The Nome nugget., 1902-02-26
THE MENTALITY OF ALASKANS.

People whose fortune it has been to take up their residence in Alaska often find themselves the objects of commseraion. because of their "exe in strange and uncouth land" To be a resident of an isolated country such as this, $ supposed to be tantamoun; to being confined within prison walls where the brain stagnates and the power to do becomes dormant. Tn other language, that residence the frontier means that one becomes fossilized, back number a wart on the body polite, with mind dwared and body degenerated. The conception is false it is fanciful; absurd as it is pedantic; unjust it is inane Alaskans seek not the commiserations of ptyng friends in 'civlzation," or the supercilious patronage of those who live within touch of 1t. In sefrelance, in intelligence in integrity in broad mndedness in the ability to grasp conditions "size up situations not the man of intelligence
 in Alaska the peer of his fellows who are ground be- heath the wheel of petty conventonalism in the "civlization" of which they boast?
 Because a mans lot is cast in Alaska, or other land whose isolation cuts it off from communication with the busy outside world for protracted period, does it necessarily follow that he must perorce be- come an uncouth savage, degeneratng mentally if net morally, the years go by?
 We do not hold this to be true. There is free dom in new land, such that of which the poets have sung; men are not supplians; they "strong men, armed to the teeth" They are more, far more Independent in thought and action than are their brothers in the older communities because the latter become mere machines, travelling in a rut from whence there is little hope of escape. The mind has an opportunity to grow in land that is new, where the ravages of at overed and uncerfed civilization have not bghted it. There, it is the daily struggle for bread by the great mass of humanity. Here, while there is the same struggle for existence there is that hope which springs eternal in the human breast, that day turn of fortunes wheel will bring the horn of plenty that faith and hope and perseverance will bring reward that will be ample.
 We who have cast our lots in this section of Alaska may and do realize the monotony of isolation but the mind does not become sluggish the eye din or the dull of hearing The highest types of American intelligence are found here enterprise is unbounded, and evidences of that indoma be energy which characerzes the frontier are always apparent 1t IS far from our wish to speak in usome praise of the people who have made possible for the nucleus of commonwealth to be planted on inhosptab!e shores People prone to underestimate their abilities than to overrate them. Modestv it is said is not virtue of Americans. But modesty is mere relative term; it is characteristic sef-assertveness probably that has give,. rise to the saying A brave people are generally speaking modest peoples there fore, we can rightly lay claim to the virtue
 As Alaskans, yet Americans; as an slated people, yet intelligent, brothers in other states and ter ritories can lay truthful claim to superiority. mental physical or moral. We often hear the state rnent made half in jest, half in earnest "You have been too long in Alaska" It is as idle as it is fool ish for there can be mental declenson where are found tongues in tpens, books in the running brooks sermons In stones, and good in everything"