The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-06-07
EHTERPRISING
WOMAN OF ALASKA
by the Countess de Montaisu.)

ST. LOUIS, May 24.-Mrs. Mary E.
Hart, commissioner from Alaska, is
one of the most progressive and brainy
women of the Worlds Fair. A Cali
fornian by BIRTH she went to Alaska
three years ago with her brother on
"a prospecting tour, and also as a rep
TSsntatf tive of California papers. 1t
t9ould be difficult TO believe that Mrs
Hart left California an invalid, for
now she is the personification of health.
Mrs. Hart is devoted to the study of
ethnology and is well versed in the
habits and customs of the Esquimaux.
Simrock Mary, the wealthiest Esqui-
maux woman in 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 of advancement,
founded the first and only woman's
club in the land of ice and snow. 1t is
called the Keogayah Kozga or Aurora
Club and is the most northerly wo-
mans organization in the world. Mrs.
Hart was the first president. She is
of Sciences, which has branches all
over the territory.
Mrs. Hart was appointed commission
er by Governor Brady. She also holds
the position of hostess in the Alaska
building She not only superintends
the social side, but is in charge of the
mineral and educational exhibits.
There is a unique exhibit consisting
of the entire output of the famous
Treadwell mine since its beginning
represented by pyramid of gold
bricks. The exhibits also include Speci-
mems of quartz and placer gold, cop
per, coal, cereals and fine furs
1T is not as cold in the southern
part of Alaska as it is in Missouri,
remarked this enterprising woman.
"and all kinds of cereals, fresh fruit
and vegetables grow easily. Governor
Brady is especially interested in the
agricultural outlook of his state and
has done everything to facilitate 1t.
Our public schools will be a surprise.
The Juneau school took the prize at
the Pan-American Exposition. There
are public schools for the whites, and
Indian government schools, besides the
mission schools. The girls in the Sftka
school flavs: done good work in paint
ing and embroidery.
1--WE Alaskan women said Mrs.
Hart, smiling, have the reputation of
being wanderers, but in reality there
are no more domestic women in the
world. We have a fine showing of lace
and handwork done by our women.
rot
Curious. aren't they? You know that
they are the genealogical trees of the
Indians They carve a figure at the |
apex and the first member of the |
family who dies has his figure placed |
beneath. and so on until the pole is |
covered with these grotesque figures. |
The poles are hollow and in this re- |
ceptacle are entombed the remains OF |
some great man, for only the royal |
chiefs are entitled to totem. 1t con-
stitutes a sort Of insignia of nobility
No one knows the age of these toterns
and no man but Governor Brady could
have induced the Indians to loan their
sacred relics. There are twenty-five
of them here. Between these pictur-
esaue poles there will be the plants and
flowers indigenous to Alaska Inc
teachers of the public schools and the
children will spend a day in the woods
gathering them. and will ship them to
us The Indian houses on each side OF
our building are ornamented with
shields and contain valuable curios.
Mrs. Hart and Governor Brady are
enthusiastic about the future of Alas II
Exa and look upon it in the light of the
promised land. Mrs. Hart is journal
ist of note on the Pacific coast and was
a delegate to the Worlds Press Par
lament the third week in May. She II
il corresponding from the Exposition
for a number Of Alaskan and other
papers III