The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1914-09-22
Dear Missionary Ladies:

part in your September meeting, and
| assure you am more than glad to
have this opportunity to play I am
with you again. Perhaps, too, it will
keep you from entirely forgetting
one, who used to try to help in the
old church, as best she could.
This letter was supposed to be a
paper, containing description Of the
Sheldon jackson Mission Of Sitka.,
but I am going to take the liberty
of making it a personal letter to you
ladies, telling you, if / can little
more of my summer trip, than just
what I saw at the mission.
How to spend my vacation was a
serious question to decide. You, who
have visited Seattle will remember
that the trips one could take from
that city are legion, making choice
no easy matter, but as none appealed
to me quite as much as the "Inside
passage to Alaska, I finally decided
on that, and have been so glad ever
since that Alaska was my choice. It
certainly gives one wider vision to
come in contact with the people and
problems of so wonderful country.
Last Glimpse of Seattle
We left Seattle the evening of the
fifteenth of July, on the Steamer JEFF
ferson, with Captain Nord at the
helm. This boat is always well crowd
ed, because Captain Nord is consid-
cred the safest Captain on the line.
On this trip were only CD ninety
three women and twelve men, aside
from the officers. Some one asked if
there was Suffrage Convention some
where in Alaska, it certainly looked
like it.
Of course, we bachelor maids were
disappointed at the outlook and es-
pecially grieved when we learned that
the next boat to start for the North,
would contain twenty-five men from
New York, viewing the country. If
we had but waited! As it was we
managed to have a pretty fine time
and few escorts. Seattle on its hill
was grand glittering sight as the
steamer started North that July even
ing, a sight we will not soon forget.
No less beautiful were the green
shores of Vancouver Island, as we
faced them next morning. And that
glorious salt cir! 1t just makes ones
nerves relax.
If you get the chance do let me adj
wise you to take that splendid trip 20
Alaska. 1t is well worth the money
expended. Open ocean is crossed
but three times, and then one must
look out for sea sickness. Am thank
full to say experienced nothing OF
that kind, but think would be willing
to, to catch another's glimpse of the
old Pacific, as / saw it one stormy
morning. / can feel the "feel" yet.
After passing Queen Charlotte
Sound, the hills grow more thickly
timbered, little cataracts come tumb-
ling down from the heights, and there
is sense of greenness, of unopened
country, Of loneliness, perhaps.
Meet Father Duncan
After travelling three nights and
two days, we made our first stop at
Metlakahtla, about six o'clock in the
morning. Here also we felt the first
rain. In spite Of it however, every
body landed, and wound their way
between rows of Indian women, who
were selling their handwork. We Wis
tied the church and then the house
where lives that wonderful old mis-
sionary, Rev. VIM. Duncan. If it had
not been for Captain Nord we would
not have had the pleasure of meeting
Father Duncan, as it was SO early,
but the Captain brought him out and
the stalwart old gentleman talked to
us good half hour. I tell you
never realized SO much, what our mis-
sionaries go through nor what won
ders they accomplish, until / listened
to that old man talk, right there on
his own field. Why, he had seen those
savages tear each other apart with
their teeth. Warfare seemed then
delight, as it seems the delight Of 81
called civilized nations Of today. Faith.