The Washington times., 1909-09-20
CHRISTINA
NLAND OF ST. NICK
Much of the Air of Home
TranSplanted to
North.
-CopyIi.ht. "a. bv Frank 4. -

lcopyrisht. 1902 by Frank g. AIunscy.)
NORTH SYDNEY, Nova Scotia, Sept.
@-lsolated al Cape Sheridan, walled in
oy Ice and thousands OF miles removed
IRON civilization, Christmas evening
found the Peary party dreaming OF
nome, of the children hanging their
stockings by the chimney and waiting
the arrival Of Santa Claus Commander
Peary' right in the home Of that festive
favorite of children, did not fail TO OBJ
serve the day in the traditional Gus
tom.
Christmas came into the Arctic on
one OF the finest days that the expedi-
ton had known. The spirit OF the day
was manifest In everybody and even the
Eskimos. TO whom the festival was
something strange. felt the atmosphere
or the day. Prof. Mcmillan was desig-
mated TO be master OF ceremonies and
TO prepare a program that would carry
the spirit Of America into the region OF
eternal snow.
Athletic himself, his natural idea was
for foot races. a course 10 yards long
was staked out on the smooth ice and
Mcmillan acted as starter, referee and
the entire committee. Darkness stood
over the circle. Primitive lanterns made
of taDers of whale blubber dotted the
course and gave their yellow light 70 IL
illuminate that patch Of ice track. There
by the dim light OF these weverfng
spears Of light, the races were run. Am
ericans were barred from competition
with the Eskmos. as the Caucasian was
faster on his feet
Explained to Eskmos.
the nature Of the fete. Alone in the
illimitable Arctic this American Christ
mas was celebrated. Jimmy Kar-Ko-
Teah. protege OF Borup. himself a man
who has carried the colors OF Yale in
a race, showed the value Of his train
ing. He simply pulled away from the
other boys. He got a great big Ameri-
can present, a rife, and was the proud
est lad I'm the Arctic Poor Marvin. who
afterward gave up his life, won the foot
race for tho men OF the ship. II took
three heats to decide this contest, as
ROrup still showed flashes Of his Yale
speed, but it was a Cornell victory.
men came the race OF the day. II was
with the Arctic handicap. Eskimo moth
ers with their babes strapped TO their
backs were the entrants. One dozen
started. Rivalry and excite
ment ran high. HUSBANDS and children
bt tne contestants stood IN the dim light
along the course AMI in native tongue
shouted announcement and objUrgation
az the speeding women. Tu-Cu-Mah
was the victor The great prize was in
this event Three things were offered TO
the winner. three cakes or scented soap.
a large frosled cake the hest product OF
Cook Hercy's work. and box of needles
and thread Mcmillan, Borup, and
Marvin eazed with gastrOnomic envy
upon the cake. II looked ike a voice
from home.
Imagine their surprise when the vim
ming woman calmly chose the soap. Snd
as Peary said, Used II for the right
too
Dinner Big Feature.
With the races over, the big feature
Of this transpIauted Christmas was the
dinner. Charley Percy, the cook. had
been given orders 70 get up A royal
spread for the day. Captain Bart, stt
planned the menu. Il ran: Muskox tail
soup. Cane Sheridan sirlOiu of muskoy
pudding and pie, plUm-pud-
ding from America, cigars, cigarettes.
and tobacco. No hungry mortaIs ever
did justice 10 such a spread with more
zest than the men en- the Roosevelt.
With the dinner over came the open
ing Of the presents from home II is
best told I'm the words OF Commander
PeaTv.
When l left" ne said, Il was given
a canister and the key to it. and told
10 give n 10 Captain Bartlett on Christ
mas I did So we found tobacco and
other presents from home, ard every
body was remembered. MY folks had
worked the same game on me They
had given Captain Bartlett the kew
and We found more presents. We each
got fve-pOund 9oN Of candy from Nfrs
Peary, a case Of whisky. and two dozen
pipes from Sir William McGreEor. gov
. Of a a.,
pounds Of tobacco from a company
books. both Nsecular and religious, from
Archbishop Howley, OF New Foundlaud
I tell you II was a historic Christmas" ."