The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-02-23


grows.
Returning from Skagway we had a
large number of passengers bringing
their gold out. The terms Gin" and
"out" are used exclusively in regard to
going into or returning from Alaska
or the gold fields. The superintendent
of one of the large mines was bringing
down In four small wooden boxes and
several little channels bags 100000
worth of bullion. the result of single
cleanup of the mine. He had two
guards with him. Everyone carries
small chamois bag more or less full
of nuggets. The habitues of the gold
fields are marked by their nugget
jewelry, the men wearing watch
chains of 1t and the women INDUCING
largely in necklaces. There were a
number of women coming out"
My attention was attracted. on the
passage up, to family disembarking
at Juneau. The man. the proprietor Of
shop, after two years alone in Ju-
neau, was returning with his family,
The little wife appeared very much
dissatisfied with the first view of her
new home. I noted that it was the
women of the middle class who seem
to object most to life in these wilds.
The poorer women accept the discom-
forts as pertaining to their life any.
where and the few women of the high
er class who find themselves in this
country rise superior to the small
daily trials of life in a new and un-
formed community. The wife of an
old army officer who surprised her
son in Alaska by visit found herself
compelled to pass the winter In log
cabin Is feet square, which was the
best habitation her son and his two
partners in the gold fields were able
to offer her. She found the quarters
rather limited for four persons, but
she not only accepted the situation
with equanimity, but went to work
with will, making her family of three
young men very comfortable.
The wife of river captain, who
was also the daughter of clergyman,
was coming out" after having passed
the winter with her husband in his
boat tied up at the mouth of Stewart
river, which empties into the Yukon
about Is miles from Dawson. She
seemed very superior woman and
her experiences were most interest
ing. She told me that she had abso-
lutely enjoyed the winter. although
she had not seen human being but
her husband and the five employees Of
the boat through the entire season.
The captain and herself had read
aloud to each other and played end
less games Of piquet and other games.
They had walked regularly twice
day on land. although snowshoes were
necessary. She had done large
amount of beautiful embroidery, nee
essarily by lamplight, and had busted
herself in the care of house plants. .
When she determined to pass the
winter on Stewart river, finding q
great demand for well-made dresses in
Dawson, this lady disposed OF the
greater part of her wardrobe at prices
far beyond cost. On her. return to
Dawson in the spring luncheon was
given her by a number of friends. and
being asked what special delicacy they
could provide. she expressed wish
for something fresh after her long
season of canned goods. A water
melon was the result of the confer
ence, which later she was startled to
learn had cost $3.50. This was not
so bad, however, as $25 had been
paid in Dawson for a single melon.
The ever vexatious servant question
is naturally more acute in Alaska than
elsewhere. Wages vary with ones
ability to pay. The wife of an army
! officer stationed at Fort Egbert, who
had brought in Japanese cook, under
contract at SIS month, was forced
to part with him at the end Of q few
weeks. as he was offered $125 a
month. The wives of the officers al
Skagway were doing their own work,
having also lost for higher wages the
servants they had brought to Alaska
with them. But no hardship Or difil,
culties seem to deter the American
woman. particularly of the army, from
what seems to be her place and duty
There is scarcely camp in Alaska
however remote or unpromising. that
is not graced by the presence Of ~
| fined woman