Douglas Island news., 1899-12-27

While the white population of Doug las Island was having a great old time celebrating Christmas day, the native population was also getting in their work in an equally vigorous manner. The natives of this island are strictly up to date, and few more years of Missionary them will bring them up to a high order of civilization.
 The festivities among the natives commenced Sunday evening, down by the Mexican mill, where Jack, at his own expense, gave the natives of the Island a free dinner. Thewhites were not invited to this banquet and so far as we have been able to ascertain, only one white man was permitted to gaze upon the table, which was described to us as being all that the most fastidious epicure could desire. Great roasts of the choicest beef, bread, butter, salads, cakes. fruits, nuts, and whole pie for each guest, only IGItally descIiLes this tremendous spread. The average native does not lack for an appetite and it is said that this choice repast grad ually melted away like the dew that kisses the bright warm sun of boiling June morning.
 Jack is one of the influential and progressive natives of the Island and many are the kind acts and charities that he has bestowed on his less fortu nate brothers and sisters.
 The second dinner was given by the natives on Christmas day at in the afternoon in a building owned by Alex. Smallwood and just north of his store and boarding house. This dinner was given by all the natives and those who could do so, contributed to the expense. The thigh squegee" had some invita- tions printed which were given the natives best friends.
 The tables were three in number and each about three feet wide and forty feet long. The News man was so for tunate as to secure a view of the grand outlay, one of the most attractive fea- lures of which was the number of fine and profusely decorated cakes, the ap- pearauce of which made one's mouth water and forget the commandment, ..Thou shalt not covet." The large and elegantly Drowned beef roasts, cold meats, salads and friendly looking pies reminded one of the Christmas dinner that your mother used to set before you. It was only in part the work of the white man, for many of the natives have acquired the art of neat and clean ly cooking.
 At the dinrer table, everything was quiet and orderly and the natives sat in their chairs around the tables using knives and forks and napkins in as delicate and proper a manner as any congregation of whites would or could.
 Not a single native blew his nose into his napkin during the repast which is more than you can say for some of the white gourmands that sometimes at tend the party dinners on Douglas Is land.
 Alexander Smallwood has lived among the natives on Douglas Island for the past five years and he knows them well and all are friendly to him. The News man called on him and asked concerning the improvement that has taken place in these people.
 II saw dinner table of the natives three years age" said MT. Smallwood. "At that time it was considered a grand affair, but so different from the tables of this year. There was an abundance of bread, but it was cut and piled up on the table in one great heap. There was plenty of meat and other plain food, but it was not spread in a neat and tidy manner. Of course it was an improvement on their part, but in no manner compared with the ele- gant dinners that they have given this year. Then their dress was so diff ferent from what it is now. Why, look at that crowd over there," and MT. Smallwood pointed toward group of native boys and men, "you see they are all we'll dressed, have white shirts, col lars and nice silk neckties. See their shoes nicely blackened and as neat as can be-" 'sWhat has made the change in the people?" was asked by the news gatherer. "Oh, the missionary work
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