Douglas Island news., 1903-12-30
Christmas on Douglas
 Island.

Island.
 Perhaps description of the Christ mas "doings" on Douglas Island may not be necessary for our home readers, but it is certain that those of our friends who live in the States where they are surrounded by the markets that are always stocked with both the necessities and the luxuries of life, are apt at times to overestimate this ad- antage, and think of the "poor Alas kan" with undue commiseration.
 However, when these friends come to learn more of the real conditions here, their feeling of pity will be changed to astonishment and it may be envy.
 Iu the first place, the idea that the people of this part of the country passed the Christmas day tumbling over snow drifts and slipping over glaciers is very far from the truth. The snow was here on that day, but 1t served only to ornament the mountain tops at an altitude of perhaps 12OO feet.
 Then, another thing that serves to make Christmas happy time on Douglas Island, is the fact that there are none who can be called needy. Every body works, and everybody gets paid, and the wage paid is such that all may enjoy the comforts of life. What wonderful little community it is, where all the people are we'll fed and housed, and how many can you find like it in the whole world? You will say that such place should be happy. They are, just the happiest people you ever saw, and it is at Christmas time that their happiness bubbles over and finds vent.
 You have the conditions, now for the Christmas. At the Congregational and Friends churches, entertainments were held for the children on Christmas Eve, and the churches were packed to the doors with the little folks, and the big folks, who enjoyed the tree, with it's blazing candles, and it's pretty ornaments. There were the happy songs and the little speeches, and the breathless surprise when Santa Claus arrived, and the laughing and cheering when he began to distribute the candy sacks and the presents.
 Then came the home trees, and on Christmas day the home gatherings, and the Christmas dinners, with the big turkey, and cranberry sauce and cake, puddings and pies.
 You would have thought that every one would be satisfied with such Christmas, but it was only beginning for the Island. The men at Treadwell, under the leadership of Supt. Mac Donald, had prepared such treat for the children at the Y. M. c. A. build ing as they never had before. Every child on the Island was invited, not one was left out, and present was prepared for everyone. Christmas afternoon was taken up with games and contests of various kinds, and prizes were given to the successful ones. Then came Steward Tubbs with big Christmas dinner. He is the man who runs the big boarding house at Treadwen, where the miners eat, and he understands that one of the req uisites of good dinner is to have enough, and he had enough good things stacked on each plate to feed half dozen.
 Then came the entertainment and the tree in the auditorium, where Santa Clause appeared again with fresh supply of presents. Then at last, tired but happy, the children started for their homes with their arms loaded with candy and toys, and their heads ] full of Christmas dreams.