The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-01-08

Women.
Copyright, 1905. by Joseph B. Bowlea)
lMrs. Henrietta N. Greedy. wife Of Gen.
a. w. Greely. the distinguished arctic eX-
plorer, has travelled widely and as re-
suit OF her observations has written for
publication with considerable success.)
From the nations capital to Alaska
Is q far reach. Crossing the Alleghe-
niles through the mining regions Of
Pennsylvania. so picturesque except
where defaced by mans grimy pur-
suits; through busy Chicago; rushing
over the western plains; across the
Rockies and we find ourselves on the
evening Of the fifth day at Seattle
embarking on the steamship Humboldt
for the famous inland passage.
Here on the ship am surprised
to see how many women are travel
ing to Alaska. OF course. the inland
passage has been a favorite trip for
15 years or more, but the large pro-
portion OF women among the excur-
sionists. many Of them in parties Of
two or three without escorts, indi-
Gates that conditions have materially
improved in this part OF the world.
In fact, the ease and comfort with
which we travel greatly astonish me.
We we're fortunate In having per-
feet weather through the three days
and four nights of the voyage from
Seattle to Skagway, Alaska. deplore
the limited space which forbids my
dwelling upon the surprisingly i'm
presslve scenery. With the exception
of occasional passing steamers and
still rarer collections of rough build
ings on the shores, usually salmon
canneries, we saw little Of human life
until the third day, when we passed
several boats loaded with Indians.
In one instance they had rlgged an
impromptu and very primitive sail to
their rowboat, which contained some
II persons. men, women and children.
These Indians the larger proportion
women, we're going to work in the
canneries. The only occupation for
the natives Is the catching, drying and
canning Of the salmon and new in.
dastry Is greatly needed.
u Late On the third day we reach
3smeau, opposite which is Douglas is.
ls,ud and the great Treadwell gold
mine. Il Is remarkable that the larg.
est stamp mill In the world should be
found in this wild. An act Of con
gress made juneau the capital Of
ALASKA. The town IS built on the side
OF hill so steep that the houses seem
TO be hanging from 1t. Back Of this
rises shary range Of higher hills
that form barrier protecting the
town from The frequent snow ava
aanches Of tie great mountains, which
IN turn, rlss perpendicularly behind
this natural wall.
AS illustrating the weather of Ju
neau. 1t is said that an old Indian
woman. on being asked If 1t always
rained In Juneau after a moments
hesitation. replied: Sometimes Il
SHOWS It was raining as we entered
the harbor, but we were not deferred
from a stroll through the town. W.
hound good plank walks and saw som,
quaint, artistic little houses and sey
eral churches with an effort at archi
lecture / was struck by the frequen
evidence Of woman's hand in the pot
ted plants IN many windows, whil'
the women and children whom w
saw surprised me By being quite lik'
those one would meet in any small
western town. A few Indian womel
were selling curios. among which baH
kets were the exception. The natiy
women are retrograding In basket
making They have largely discarde
the vegetable. dyes. which produce tn
tender, mellow tints for which Aias
kan baskets we're formerly noted, 70
the aDlline dyes with their crude
bright colors. The supply OF local bai
kets does not equal the demand an
many are imported from tho Unite
states, to be brought back by tral
'elers.
IN a most readable article on bal
kerry OF the northwest, Mrs. l. L. NJ
Arthur, Of Portland. tells us that =
the little sea glrt Island Of Attoo, tn
most westerly Of the Aleutiau island
and the most remote and isolated (