Douglas Island news., 1909-02-17
The Patriotic Northland d


 neglect and the many instances of abuse suffered by the people of Alaska at the hands of the mother country, there is more real love for the stars and stripes, and all that they signify, in the Northland than is usually found among ten times as many people in the most favored localities of the States.
 Especially is this true of Douglas Island and her people; and as proof ot the assertion we call attention to the magnitude and character of the cele- bration of the Tooth anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, held here last Friday.
 Although the day was bitterly cold, aud the wind that came over the noun tains was enough to cool the enthusi- asm of the warmest patriot, when the hour of 2 o'clock arrived Natatorium hall was filled with men, women and children. The steam heating plant was on the half-shell, and the streamers and flags were futtering constantly as the breezes worked their way through the cracks in the building. Men kept on their oVercoats and the women their furs; it was only those on the platform who-stripped down to their Prince Al6erts-got the full benefit of the frigid temperature.
 After the march "Volunteers:" played by the Treadwell Club band, Mayor OConnor stepped to the front of the stage and broke the ice with speech full of red-hot patriotic enthusiasm. The mayor loves the memory of Lin coln, and is as patriotic as anybody, even if he was born in Ireland. In fact, the speaker of the day testified that he believed he was an American before he came to this country.
 The "Star Spangled Banner" by the school was followed by Lincoln's Get tysburg Address, delivered in clear and distinct voice by Wilfred Leivers.
 An overture by the band and song by the school was followed by the reel tation of Whitman's plaintiVe ode, "My Captain" by Miss Ellen DeVereauX.
 At this juncture it was announced that the Treadwell Club band would play medley, entitled "Southern Freezes" and it was suggested that chinook would help some.
 Mrs. James Christoe sang Kipling's "The Recessionap in manner that merited the hearty applause which fol- lowed.
 Judge Royal A. Gunnison delivered the oration iu straightforward, manly way, aud, although the teeth of many of his hearers were chattering, he held their perfect attention to the end. The Judge confined his remarks to de- scription of "Lincoln, the Man." He told of the struggles of his boyhood days and his gradual rise up the ladder until he occupied the highest office iu the gift of the people. He entrusted the opportunities of the boy Lincoln for securing an education with those of the youth of the present day and pie tured the possibilities of achievement for every child. He told of Lincoln's devotion to the cause of right, as he saw it, and that steadfast adherence to truth that gained for him the title of "Honest Abe." In closing he urged his hearers to learn from Lincoln the les son of purity of purpose and upright ness of character, and that they should apply that lesson to the task before them of making Alaska a place where the wives and mothers and children might live, free from the degrading in huence of moral taint.
 A song, America" led by the school, and a selection by the band completed the exercises.
 Several Juneau people were in at tendance.
 The dance given in the evening was perhaps not different from other oc- casions of the kind, except that there was large crowd.
 Sawmills are poor sellers in this part of the footstool, judging by the follow ing in the Wrangell Sentinel: "Satur day last was the date set for the sale of