They were strewn in every cabin, in every locker, on the mess tables, on the deck,--everywhere.

But the generosity of the public was very gratifying, and there was much good reading among the books and magazines.
When the time came for the _Roosevelt_ to sail, we had everything which we absolutely needed in the way of equipment, including boxes of Christmas candy, one for every man on board, a gift from Mrs.Peary.
It is a great satisfaction to me that this whole expedition, together with the ship, was American from start to finish.

We did not purchase a Newfoundland or Norwegian sealer and fix it over for our purposes, as in the case of other expeditions.

The _Roosevelt_ was built of American timber in an American shipyard, engined by an American firm with American metal, and constructed on American designs.

Even the most trivial items of supplies were of American manufacture.