Shackleton had a genius, it was neither more nor less than that, for keeping those about...

Shackleton had a genius, it was neither more nor less than that, for keeping those about him in high spirits. We loved him. The men had felt the cold, that is true, but he had inspired the kind of loyalty which prevented them from allowing themselves to get depressed over anything. And they had stood up to the hardships inseparable from antarctic exploration, without a murmur. A form of midwinter madness has manifested itself. All hands being seized with the desire to have their hair removed. It caused much amusement. We are likely to be cool headed in the future, if not neuralgic