The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-21
nearly fifteen and sixteen thousand feet
into the clouds above.

AAUO Uuo CAOuu6 6UOV0s
Bathed in the tenderest purple of distance.
Tinted and Swallowed by pencils of air
Thy hattlements hang DER the slopes and the
Seats q the Gods in the limitless ether,
Looming sublimely aloft and afar.
Sparkle the snow-felds that furrow thy fore
Desolate realms, inaccessible, silent
Chasms Al d caverns where day is q stranger
Carriers where storeth his treasures the thunder.
The lightning his falchion, his arrows the hail!
Next morning we are anchored in the
crescent, island studded harbor of lovely
Sitka. The small village Is quaint and
curious enough, with its mixture of the an
cient and modern, the Russian, Indian and
American; but we will not weary our read
ers with a description.
Of course we visit the famous Greek
church, for which we are expected, notice
tells us. to drop not less than fiftv cents
into box near the door. A devout Rus
sian citizen is inside and displays with loyal
pride the tall bishops mitre, whose bullying,
dome-like top and sides are thick-set with
pearls and large cross of emerald studded
with diamonds. The church is cruci-
form, with two side transepts. one
separated from the main BODY by
white doors, the other only by a
row of white pillars. Both contain
6AuoAA oAudIes puU GAO AdlA d1UdI OCCupl66 u
place in the center at the rear, and between
it and that of all sacriligiously curious
mortals are two large doors. shining
in gilded metal, beaten and carved
into ornamental forms and set with pic
lures and images of saints and angels in
silver. This is the "holy of holies,'' and
though no woman's foot is ever permitted
to desecrate its sanctity by crossing the
threshold, the doors were carefully half
opened by our obliging guide and many
pairs of feminine eyes were aimed boldly at
the most sanity and costly treasures
within.
The church has been despoiled of many
in the days of the Russian regime, but it
was gladly told us that it was soon again to
be the seat of bishop and will, doubtless,
be restored to all its pristine glory. We
pass from this radiant atmosphere of sane
tity, where only careful tread and subdued
tones seemed BETTING, to one of barbaric
rejoicing which in its crude. savage fierce
ness forms painful but interesting con-
trast.
There had been rumors of an Indian war
dance, and having whetted our appetites in
this line at Juneau by attendance at per
Torrance given in a tent under the man
agement of white man-French in ma
tionality, but Italian in name, as is beft-
ting all great operatic leaders-we had
resolved that. with the consent of our gas
tronomic and nasal organs. we would like
wise see this. Proceeding to the Indian
rancherie. lining the shore at ono side of
the bay, we found sort of Fourth Of
July species of decoration in stripes Of
brightly hued callcoes. The steps, stones
and porches were crowded with the NATIVES
of every age and degree. Looking of over
the sparkling waters of the bay We saw
slowly approaching several canoes, Around
their edges had been fastened poles. and
from he tOuo nf fhaoo
upon yards of gay calico, crossing and re-
crossing In canopy above or Haunting 70
the breeze behind. As they drew nearer we
could hear beating of tom-toms and rat
ties, accompanied by low. hoarse. croak-
ing and grooming noise. which, to
the educated ear, probably meant
rhyt thin and melody. As the star performer
IN the first boat caught sight of our tour.
ists. crowded about the shore, there was 4
halt in the proceedings. and he rose TO ma ke
. speech which. for vehsmeuce Of Rsstieula-
tion and dramatic manner vorid outdo