The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-11-10

Museums of collections are usually
shastly places, denominations to the eye
and often, alas, to the nose, and gener-
ally i'm pressing one with frantic desire
TO break down the glass cases and then
escape together with the other imprison-
ed features to fresh air and sunshine.
But q legend reached me lately OF re
variable EXHIBIT of animals. curios and
relics OF vanished race 10 be seen at thu
AlasKa Commercial company's head
quarters and q genuine surprise awaited
AZ therefor this is SAID to be the only
perfect COLLECTION OF Arctic fauna and of
genuine Aleut AMI Indian costumes and
handiwork in the United States, even the
Smithsonian institute, which is largely
Indebted to this com pany for specimens,
lacking many OF the rare objects treasur-
ed there. The tawdry things made OF
late years to sell to tourists and having
the trail OF "the white man and his dol.
lar" over all, are cunspicuously absent.
But the wood and ivory carvings, the
model boats, tools ana weapons are excel
lent samples Of race work executed dur.
ing the Russian possession OF Alaska. or
even before that time. Many pieces are
wishout duplicates and are so old that
the natives themselves cannot tell how or
when they were made.
Under the jurisd ction of this com pan y
is all that vast territory stretching frJm
Mount st. Elias on the east to Petropau-
loisky on the west, EN- bracing over 60 de-
sress OF Longitude, and here is the home
Of the Aleuts. who are largely in the ma
tority of Indians and of hali-oresd race
between the two.
Four districts are recognized, st. Mich
asl's, Kodiac, Ounalaska and Penopaulof-
sky, and supplies are sent from San Fran
cisco, the central station OF these dis
tricts, and thence sold or traded to the
natives for their furs.
The Indians live around Copper river
and Prince Williams SOUND, and their
settlements are along the mighty YUKON
a. far up as Fort selkirk. TEev hunt IL
through the st. MichaePs district, the
most northern school known being one
for Indian children at Point Barrow,
where thers is a signal and relief station.
The Aleuts people the peninsula and
she far-reaohing chains OF countless is
lands strung along like necklace,
which Russis, a veritable Indian giver."
Is always stretching her oovetous hand
out to grasp. Russia wishes Boring sea
declared open waters, because these
islands ara nearly all more than three
sea leagues apart. while, as these dots on
the map are indisputsbly ours. SO al o
ought to be the waters surrounding them
and thus the quarrel goes merrily on.
Mean while, the innocent seal. the real
"bone OF centention," and the staff of
life to the natives, Is rapidly vanishing
under the com biDed attacss OF Amerl-
cans, Russians, English and Japanese,
and coat or cape of the rich, dark fur
will soon represent more 'twenties than
ever before, unless the Antartlc reg ions
can send us fresh supply.
During our recent chilly weather,
when San Francisco fondlv Rugged itself
in the belief that "cold wave" had
struck it, every third lady one met had a
'.sealski., very handsome, too, some OF
them, but widely different from the coat
Of the animal. When the skin is in its
raw state. the exquisite, soft fur Is COM
pletely hidden by thick crop OF long
brown hair, often tipped with grayish
white. These hairs are rooted much
deeper in the animals coat than the
furry coat. so the under or feecy 81 lie Of
the pelt is carefully shaved or slicei till
these roots are cut off, and the hair is
thsn entirely plucked out. A close, yell
lowish brown fur. very much curlsd and
crinkled, IS left, and after combing tLis
is ready for the dive. Only two firms in
London and one IN New York know the
secret of the dye used, and this dyeing is
. very slow and delicate operation. The
skin would BIO ruined if dipped in the
vat, 50 the color is applied with brush.
The excess is washed off, and after dry
ing the process is repeated until after