When the corpses of {Sir John} Franklin's officers and crew were later discovered, miles from their ships, the men were found to have left behind their guns but to have lugged such essentials as monogrammed silver cutlery, a backgammon board, a cigar case, a clothes brush, a tin of button polish, and a copy of The Vicar of Wakefield. These men may have been incompetent bunglers, but, by God, they were gentlemen.
The discovery of Sir John Franklin's officers and crew revealed that despite their dire circumstances, they carried with them items of personal significance rather than practical necessities. Among the belongings found were monogrammed silver cutlery, a backgammon board, and a cigar case, suggesting a focus on comfort and a sense of maintaining their gentlemanly status even in tragedy. This highlights a disparity between their situation and their values, as their choices...
