The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1897-09-16

Cerrara marble by master artists in
days Of yore. Even the sun seems to
pause and smile more genially as he
sees himself reflected in a thousand
brilliant ice-facets which separate it's
rays into their prismatic hues. But
inger as he may, the time comes when
only the moon and stars see the Won
derful beauty of the place, for boats
Must say good-by when SOILS chariot
passes on. as it is not safe for vessel
to be overtaken by night in that ice
dotted bay, which is so unlike that
ether bay which caresses the banks If
S1tka, the most interesting settlement
In Alaska. A single street. at the
head OF which is the old orthodox
Greek church. with it's picturesque
green minarets, chime of bells and fine
clock, divides the village into two
parts civilization and heathenism. On
the one side is the Indian rancherie or
settlement, for the government now
compels the natives to live in houses
Or huts which front the beach in 4
double row, each place being white
washed and numbered. The inside
consists of one large room with hole
in the middle of the roof, through
which the smoke of the fire escapes,
the SCOT on the ceiling forming black
stalactltes OF the most fascinating
shape and form. In this common liv-
Ing room, the entire family, including
hordes of dogs, eat and sleep, while
the only touch of picturesqueness about
the rancherie are the beautiful canoes
covered with gay blankets, which ara
drawn up on the beach. On the other
side OF the graveled highway are the
trading store, custom house, barracks,
mission schools and governors castle,
which is most interesting square old
structure made of huge logs held to-
gether by iron bolts, it's foundation be-
ing rocky elevation which is sur
rounded on three sides by water while
the fourth springs abruptly from the
surrounding land, thus forming a nat
ural and impregnable fortress. The
view from this commanding height dis
closes semi-circular bay which might
be the twin of the beautiful bay of Ma
pies, not even the fire mountain being
absent, for the extinct volcano, Edge
cumbe, far in the distance to the right.
wrapped in royal purple mantle.
guards the hundreds of emerald islands
which stud the silvery, glittering ex-
panse of water. Back of the town arc
the everlasting hills, whose rising
slopes as blue as lapis lazuli, gradually
hide themselves in wells of f1lmy, fleecy
clouds until thew change their gowns
to the pure whiteness of perpetual
snow.
Nature seems to be "setting for her
picture" for everything about Sitka
presents views to fill water color ar
fist with rapture. Even the sun fingers
long before closing his eyes on this
perfection, for 8 o'clock in August finds
him still out of bed. flooding the scene
with glorious mellow light, which
gradually fades through the red of re-
greet, and the gray of resignation, to the
tender amethyst of hope, for the gentle
, afterglow which tints the snow-capped
. mountains, and is reflected by the is.
land-set bay, seems to be promise Of
tomorrow's return, and one secretl,
envies him the sight, for ere that time
, comes the steamer will have carried
it's human freight many miles from thi:
) haven of perfect beauty, on the home
ward voyage from this land of poetic
loneliness Americas Switzerland.