Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-30
IN THE HOTEL coRRIpoRs.

IN THE HOTEL CORRIDORS.
"Alsshan women. +" said Jude. she.liey. Who
was for Eve years United States commissions
at Alaska, TO The sTAR REPRESENTATIVE this
morning, "have . way Of briaging their hus-
bands to time which is very effective.
They do not fling fat irons and rolling pins
or give curtain lectures. bu; retire 10 . corner,
neglect their household duties and sun. rcsus-
ing to say . word A few days OF this treat
ment generally brings the husband around
The women in Alaska also have an odd wsy
Of quarreline. They do no, pull hair or resort
TO hsticufs. but after giving each other q severe
tongue lAshing thew retire 10 their homes.
Alaskans are divided mp into families. such a.
the Bear. Grow and Deer families These fsni-
lies take cognizance Of quarrels and fends re-
suit After the quarrel Mrs. Bear viii retire 10
her house, tear up her clothing and two or
three blankets and then serd word 20 Mrs.
Eagle. her enemy. II thereupon becomes in
cumbent upon Mrs. Eagle 10 destroy greater
| amount Of clothing and more blankets Of her
own than Mrs. Bear. Bv pursuing this peculiar
process she evens things mp in the quarrel IL
she did not do so she would be disgraced in The
eyes OF her relatives and opposite tribes
The women are great traders. carry the
purse and manage things generally. n the
husband makes a bad bargain in trading his
wife ridicules him.
There is woman in sitks known as prin-
cess Tom, who is very rich. She at one time
had three husbands. but has become chr,st,.n-
lied and has discarded two. She h an sx,.n-
sive trader and has several large canoes in which
| she transports goods from SitkA 90 the interior
and exchanges them with the natives for furs.
She is known all over Alaska and wears upon
her arms twenty or thirty GOLD bracelets made
out OF go gold pieces.
The natives also trace their eeneaiorv
through the female branch OF the family and
the inheritance comes through the mothers
side For instance, II q chief should die
leaving a son. his sisters son or nephew voula
succeed in authority and not his own son The
women are not slaves, in the Indian tribes
IN this country, but exercise q great deal OF
authority.
They have another peculiar custom. In
TINS country mans prominence depends
largely upon his wealth Among the Alasksns
II depends upon how much he gives away, IN
rich member OF the Eagle tribe. for example.
wishes TO become a chief or a prominent man.
he makes pot latch OF Gift of ali his property.
All the members of the Eagle family no mat
ter how remote, are invited TO attend the Dot
latch. and the festivities include dancing and
feasting and frequently last a week. The more
he gives away and the poorer lie makes himself
the more exalted he becomes IL the estimation
Of his fellows.
The women emulate their sex in civilized
countries in their affectation of bright and
gaudv colors, and most of the money that thew
receive is invested in bright-colored goods and
shawls."
"with all due respect to the SEX" said the
clerk to The STAR representative, "the most
agSravating class Of guests with whom We have
to deal are women
Women are absolutely inconsiderate and
disregardful Of everybody and everything but
themselves and the object which for the moment
is uppermost in their minds. There may be
fifteen men around the register who are en-
gaging our attention, but woman will come to
the side entrance or side window and rap and call
to us as if we're bell boys and the other guests
had no rights at all. A clerk can answer . mans
question in one or two words. but not so with
swoman's. He has to 60 over with her half .
dozen times and go into all the details. In fact,
the average hotel lady guest thinks that God
created the hotel clerk alone TO wait upon her.
Here is one example out Of a thousand:
Has that package come for me-?
"'No, madam
".Butit was to have been here at O'Clock
and il il now s.
"'But il has not arrived
"'Why hasn't il arrived2
"'I am sure / don't know
"'When will il arrive?'
"'Really, cannot tell
% DO YOU think it will be here within Q half
an hourg
81 have no means OF moving
They told me at the store it would b here
promptly at o'clock
lit has not arrived
"'Well, / think it's too bad
am very sorry, but sometimes ore peo-
pie do not deliver parcels punctually'
won you please look over there in that
corner among those bundles and see IL that In
not 1t; no, L mean the one with the corner
sticking out
80 1t is not here madam
why, II contains my new lace wrap that
want TO wear down to dinner tonight IL
matches my new gas-greeu dress and I can't
wear the dress without the wrap"
" Il am very sorry. madam
We'll, be sure and have 1t SAINT to my room
Immediately upon arrival
." Yes. madam
"'Now. don't forget
" No, madam.
"a man" continued the clerk, would have
been satisfied with a single answer As IL hap
pens IN this case the ladys parcel arrived at 8
clock The next morning from the look that
got oeneve IN all seriousness that she thought
that had Intentionally hidden her parcel
Then there are women who send down TO
the Office every ten minutes for their mail
They often come down themselves and insist
that there is q letter for them, aud we have the
greatest difficulty in convincing them that we
haven't the precious epistle slowed away in our
inside pockets."
Two weeks ago the Hobbies Of the hotels were
80 crowded by Office seekers that il was almost
impossible for one to elbow his way through, but
now the crowd has very perceptibly thinned
out, and the Hobbies are good index 10 the en-
tire city in this respect.
At that time the Office seekers had Q bold
confident air, wore their hats on the back OF
their heads and held their cigars ut . sharp
angle. They smiled and chatted pleasantly
with everybody and seemed to think that they
were honoring Washington by their presence.
But now all this is changed. What are left
stand in little groups. talk in low tones Of voice.
with hats pulled down over their ewes and
hands showed in their trousers pockets. their de-
meanor now indicating that Washington is
honoring them by allowing them to remain
here.
Hundreds Of Office seekers have returned 90
their homes, FIR the appointments which have
already been made by Mr.. Cleveland have
wiped out their chances. Many of them who
came here 30 confidently, believing that all
they had to do was to present themselves to the
cabinet officers and immediatey walk into fat