The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-05-22
Among the Sealers.

From Captain Charles Bryant's in
teresting account of life ION The Fur
Seal Islands" we quote as follows: cit
was interesting to note the difference
in character crop out as the community
gradually took upon itself civilization.
Some were naturally prudent, and
easily saved surplus; others would
be in debt at the end of the year. In
1877 small proportion of their num-
Der, perhaps ten per cent, had invest
ed about ten or twelve hundred dollars
with the Fur Company: another ten
per cent were always in want; the re-
mainder spent what they received.
The best paid class. the ablest workers,
received over four hunded dollars
each for their seasons work, and as
they could obtain large part OF their
food from the resources of the island
without cost, and received their houses
furnished, rent free, their needs were
few. To foreign ways in clothes and
fashion they inclined very naturally.
The year before my coming sealing
parties had brought to the island con-
siderably quantities of ready made
clothing as an article of trade, and the
men were consequently fairly we'll
dressed: but only a small quantity OF
cloth suitable for dresses had been
taken, and the women had not begun
to make their clothing in any regular
FORM But in time, with some assist
ance, their ready adaptability made
them a very well-dressed people. Be-
fore l came away the wives of those
who had been saving sent their meas
ures to Sitka with orders for silk
dresses for church wear. and the young
men arrayed themselves in broadcloth.
wore gloves and well-blacked boots and
carried perfumed handkerchiefs.
LAS my time was not wholly taken
up with my duties, and good fortune
brought to me an abiding place of I'M
usual size for st. Paul, | seized the
happy chance of making my house 4
meeting-plac for the people, and es-
pecially for the children. Later we
fitted up schoolroom, which we also
made "a place for social entertainment,
and kept the school open eight months
in the year. We were greatly assisted
in our school duties by illustrated
books and papers sent to us; for so un-
varied and barren was the scenery OF
the island, which was all of the world
these children had ever seen, that ii
was well-nigh impossible for them to
comprehend physical objects of the
simplest nature. " l'nt a mountain
might be was beyond their understand
ing and the difficulty of explaining
the appearance of a great forest to
children who knew no vegetable
growth larger than the purple lupine
on their gentle slopes was greater than
one can tell. 1t was necessary, how
ever, to exercise the strictest censor
ship in our illustrated lessons. as it was
difficult for all to comprehend carica
ture even i'll the simplest forms; even
the most impossible pictures they be-
lieved represented facts.
Il found the people living in separ-
ate families, and, as far as | could see,
there was no more immortality among
them than would be found in any
decent civilized community. The wo-
men were modest in department, the
children obedient and respectful to
their parents, and the men always
manifested disposition to assist me in
all my efforts.
In character they were mild and
gentle. with the expression of settled
melancholy habitual to those races
which have no amusements. In this
respect. however they changed great
ly as opportunity developed the mer-
riment latent in their nature. The
children when first taught to speak did
so in serious way, and the utter abb
sence of anything like hearty laughter
in a group of them always affected me
strangely. 1t seemed as if their ave-
nues of expressionwere closed to pleas
ure, and later. when they had learned
the simple games l taught them, it was
great satisfaction to me to hear my
rooms ring with their merry voices. -
(Lo1lflLrIL