Douglas Island news., 1899-12-13


 the Bible, the latter part of which was interpreted into the Indian language. Then the bride and groom signed a written contract. after which Elder Replogle offered up a most fervent prayer and covered every point suit able to the occasion. The parties joined hands and the usual questions were asked in English, the best man trans Iating to the groom, and the bridesmaid to the bride, and the usual responses being satisfactory, in impressive tones the Elder, by virtue of the authority in him vested, pronounced them man and wife. The Elder was the first one to congratulate the couple, who was followed by Mrs. Replogle, after which nearly every one in the church went up and shook hands with the newly mar ried couple.
 Now gentle reader, you will probably think this is all there was to this we'd ding, but that is where you are badly mistaken. The fun had not commenced yet. But before we say anything further about this matter, we wish to digress for few moments and consider the Indian as we now find him in this part of Alaska.
 When we speak of Indians, or natives as they are generally called, one natur- ally thinks of red blanket and moe casius, but the natives of Douglas Is land. with slight exception, have takon to wearing the white mans clothes and in many respects adopted his mode of living. The rule is that the Indians are we'll dressed-wear good hats, shoes, collars. neckties and white shirts. The women are even better dressers than the men. Many of them speak, read and write English They attend school on the Island, and many are sent to the Mission school at Sitka and else where. They live in good frame houses, many of them as good as the white mans home, except they are not built as warm. They are kind and gentle, and there are many church members and church workers among them. They are glad to embrace the white mans civilization. They are progressing-yes progressing much more rapidly than the white man would, situated as they were.
 But we must return to our subject. The greater portion of the native pop ulation is between Douglas City and Treadwel. extending along the water front. This part used to be called h. dian town. but a great many white peo- pie are also living in that part of the city. and the designation is inappropri- ate now. Up quite ways from town, in partly unfinished building, prepa- rations were made for a wedding feast, and the News man was invited to go down and see the fun. We were a little late in arriving at the place, and when we entered the room, imagine our sur prise to see two tables, each about five feet wide and forty feet long, loaded with one of the finest dinners you ever saw and every seat around them taken. The guests were not only natives, but a craat many whites were seated at the table. Our friend Keeton was carving a huge turkey when we entered, and later on did the carving act" to the wedding cake, which proved to be one of the finest fruit cakes that hungry editor ever tackled. Coffee and lemo- made flowed freely and none went away hungry. This dinner, we are reliably informed, cost the groom between one and two hundred dollars.
 Every once in a while the band would play and the natives sang several beau tifuI songs. Presently Billy Howard, the Indian policeman, splendid off cer. got onto chair and told the na- tives to be quiet, that he wanted to talk to the white people for few minutes He then spoke to the guests as follows;
 "On behalf of the native people who are here tonight, wish to thank you white people for coming to this wed, ding feast. We are glad that the white people have come among us, who have taught us how to act and live. We want to live like the white people do, and we are learning how as fast as we can. Be, fore the white man came among us when an Indian wanted wife he had to buy her, but it is not so now, and il they want to marry they can do so il