Iditarod pioneer., 1915-02-20
STROLLER WHITE DILATES
 ON CARDS OF THANKS
(Strolller White in Whitehorse Starr

If there IS q newspaper man living who does not detest the combination of words, Card of Thanks" the Stroller has never met him. If he lives, he is an exception and in class by himself
 Some months ago the Stroller reproduced from a Southern publication an article con corning cards of thanks. The substance of the article was suggestion that if you live in a neighborhood where the people expect to be thanked through the columns of newspaper for every act of kindness per formed you had better move to some other locality. But only those who wish to ad vertise their charity care for public thanks. Nine -tenths of the people do not wish to be publicly thanked--are bored when they are. When people do what they consider is a duty they do it as a duty and from kindly motives, not for thanks through the col umns of a newspaper. Let us suppose a case:
 The Amalgamated Daughters of Mary Magdalene of Amazing Grace church gives an entertainment for the purpose of raising money with which to purchase carpet for the aises of the church, window shades for the parsonage, new altar cloth, or to have the seats vanished so that those who oc- cupy them for the next several months will have to "pry" themselves loose at the close of each service. Now to start with, church entertainments for the purpose of rais ing money are mostly skin games. Not one in dozen gives anything like more than half value for money expended. Else why the object in holding them? Knowing they will be skinned-di disappointed if they are not skinned everybody attends and spends money proHigately. Then they go home and try to forget it. They know they were skinned, but salve their respec- i've consciences by the thought that it was for good cause. But they are not allowed to forget it. The next issue of their paper, if 1t happens to be in a tank town-lt it does not happen in cities-not only re- calls recollections of the affair, but "rubs it in somewhat as follows:
 'In behalf of the Amalgamated Daugh ters this paper is requested to thank Bob High for donating fifty pounds of ice for their entertainment last Tuesday night, the X. Y. Z. company for the loan of half a dozen chairs, Colonel B'Gosh for two flags and motto, Love One Another Mary Ann kehoe for keeping the parsons kid so his wife could be present, Mrs. McNoodle for the loan of three tea cloths, all who so kindly donated cakes, pies, doughnuts and cheese straws, Mrs Benzine for her deli cious home made candy, the Misses Baker for brown bread and baked beans, the Al phabetcal stores for fruit, Captain Whaler for mixed candy and hardtack, those who sang played, acclaimed and read, Elder Jones for taking tickets at the door, Dea- con McLennan for presiding as chairman all those who so hberally patronized the affair with their presence and liborality and Jimmy the Rat for helping wash the dishes at the close of the affair which netted, the Amalgamated Daughters are pleased to an nounced, the neat sum of S26.l5."
 The week following usually brings forth something like this: Tn thanking those who so kindly, generously and whole-heart- edly assisted at their entertainment two weeks ago the Amalgameted Daughters neglected to mention Miss Mehala Jennings, who so generously loaned them her coffee pot and two dish towels. This oversight IS greatly regretted and IS most cheerfully corrected Miss Mehala is one of the best workers connected with Amazing Grace church.
 Is 1t any wonder the average newspaper man is pessimist, cynic and crank? Nine times in every ten he is asked to write the "card of thanks" list of those to be thanked being furnished him. He supplies the necessary "mush," and if some one. as in the case of Mehala Jennings, IS overlooked he is blamed for being care less. Or "He did 1t on purpose-the mean thing"
 Now, in all candor, and with heart bubblng with generosity for the reading public, the Stroller implores with tremor in his voice and tears in his eyes that he be not asked during the year 1915 to write any "card of thanks" Resolve to cut out 'cards of thanks" Let all other New Years resolutions go but that one. Make it and the Stroller will assist you in keep ing it. If you break it, it won't be lis fault The Stroller hopes to live 8 more exenl plary life henceforth, but he can't do it and write "cards of thanks" If the Amalga- mated Daughters of Mary Magdaenc are in trouble, they are at liberty to weep out their sorrows on the Stroller's shoulder. If they give an entertainment for the benefit of the church, the Stroller will be present, even if he has to steal the price. He hereby resolves to support any and all skin games that are pulled off, but if you would not lessen his chances for blessed lmmor tality beyond the grave, don't ask him to jeopardze the interests of his immortal soul k,y1 ifoarJe of thop1yc D