The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-11-08
WONDERFUL ALASKA,

1t is to be doubted IL many readers of
the Messenger have any sufficient
knowledge of the character of Alaska,
a comparatively recent addition to the
great American Empire. A recent work
of much interest upon hat far away
country has entertained us. 1t is enti-
tied Hartman Alaska Expedition to
Alaska" 1t was a private enterprise
given by Mr.. z. H. Hartman, who in
vited twenty-five men of science, three
artists and two photographers to be-
come MS guests and to accompany him
and his family. Two large volumes
magnificently Illustrated have been but
just issued. They are models of their
kind, and the contents come from sew
eral practiced pens. The famous New
England author, Mr.. John Burrough,
writes the narrative, and 1t is regarded
as we'll done by a successful interpreter
of nature. This is the book that will
entertain and edify.
The thing hat most impressed us is
the grandeur and ~unrivalled glories Of
the scenery. We say u%nrivalled for Mr..
Henry Gaunett is SO impressed that he
advises all seekers after new things and
travellers to first see all the world has
to offer before they attempt to visit
Alaska He writes:
Their is one word of advice and eau
ton to be given those intending to visit
Alaska for pleasure, for sightseeing. If
you are old, go by all means; but if
you are young, wait. The scenery Of
Alaska is much grander than anything
else of the kind in the world, and it is
not we'll to dull ones capacity for en-
joyanent by seeing the finest first.
A visit on a steamer from Seattle by
way Of the Inside Passage n~orthward
for a thousand miles took them into
Prince William sound, where glaciers
were seen and mapped. The report
states:
I'VE were really in one of the work.
shops and laboratories Of the elder gods,
u only in the glaciers front was there
present evidence that they were still
at work. I wanted to see them opening
in the ice. dropping the soil
and rocks they had transported, polish
ing the mountains OIL blocking the
streams, but I could not. They Sc
to knock off work when we were watch
ing them"
A visit to the peaceful isle Of Ka-
| diak fascinated all, and Mr.. Burroughs
SANNS SAAo AP
sion upon himself:
"If we had other days that were epic.
these days were lyric. I feel as
wanted to go back to Kadiak, almost
as If I could return there to live-so Sc
cluded, so remote, so peaceful; such a
mingling Of the domestic, the pastoral
the sylvan, with the wild and the rug
ged; such emerald heights, such flow
cry wales, such blue arms and recesses
OF the sea, and such a vast green soil
tude stretching away to the west. to
the north, and to the South-bewitching
Kadiak, the spell Of thy summer fresh
ness and placidity is still upon me-"
The ship returned in two months after
departure giving the observers harm
ing views of 1.-THE majestic panorama of
the Pacifc's shores They had trav-
elled 5000 miles and had Jared we'll.
There is much given concerning the
aboriginal life and culture of the In
dian, Alent, and Eskimo" A sad de-
moralization has already set in and all
because Of h coming, evil example
and wicked associations of the alleged
christian ized white man. Let DR.. George
Bird Grinnell, editor Of Forest AM
Stream" be heard here. He writes en-
tertainlngly Of these peoples. Accord
ing to him, as reported in The Dial, .
the canneries are rapidly ~exhausting
the salmon streams, the fur companies
have already reduced and in many
cases almost exterminated the fur-bear-
ing animals, and with them have gone
the resources for the life of these prim-
tive peoples. Liquor, firearms, and the