The Dickinson press., 1898-04-16
|ONTHER ROAD TODAWSON
A Woman Klondiker's Experi-
.ences and Impressions.
solE QUESTIONS OF COSTUME.
N ws1a. who cr.s,.. ch,lloos E..,,.
xriss and iDsinty Apparsl Bshina--Bas
shssHs Lots of 1ua -1or Her Tsiashle.
TRIALS Is the rrail.

HF'T 49, Fcr HaHHE - 81 N4G
(Jrom Our Special Correspondentl
SHEEP CANT, March IS.
It we have as much fun getting to
Dawson City as we have had in getting
here. the trip will be satisfactory.
The experience Of being an apparent
savage in the midst Of civilization or a
savage in the midst Of apparent civili-
sation, 1t depending entirely upon the
point Of view, is in some ways as
amusing as It is novel. AS there is a
bare possibility that I may return alive
from this Klondike trip and may con.
sequently need some Of my ordinary at
tire I did not take anything with me to
the Pacific coast except that which is
suitable for Alaska travel. Unfortu.
nately we had to wait several days in
Seattle and Portland, and to say that my
Klondike garb created a sensation there
is expressing 1t mildly. And yet my
costume was merely q plain brown
tweed bicycle suit. with cap and high
laced boots big enough to admit Of the
two or three pairs Of stockings that are
supposed to be needed, according to Ill
Klondike lore, in Dawson City. Then,
as it always rains in the glorious winter
climate Of the Pacific coast, I had to
wear rubbers.
Furthermore, my lord and master in
sisted that as we had only a few days
at most to enjoy civilization we should
go to the swell hotel Of Portland. We
arrived Sunday night just before din
ner. When I hear the wolves howl for
the first time, I can feel no greater
t%repidation than I did when I stepped
from the elevator and raj the gauntlet
as we walked through the Office, past
the sun parlor, with its palms and oush-
toned hooks, past the orchestra discours-
ing sweet music, past the double row Of
room, brilliant with electric light and
gay with %blossoming plants and elab-
orately dressed ladies.
I was treasured by being told that it
would be only a day or two, we would
sail shortly, but We had not calculated
on the uncertainty of anything and
everything pertaining to Alaska. When
we found we had to wait for q steamer,
to propitiate me we went to a smaller
and quietef hotel. But we only OK.
changed the fire for the frying pan. The
patrons were for the most part natives,
exclusive and conservative, and looked
| at me askance. At the first meal q lady
at the next table remarked:
"There ia one good side to this Alas
ka 2 The people who go there are
the undesirable element it will be better
for the country to be without"
Possibly the lady may have forgotten
that there would be no Portland, Or,
had it not: been for the same pioneer
spirit that is pushing far to the frozen
north today. As far. as my own expe-
rienoe has gone, this"element," while
composed Of all Glasses from all parts Of
the world, is extremely courteous to the
ladies and kind hearted and friendly to
every one. So it is with the women who
are on their way through. While at
times one comes in contact with, an in.
dividual who isan undesirable aoquaint.
ance, for the, most part the women are
modest and unassuming, entering into
the novelty of the trip with zest that
hides the serious purpose deep within.
In fact, they are sometimes so jolly,
that they have been accused of being
ignorant Of the hardships they would
have to undergo. One Of these very
women toli me that if she should die
on the way she would be satisfied,
knowing that she had been with her
husband to the last. and if by any
chance anything should happen to him
her revolver would prevent the necessi-
ty at her going back alone. And so it is
with most of them, plenty Of vivaoity
and lots Of courage and real ::gFit."
Queer Outfits.
We have had much merriment over
certain articles that we have had to per-
suade our respective husbands were me-
oessities and not luxuries One woman
with . party who is going to stay two
years insisted upon q w%ashboard, and
after much argument the men oom-
promised by allowing her to take the
zinc portion and promising to make the
wooden part for her when settled. An
other woman grieved because she did
not have a dustpan. Her husband held
out against a broom, but had to give in
at last, compromising on a child's
broom. Speaking Of carrying queer
things, n man has a feather bed and
is scornfully superior to sleeping bags.
It is very funny this going to market
for a year, as the Canadian officials in
sist that we must. When at the outfit
ting stores q list Of eatables is shown, Q
thousand pounds seems very little, but
one realizes its full weight and bulk the
moment one sees a'syear's grub" dump
ed on the beach and realizes what a
burden 1t is going to be to pack and
watch that pile for months ahead. Then
when the teams have left the goods in
the snow at Sheep Camp and you set
about trying to pick out the sacks that
are needed at first all the horrors Of
moving day IN town are mild in oom.
parison. The very sack most needed IL
down at the bottom Of the pile.
Feminine apparel is certainly varied,
but no n cares so long as she ia
comfortable. The woman who crosses
Chilkoot leaves pride and dainty ap-
parel behind. Heavy woolens, sweaters,
short skirts, nondescript caps, shoes Of
all sorts and description, make q woman
look a hybrid. In Dyea two women
dressed In gum boots, m%aokintoshes and
pilski4 paps raised q spirited discussion
among the bystanders as TO whether
they were male or female. The compli::
cation increases as one approaches the
summit, for few women attempt the
climb even in short skirts, especially at
this season Of the year.
We are perfectly oblivious as to
spring millinery OF Paris fashions, but
we are not without certain styles Of our
own. For instance, at Dyea 1t was
rubber boots, on the trail to Sheep
Camp arctic socks and ice packs, far.
ther up we shall wear moccasins, then
z again hobnailedsshoes, and 10 on.
We had q funny experience with our
patspt7oil stove. We had seen It in oper-