The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-03-15
LIFE IN
Summers Pleasant and winters Not so BAD,
White Woman writes.

White Woman writes
Certain white men in the Danish Govern
ment service live along the southwest coast
OF Greenland. How do the European women
and children thrive in that Arctic land
II Ia interesting 10 hear from n OF thess
women, who has written TO the German
paper AuslGnd that on the whole they
like Greenland, have many simple pleasures
there, their children are happy and robust,
and the natives are simple, jolly and In
dustrious.
The writer says that life lie not irkSome.
though the coast Ia bleak and the winter
snows are deep. She lives in Godthaab,
the capital Of the colony Of South Green
land. The vhito women spend many Of
the summer hours on the hills or in the
gardens,
MY garden, > she writes, from the Green
land point Of view. 10 a great success. A
broad walk divides It into two partA. On
one side beets, radishes, oabbages, and
some other vegetables grow Justify and
mature even In the short summer.
"0n the other 10 q beautiful grass plot,
sprlnkled with dandelions and daisies, and
in a corner lie a little dollhouse | which
we bring a few European flowers and straw
berries 10 perfection. Near the entrance are
garden chairs and q little table. and often,
In the afternoon. all the white women In
the colony cit here with their needles, en-
Toying their tea and the bouquets Of roses
and gllyhowers which the dollhouse pro-
vides.'
The Danish mothers and their children
are often seen on fine summer days climb
ing the hills behind the settlement, some
with their sewing, others with books, while
a tea kettle and a basket Of fresh baked
cake are carried by young Esquimaux.
In sunny places, protected from the wind,
the picnic party enjoys the glorious view
Of the blue sea, and the entertainment
ia varied by visits from the village goats,
imported from Europe generations ago
J and thriving in their new home.
The single street Of Godthaab is lined
with houses and bears the name OF LANCE
LIME, in memory Of the famous promenade
OF that name in Copenhagen. IL Is a NOISY
| street In summer for II 10 the centre OF the
| happy out Of door life Of the people n
the playground Of the children, both Green
landers and European.
The little folks recognize no racial dis
tinction- They are all playmAtes together,
and in fact there IL a large European ad-
mixture in al the ESqulmaux, old INT
young.
sSometlmes.' the narrative continues.
we hear a joyous shout, The post, the
poStl' and in an instant the whole colony
sWe See a boat coming up the bay pro-
PEELED by the paddle Of n Of the EAqui-
maux whose business is TO travel from
one settlement 70 another with the mail.
The Esquimaux are just az interested as
we are. FOR all can read and write and are
eager for news from their friends in the
other colonies. Only q few old women
standing In their doors or sitting on the
fat roofs have no part in the general ex-
element.
IBut the stir and hustle are greatest II an
oar u fIed upright like a mast in the boat
This means that the boat IL from one OF the
southern settlements where a vessel from
Denmark has arrived, and the Esquimau
postmen are trusted with letters from our
dear ones in the home land. as the ship is
unloading q part OF her cargo and will not
arrive for several days. The Governor
OF the colony opens the post bag, and it,
contents are for days the chief topic OF
conversation.
A different aspect Godthaab wears in
the winter months, Ever In South Green
land there is a long period when the moon
and stars are the only illumination and
there is Just enough Of their hight to make
the settlement look dimly ghOsthke, nearly
buried, as il is, in the deep snow.
Some Of the EsquimauX give all their
time to shoveling the snow out OF LANCE
LIME. 40 hat there may be one place OF
promenade between the dwellings, the
sc~hoolhouse, the kirk, the store and the
meat houses where supplies OF frozen flesh
and birds are kept.
The bath is wide and walled in on either
side by snow piles. But even in this gloomy
season the white women, wrapped in fun,
nave their walks and pionics.
There Is zest in the air, and in fine weather
the women enjoy a scramble among the
frozen hills and valleys; and II fresh snow
lies deep and soft they wear ~snowshoes.
It is a busy time for the EsquimauI, for
their main business is to look out Tor the
comfort OF DenmaTk's agents in Greenland.
They bake, brew, forge, sweep and clean,
In summer they carry whites 1 n their
boats along the coast, and in winter dig
paths for them through the snow. The
coastal waters are not always frozen over
in winter, and the boats sometimes make
their way along the shores carrying frozen
hares or birds or other needed supplies
from one post to another,
The houses Of the whites are warmly
built OF wood and stone, with commodl0us
rooma and an air Of genuine comfort. The
winter months pass quickly, for they are
filled with duty and with social intercourse
whichis almost invariably pleasant, between
the white families and the natives among
whom they live.