The times., 1899-07-30
A Book on Alaska.

Alaska and the Klondike," by Angelo
Heilprin, is the narrative of a summer
journey, covering the period from the end
of July TO the middle of October. II is
copiously illustrated, and the pictures are
unusually fine; and the text is well written
and extremely interesting. The chances of
book of this kind have been somewhat
marred by the occurrence of the Spanish
! American war for without this diversion
OF public interest books on the Klondike
would undoubtedly have been in demand
whereas the public which might have been
theirs is now divided between the study OF
the Philippines, the West Indies, and Ha-
wall, the perusal of histories of the late
war, and the search for information on the
various political, International and racial
problems which have arisen since the bat
tie of Manila. However, the Klondike will
continue TO be an interesting subject to
those who think of going there, and when
the public is satiated with war literature
there may be a returning interest in other
kinds
The book of Mr.. Heilprin IS one of the
best on this subject which may be found
among recent publications. 1t is pic
turesque without being sensational, and
contains considerable useful information
without being statistical. 1t is probably
unnecessary to put into book of this kind
much definite instruction about the man.
ner of reaching the gold fields and the
conditions to be found there, since, as in
the days of the Argonauts, these condi-
| tions are changing with an almost magical
rapidity, and the instructions fitted for the
traveller of today would be useless to those
who make the journey two or three years
| hence. Thus the present work. being in
| tended for more than ephemeral exist
| ence, is wisely constructed in that il does
not deal with these things at any great
| length.
The author gives some of his attention.
| however, to certain phases of the Klon-
dixie, which, though transitory, will be Of
perennial interest. Nobody cares now
what the best method of reaching Califor-
MIA was in '49, but an accurate description
of Sacramento in its infancy is of great
interest. Mr.. Heilprin wisely provides for
this demand. His description of Dawson
as he saw it in August, 1s9S-he calls it
the San Francisco of the North"-is
worth reproducing, as it is an example of
| the general style OF the book, and is. be-
sides, picturesque in itself:
As we saw it approaching from the water side
! It peTslstenily suggested the banks Of the Yang
! Use hiang, or some other Chinese river on which
| denseiy apporloned population had settled
| Hundreds-one is almost tempted 10 saw thou
sands-cf boats were lined up against the river
| front, and so packed in rows back Of one an
other that exit from the inner line was made
| possible only by passive accommodation from
the outside. There were steam craft house-boats,
scows, and variety of minor bottoms ranging
! from the hay-packed craft TO the graceful Pc
terboro canoe Many had canvas spread over
them, giving house quarter 10 those who pre-
| ferred the economy Of owned estate to the
| high-priced cabins of log huts and hotels, and
/ the purity Of the open air TO what was at least
/ considered 10 be the polluted atmosphere Of the
| stable city Ii would be far from the truth TO
| assume that this floating population was com
! posed exclusively OF men, women. and chill
| dren; there were dogs galore, abundant by both
| presence and voice; horses and mules, and an
occasional goat betrayed itself munching among
| hay-packs and the usual combination of sim
| pie and hard things which make up goat food
One canvas bore the tempting inscription: Hot
| OF varously designated laundries and few
| even invited TO Board and Lodging Cheap -
1 OF course, the word cheap has here special
| etymologic significance, and bore little rela-
/ tion TO the same form Of word which is current
| The frst favorable impression of dry land in
Dawson was tempered by a knowledge that even
here were many moist spots. The mud
lay in great pools along the main street-First
! Avenue, or Front Street-but hardly in sufficient
| depth TO make walking dangerous Dogs and
| goats could alone drown in II. 1t is true that
an occasional wading burro, or even d mule,
would find dangerously low level, but am not
aware that any in this condition had added to
list Of serious casualties. No mention is made
| in this connection OF cats, for, in truth, only
| two specimens of the feline family had up TO
| this time reached Dawson-one, a blue-ribboned
| kitten, which was endearingly received as the
mascot Of the Yukon Mining Exchange.
|
| II WIS not difficult to determine what perhaps
the majority of the 1900 inhabitants OF Daw-
| son were doing ut the time OF our arrival. They
were simply lettering, and the streets were
| packed with humanity. This was not strange
| either, for 1t must have been difficult TO resist
] the enjoyment Of that open sunshine that soft
warm atmosphere which is the delight Of The