Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-04-26

Boulevard chant spring chorus, active
hands within the Ieotory are preparing
for shipment several barrels OF articles
designed to carry Christmas message
of good cheer to the far off cold region
of Point Hope, Alaska, where DIR
John B. briggs, a Delawarean, labors
among the Eskimos and Indians. One,
or at most two, vessels year visit that
distant point, which is about 200 miles
above Behring Strait, and SO 1t is neces-
sary to take time Ly the forelock with
long pole in order to time the arrival
of goods for any particular OCCASION.
So it is that the Junior Auxiliary of
Delaware have been working vigorously
and enthusiastically through the Lenten
season preparing articles for the Point
to be large time at DIR. briggs
house, when he sets up Christmas
tree and decorates it with the myriads
of articles, which it is the custom
throughout most of the world to use
for tree adornment at the happy gift
tide. and calls in the little Eskimos
children and the little Indian children
and bids them feast their eyes upon it.
| 1t is going to be sight worth seeing,
| nut DR.. briggs will be the only edu-
| Gated white man to see it.
He is a Delaware man, having been
born in Smyrna. He first went to
Alaska about 10 years ago, and few
years ago visited his native State.
While here he told the story OF life in
the far Northwest and since he has
been back in Alaska, the Junior
Auxiliary devoted its Lenten efforts
one year to sending him about 5000
worth of goods. The shipment now
being prepared will be the second gift
from Delaware to Delaware's son.
The Junior Auxiliary, by the way,
is an organization of the children OF
Protestant Episcopal churches in the
State, and its primary object is ore OF
the organization known as the Woman Is
Auxiliary, which is auxiliary to the
Board of Missions of tine whole Epis-
copal Church in this country. Mrs.
Sophie @. Hall, the wife of Archdeacon
George @. Hall, rector of st. Johns
Church. is the president of the State
organization of the Junior Auxiliary,
and Miss Helen Ernestine Van Trump is
the secretary and treasurer. One veal
the organization made its Lenter
offering for the benefit of the Hospital
for Incurables, Denver, Col. another
year, o Christmas box was sent to ar
Indian School in the West, and still
another year, to school for pool
people in Beaufort, N. @. Thes,
statements show that practical sort
OF Christianity is pursued.
In preparing for the present collec
ton of articles, the Juniors have beer
employing their time on Saturday after
moons in Lent. They have made worl
bags, and bags in which marbles hav'
been placed for the amusement of tn
boys. At first blush, one may wonde
whether il will not be bit too cold t.
, play marbles up there; but moment
that even the boys hereabouts some
times play marbles when there may b
frost on the ground. Anyhow tn
Alaskan boys will have the marbles
The Juniors have also hemstitchet
wash-rags and towels, and many cake
of soap have been bought, and through
possessing these articles the habit O
cleanliness is to be made easier than
now may be. Chickens, elephants an,
lions have been sewed in outline O
some little mats sent by the Juniors o
Christ Church, Christiana hundred
and these will probably acquaint tn
) Eskimos children with the appearance
of animals they have never seen. L
3 one case, where the Juniors were to
; small to be handy with the needle, the
. gave fair and thus raised money
: help the good work.
) Some gifts are designed for Di
briggs exclusively, and the. value {
these is placed at $50. In large par
they have come from older churc
members They include bath robe,
: pair of blankets, a heavy sweater, thre
q comfortables, pillow cases, towels
\ books and pictures.
, 1t has already been limited that art
a Giles for decorating Christmas tree az
4 10 thei outfit. These will include fairit
n and clowns, which will certainly max
q childish eyes jump, and fancy articles
II and the work bags. One or two bast
"a balls are on the list, and stick oaud
8 and whistles are not forgotten.
For distribution among the people
whom DIR. briggs ministers, there al
pictures, aprons, towels, wash cloth
s pillow cases, picture books, scrap book!
70 needles and thread, handkerchief
e darning needles, tape, thread. lea
II pencils. Pen wipers, hooks and eye
Vt school straps, and scissors shield
y A lady 80 years old sends 10 knitte
J. wash rags.
/, One OF the articles is four yards
% hair ribbon, which is not for d.
briggs personally.
"And dolls galore" exclaimed Mr.
/. Hall in thinking of one important pa
- of the gifts. She made the guess TIL
!. there were two hundred dolls. The
y. ~ are dressed, some prettily, and q
% bound to be source of exubera
" delight to the little girls in the frozt
!, % Northwest, providing, of course, th,
30 have the faculty of exubeiant EXPIRE
sion that prevails in warmer cline
Some Indian or Eskimos youngster
- going to be made happy with knittt
~ reins and rope for driving his dog
y pet reindeer.
ID And this is not all. Cards and ri
ture books, games, large sheets wi
u scrlptural pictures and passages, musl
IN scrap books, a box OF paints, wood,
90 spoons, watch holder, pin cushio
I'D work basket, box of notions, lar
hoods, baby hoods, children's hoo
~ and jackets, all these are among Il
is things to he sent.
ut The Junior Auxiliary branches in Il
ne following chui ches have assisted in Il
ar preparation of this large collection
no Johns, st. Andrews, Trinity, Ii
SIS manuel, Cavalry, Wilmington; Chri
to Church, Christiana hundred;
fit Thomas, Newark; st. Anne's, Midi
lie town; Christ Church, Dover; S
Peters, Smyrna, and the branch
fe Georgetown.
ed When DIR. briggs was here he told
,st an experience i'll which he participate