Evening star., 1915-12-19
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT Is DOING

Christmas celebrations are carried but
by the hundred million citizens who re-
side in the United
Christmas in States proper much
n as their fancies die
word nor suggestion from the federal
government SO long as the law Is oo-
served. But in the northernmost and
southernmost territory over which the
Stars and Stripes fly the government
comes closely into the lives of the peo-
pie in Christmas observances as well
as in countless other activities.
In Alaska, where the schools OF the
United States bureau of education are
practically social centers, and where
the teachers are to all intents the pa
triarchs of the villages, Christmas was,
until not many years ago, an unknown
festival except to the small groups OF
natives close to the scattered missions.
With the development of the federal
school system, however, the familiar
celebration was looked upon by them
as a valuable feature of their social
work. and under their guidance has
steadily gained in popularity among
the natives.
In southeastern Alaska. among the
vast coniferous forests, ideal Christ
mas trees are available and the mar
kets Of the United States and British
Columbia can be easily drawn upon for
the usual Christmas properties. In the
isolated tundra country of the arctic
mainland and on the outlying A1eutian
Islands, however, where trees are un-
known and vessels seldom call oftener
than once year, a Christmas celebra-
tion taxes the ingenuity Of the govern
ments representatives. In some of the
villages, when transportation is avail
able, tree is imported and in some
cases is used successively by school chill
dren, natives, miners and prospectors.
At the more remote stations teachers
are now busy, as they have been in
past years. actually manufacturing a
tree for natives who have never looked
on real one. The usual procedure
is to bind the trailing, vinelike will
lows that grow in the tundra water
courses into bundles in such a way as
to form trunk, branches and foliage.
One teacher on a remote island, where
even dwarf willows could not be Sc
cured. had Christmas tree" last year
in spite of nature. 1t was made of a
broomstick. wire and the moss that
bore its gifts and decorations almost
as satisfactorily as its forest prototype.
In the Christmas celebrations which
the bureau of education's teachers con-
duct. the work of the regular school is
made an important factor. Many of
the gifts are articles made by the sew
ing or manual training classes from
supplies furnished by the government
The stockings. instead of being filled
with purchased sweets and knicknacks,
have in them for the most part
candies and cookies made by the girls
of the cooking classes.
In the tropical Canal Zone, thousands
OF miles from frozen Alaska, Uncle Sam
is also playing an important part. in
the conventional Christmas .observ-
ances of his wards. There, however.
community leadership and stimulation
Is not needed. and 1t Is as the zones
chief importer and shopkeeper that the
government is playing its part in the
Christmas activities. For. weeks the
federal commissary has been advertis-
ing that it has full line of toys, con-
fectionery and Christmas trees for sale,
The government Is even selling from
Its greenhouses poinsettias, and >other
plants and flowers for lending Christ
mas cheer to the homes Of the canal
employees.