable of seeing the simple elemental things, ready to try new trials, to run risks and dare the unknown.” Courage and independence, two Heaven-born qualities for this voyage of life, are never more needed thah in our day. They are worth infinitely more than all your’ wireless and broadcasting and all the rest; but a third genius is needed to complete the group of deities. It is the of adventure.” So said Dr Nansen, of his Rectorial address at St. Andrews, which is reported in the Scotsman. “It js about this genius I wish to say a few words to you to-day. Who is she? No less than the spirit that urges mankind forward on towards knowledge—the soul’s mysterious impulse to fill the void spaces analogous to Nature’s horror vacui. It is the call of the unknown; the longing for the land of beyond, the divine force deeply rooted in the soul of man which drove the first hunters out into new regions—the mainspring perhaps of our greatest actions, winged human thought, knowing no bounds to its freedom.

“We will find in the lives of men who have done anything of those whom we call great men, that it is this spirit of adventure, the call of the?..unknown, that has lured and urged them on along their course. Kipling says in Kim, ‘God causes men to be born . . who have a lust to go abroad at the risk of their lives and discover news — to-day it may be far-off things—to-mor-row of some hidden mountain —and the next day of some nearby men who have done a foolishness against the State. These souls are very few, and of these few not more than ten are bf the best.’

“But, my young frieinds, though modesty is a becoming virtue let us always believe that we are amongst those ten. For most of us ordinary people life is a voyage from harbour to- harbour along a fairly safe course? We run no great risks; there are plenty of shoals and sunken rocks, no doubt; but we have reliable charts and sailing directions, and if anything unforseen should happen, we can always put in for the night at the nearest port. On the whole, a fairly comfortable and not very exciting existence! But what about things worth doing, the achievements, the aims to live and die for? No; although so many of us have to do it, coastal navigation is not really to the liking of our race.

“Your ancestors and mine, the Norsemen, they did not hug the coast. With their undaunted spirit of adventure, they hoisted their sails for distant shores, and no fear of risks could keep them back —the call of the unknown summoned them across the seas and it was they who led the way across the oceans. If it had not been for that spirit of adventure in our race, how differently history would read today; and, in my opinion, the difference would not be for the better. “I am sure that the great events in the world always depend on the spirit of adventure shown by certain individuals in grasping opportunities when they occur, and so it is in the personal life of every one of us. Let me tell you a little about myself, not because thp.t self is a personage of any great importance, or a good example, but simply because it is the only one . I have, and we must all of us judge life from the standpoint of our own experience. “Now when I look back upon my own life it strikes me that if anything worth doing has ever been accomplished on that crooked course of regrettable irregularities, it was only due to a certain spirit of adventure, acting, however, in a sporadic and imperfect way. “Its nature is not to want continually to change; on the contrary, it is to want to see the end of things, and once you have embarked on an undertaking the spirit of adventure will not give in whether you sink or swim till the work is done, and done well. “Let me tell you one secret of such so-called successes as there may have been in my life, and here I believe I give you really good advice. It was to burn my boats and demolish the bridges behind me. Then one loses no time in looking behind when one should have quite enough to do in looking ahead. Then there ife no choice for you or your men but forward. You have to do or die. Let me try to tell you how this worked in my case,” and after giving an account of his Polar expedition, Dr Najisen added: —

“Why do I give these examples from the life of exploration and adventure? Because all of us are explorers in life, whatever trail we follow. Because it is the explorers with the true spirit of adventure we now need if humanity shall really overcome the present difficulties and find the right course ‘across that dangerous sea ahead of us which I mentioned at the beginning. Mind you, you will all find your adventure, for even life itself is an adventure.

“But try not to waste your time in doing things which you know can be done equally well by others. Everyone should try to hit upon his own trail. Do mot lose your opportunities, and do not allow yourself to be carried away by the superficial rush and scramble which is modern life. The first great thing is to find yourself, and for that you need solitude and contemplation. “These are questions well worth thinking over; but I tell you there Are many people who do not get time even to think over what they themselves consider to be the purpose of their lives. What is the purpose of yours? Are all of you certain you have the answer ready? Are you out for happiness? Well, many people are. But, believe me, my friends, you need not look for it. The great thing is to do your best, and to be independent of all other ‘necessities.’ Dear me, how perfectly unnecessary many of these necessities are. “Are you poor? What luck! No time lost in looking after your belongings. There is always so much trouble with your property, and you cannot really be poor on this. eaith. “My young friends, let me give you one warning based on long and tried experience. Do not let your flight be clogged by all those trifles which are now considered necessities of life. Mind you, by making your baggage train longer you clip your wings. Ah, youth. What a glorious world! Unknown realms ahead of you, hidden behind the mists of morning. As you move on, new islands appear, mountain summits shoot up through the peering mists, one behind another, waiting for you to climb; dense new forests unfold for you to explore, free boundless Ipains for you to traverse.”