Douglas Island news., 1915-12-08
For the Pioneers' Home


 mas' for the old pioneers of Alaska, at the Sitka Home when the Christmas box arrives from the Women's Pioneer Society, of Douglas Island. The dity- five inmates of the home are men of Al. aska, who have grown old and feeble in the task of hunting out the hidden treasures of this Northland, and al- though they have been provided with a place where they are housed and fed, they often feel, perhaps, that they, and the work which they have done, are foT- gotten. But, when they open their Christmas box from Douglas leland and feast their eyes upon the nice things that the women have made for them with their own hands, they should take a new hold on life and rejoice that they may share the Christmas cheer that is abroad in the land.
 The News Man was permitted to take a peep at the contents of this wonder ful box that represents the cum of the endeayors of the Pioneer Society for these many months. First there were a dozen bath robes, home made, warm aud in bright, pretty colors. Then came a huge pile of night shirts, of soft cot ton flannel, and right with it a lot of old-fasbioned night caps, to be tied on with strings-migbty comfortable and warm for cold nights. Then we saw a lot of neat black skull caps, silk lined. Sox, a lot of them, mostly home knit of soft woolen yarns. A box of neck ties that any man might be proud to wear. aDd we don't know how many pairs of slippers, with leather sOles and heavy, knit uppers. And then there were bibs-which sometimes come ham, dy even for old men. There were tray cloths neatly worked with the name of the institution, lap robes, or small com fortables. which will come handy for convalescents, fancy pillows for their backs when the chairs get hard, gus penders and handkerchiefs by the doz' en. Then there was necessary" bag, marked with the initials of the home, the pockets of which will contain but tons, thread, needles and safety pins. And then there are pipes and tobacco, and even cigarettes, and there will be cookies and candies, and the Lord only knows what.
 The women of the society have right to feel proud of their Christmas box, and they know tbat they have the ap- proval of everyone in what they are doing. Many people would have been glad to assist them, as some have done. A lady in Los Angeles, California, upon learning of the work they had taken up, made two pairs of beautiful slippers and sent them up to be placed in tue box.
 Mrs. Feusi, the president of the so- ciety, has the box at her home, and au- thorized us to say that any who are in- terested are welcome to call and in- spect it. The box will be shipped to Sitka on the Georgia next Tuesday night, Dec. 14th. Any persona who wish to send parcels with the box, for in- mates of the Home, may wrap them up, put the name and address on them and send them to Mrs. Feusi, who will see that they are delivered.
 The last meeting of the Society was held last Wednesday at Mrs. Grund- ler's, at which time Ed. Andrews took a picture of the group to be sent with tbe box, that the pioneers may look up- on the kindly faces of their Douglas friends. The Women's Pioneer Society has no intention of disbanding, but will again take up the work another year.
 The women feel that they are doing good; they enjoy it, and they have right to feel that the men in the Alaska Pioneers Home will appreciate the effort in their behalf, and will richly enjoy the articles made for them. And all will be happier and better for the manifestation of that kindly, thought ful spirit that often takes away the rough spots in the journey of life.