Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-05-17
COMMISSIONER
FROM ALASKA
--
Woman From Tho Far Away
Domain of Uncle Sam Who
Presides efes, Alaskan
Bulldllg
THE KOzGA CLUB
Many sided Woman give Inter-
esting Glimpscs Of Land that
Isn't All Ice and Snow

ST. LOUIS. MAY 17rMrs. Mary u
Hart, commissioner from Alaska, u
d Of the most progressive and brainy
women Or the Worlds Fair. A Calf
ornian by birth. she went to Alaska
three years ago with her brother On
q prospecting tour, and also as q
representative Of California papers. II
would be difficult to believe that Mrs.
Hart left California an invalid for
now she Is the DISQUALIFICATION Of
health.
Mrs. Hart Ii devoted 70 the study
OF e~thnology and isSzsell versed In
the habits and ctistd bf the Esqui-
maux. Simrock Mary We wealthiest
Esquimaux woman Iii Alaska and the
owner OF valuable herds OF reindeer
has adopted her as a sister and she
is much beloved BY the natives. Mrs.
Hart, who Is In favor % gancement,
founded the first and woman's
club in the land Of ice and snow.
1t is called the Kozga or Aurora club
and Ii the most hortherly woman's
organization In the world. She Is al
so secretary Of the AlasksRa Academy
Of Sciences. which has Pches all
over the territory,
Mrs. Hart rs appointed commits
sioner by Cow 3 Brady. She also
holds the poaiti0 Of hostess in the
Alaska building. She not only super.
Intends the social side, but Is in
charge OF the mineral and educational
exhibits. There Is q unique exhibit
consisting OF the entire output OF the
famous Threadwell mine since its be-
ginning represented by n pyramid OF
gold brick. The exhibits also include
specimens OF quartz and placer god,
copper, coal. cereals and fine furs.
1T Is not AZ cold IN the southern
part OF Alaska as Il Is in Missouri
remarked this enterprising woman,
"and all kinds OF cereals, fresh fruit
and vegetables grow easily. Governor
Brady f. especially Interested In the
agricultural outlook Of his state and
has done everything TO facilitate IL.
Our public schools will be d surprise
The Juneau school took the prize &C
the Pan.American exposition. There
are public schools tOr the whites and
the Indian government schools, be-
sides the mission schools. The girls
In The sitka school have done good
work in painting and embroidery
we Alaskan w5mcn.r said Mrs.
Hart, smiling. have the reputation Of
being wanderers. but In reality there
are no more domestic women IN the
world. We have Il fine showing Of
lace and handwork done by ON wo.
men.
"Yon are looking at u totem poless
Curious aren't they? You know that
they are the genealogical trees OF the
Indians. They carve a figure AZ the
apex and the first member Of the
family who dies has his figure placed
beneath, and 80 on until the pole Is
covered with these g~rotesque figures.
The poles are hollow and III this r.,
ceptacle are entombed the remains
Of some great man. Tor only The royal
chiefs are entitled TO a totem. II
constitutes q SORT Of q insignia Of
nobility. No II knows the age Of
these totems and no man bnt Gov
ernor Brady could have Induced the
Indians 20 loan their sacred relies
There are twenty-five ~ them here,
Between these picturesque poles there
will be the plants AMI flowers IN.
digenous 10 Alaska The teachers oI
the public schools and The children
Will spend a day III the woods gath
ering them and VIII ship them Ii lis
The Indian houses on each side o. oni
building are ornamented with shield.
and contain valuable curios
Mrs. Hart and Governor Brady arc
enthusiastic about the future 81 Alas
ka and look upon Il In the light ol
The promised land. Mrs. Hart Il /
journalist OF note on the Pacific coas,
and wal q delegate 70 he Worlds
Press parliament the third week n
May. She Is corresponding from III
exposition for a number % Alaskan