Douglas Island news., 1917-11-02
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munity arc now ccntorod arc; First-Red Cross work in behalf of those who arc lighting and who win fight our battles for us on the front.
 Second rho weather chat is be- ing vouchsagcd us at present and is liable to bc visited upon us during
 thc coming four months.
 Regarding tho frs. subject thou
 sands Of columns ot information are being published daily in Che news papers. magazines. bulletins and in various other mediums and Go such au extent that thc Stroller feels that Che little be could contribute on Che same subject would be SO iusignif-
 icaut that few would profit by it.
 On Che subject or weather, how ever. Che Strollcr's storehousc ot
 knowledge is ovcrfowing. Not that hc possesses any special knowledge as Che result of his own experience and observation. but that he has ac- cess Co fountains ot knowledge not possessed by Che common herd. For example:
 Tho chief ol a tribe of Indians homcportng in the interior has In his possession a tribal book that has been handed down from father Co son ever since the year 1900. The pages of this wonderful volume are of birch bark and on these pages arc chrouicled an Che events. both concerning thc weather and tribal scandal. that have been worthy Of record since the book was started. The Stroucr's were che only eyes ol white man Go ever scan Che pages or this wonderful book and tor many years. and while follow mg his meek and humble calling Iu Che interior. it was his privilege. as occasion demanded to have ac- cess Go these records of Che past Here Che Stroller's information comes from other sources and. while 10 does not cover SO much of Inc dead past as does Che famous tribal interior book. it is none Che less re- liable SO far as it goes.
 Only this week the Stroller learn ed that an Indian Of mature age Is here visiting our frequently adver- tiscd beach and that he is a regular encyclopedia of knowledge as far as weather lore is concerned. The Stroller visited him in disguise That Is of three. presumably, sQuaws who passed along Front street one evening recently. the Stroller was Che one walking in the center with a papoosc strapped on his back. The disguise was for tho purpose of mis- !. leading Che old man. who is aycreo to communicating with Che palctUcc and. being almost blind he was easily deceived. as Che Stroller is' fluent In the Ri was a hula .cta gu sum esse fui language.
 Arriving at the home on Che beach where Che old man was visit . ing. Che Stroller. In that manner known 'ouly Go the genus female . and her apt imporsonator there . arc but few ot Che latter slipped a wink ot Che relic of Che past and. :. when no one was looking. playfully . ticklcd him under his wrinklcd and !. nabby chin. While age may have . dimmcd che fire ol his eye. that . same eye has not lost its opprocia- !. tion nor its ability Co see an ankle .
 By roundabout manner Che . Stroller turned che conservation Go ! Che subject of weather having first produced a bottle of Kentucky bour- bon from the folds of the Mother Hubbard he was wearing.
 Ten minutes after striking a thumb mark two inches below che shoulder of che bottle. Che old man opened up with. CWhat follows Is a literal translation from the Siwash Co Che English language. the Stroll ! Ter understanding and speakiug both. one as auoutly as the other) !
 "My ancestral hunting ground lies beyond Che head of the TalU river in tho land Of King George . That Is beyant the coast range Of and where rain in winter is unknown and marrow in human ]. bones congeals, SO Co speak. But do not think that for Che reason that my home was boyant Che range. ! l was unfamiliar with the weather on ! this side No, indeed ] spent much of my young and evontful llfc ! on thc Yankee side ot Che line, this !. being our salt water fishing pre- serves. Therefore. ! became fqmil- ! far with weather forecasts for this portion Of the country. Forty snows or more ago I moved over to this . side of Che range. since which time ! have made a careful study of con- ditions as they exist here. And re- ! member what | am telling you Che winter. on the threshold of which . we are now standing, win be be a . corker. Let me hit Ter again.
 Indications this fau are very similar to those Of S6 years ago. At| that time | had seen the verdurc Of