The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-23
LOTTO zCO9

Our Hawaiian citizens. who live within
sight OF Mauna Rea. deem themselves
favored beyond their fellows. for the
summit OF this mountain IL the only
spot on which snow may be found 10 the
island group. on the morning OF Christ
mas men will make the ascent with pack
mules and bring down loads OF the pre-
cious crystals. Just TO feel a handful %
It will delight the soul OF the exile from
a New England home. but after salts
flying sentiment. Yankee practicalness will
turn II 20 account IN making ice-crsam-
The Kanakas are all Christians. and
every hillside schoolhonse and village
church will DO the center Of a gathering
bent on celebrating Christmas IN merry
fashion. The native Hawaiian keeps hoii-
day with the keenest enjoyment BE
cherishes his old insritutiOns-the iuau
and me hula dance. though he has been
Induced, out OF Difference 10 the prejud-
css OF civilized society. 20 divest them
Of some OF their most barbsric features.
The luau Is an al fresc0 feast. az which
men and women attend practically nude.
but now the occasion Is often graced By
the presence Of old silk hats and bonners
and Cost-oT garments OF the whites. The
hula dance r. fantastic performance
somewhat similar 10 our cake-walk. The
dancers are women who formerly were
little encountered with clothing, aud even
yet make a sufficiently liberal display Of
their physical charms.
The Gunmese-our poor Relationship
celebrate Christmas In a very humble
fashion. for lack OF means to do better.
Even the Governor and the little knot Of
officers from the naval station. who will
De guests at the executive residence.
must be satisfied with n sorry Christmas
dinner, for the poverty stricken island
does NOT AFFORD material FOR good spread,
and II Is out OF touch with the world.
The phce may be torn up by tornado
or swept by a tidal wave at this moment.
and the news reach Us through the medium
or some tramp steamer two months hence.
II our Americans in Agaua contrive :
cheerful time at Christmas. they must be
veritahie Mark Tapleys. for more de-
pressing conditions than those in which
they live Il wo1ld be difficult 70 imagine.
Il Is not their own circumstances that
cause them distress so much as the miser-
able lot OF the natives OF this shamefully
neglected possession. II Congress should
vote a Christmas present OF 500. ZOO 70
this needy little island. IL would be the
means OF making 10000 beings supremacy
happy Il would give them the roads
and the schoolteachers and the doctors
they sadly need. Just think Of II! That
paltry sum-not drop In the Treasury
! buckets more than all the possessions OF
the natives put together would amount to.
The Christmas holiday is an old insti-
tuition IN Alaska. At the Russian fur
trading posts and at the seat OF govern
ment * was always the occasion OF a
great deal Of coarse Indulgence and drink
ing and the Interchange OF presents be-
tween the white men aud the Indians.
The miner Is prone 10 make the most
OF any opportunity for relaxation from
the routine OF his arduous and solitary
life. and. whether II be spent In camp
or city. Christmas with our Alaskan citi-
zens Is bound 20 be q hilarious holiday.
The good time is extended 70 all-Eski-
mo, Indian and Aleut-and even the
dogs. Many OF the natives are Chris
tiaus. but they need no religious incen-
tive 20 participate 10 the white mans
feast. The Chinese, or whom there are
several thousand IN the territory. cele-
brate Christmas. but make sort OF joss
festival OF It. In many spots Of the
sparsely settled territory two or three
men. FAR from civilization and perhaps
miles from human dwelling. will make
shift to keep Christmas with what cheer
they may. and In many cases have stored
FOR months the accessories for the cele-
br0tions
But for the most part the scattered
pioneers VIII make their several ways to
the nearest forts aud settlements, often
making a long and difficult journey for
the sake OF spending the Christmas week
in appropriate style. The miner Is IN
ordinateiy fond OF dancing-precisely
why none con say-aud viii frequently go
80 miles over the toughest trail and In
the most severe weather 10 shake q
| foot at some rude gathering. where one
man only ia ten caa be furnished with a
female partner.
FORBES LINDSAY.