The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-12-27
THE REINDEER QUEEN

Coal barons, merchant princes, cat
tie kings-we are all familiar with
the figurative aristocracy of wealth;
but more picturesque and unusual is
the title popularity accorded to Sinrok
Mary, the Reindeer Queen of Alaska.
Mary's career, as it is related in the
Sunset Magazine, is one unique in the
world of business and philanthropy.
In 1898 Mary Antisarlok, half Rus
sian, half Eskimo, was a round-faced,
bright-eyed, sleek-haired young wo-
man; pretty--we have her own inno-
cent word for it--and newly married
bride. The Government had Just de-
cided to import reindeer from Siberia
to Alaska and had sent Lieut.. Ber-
tholf, in the revenue cutter Bear, to
negotiate the purchase. He needed
an interpreter, speaking both Russian
and Eskimo; and Mary was engaged.
She was glad of the opportunity, but
unwilling to leave her husband; so he
was engaged, too, as a sort of d-job
man aboard; but Mary was the recog-
nized head of the Antisarlok firm.
She made herself intelligently and sue
cessfully useful among the natives
with whom it was necessary to deal,
and on returning to Alaska she was
well paid with a goodly number of
reindeer.
These animals were the origin of a
herd that flourished and increased
amazingly, and became, indeed, sew
eral herds. Mary is now raising deer
enough to supply thousands of con-
sumers; and reindeer meat is tender,
palatable and delicious, so much so
that, but for the difficulties of trans
portation, it would probably become a
staple food throughout the country.
Mary is rich woman, but she lives
simply in cluster of cabins, perched
upon a rocky promontory thrusting
seward, fringed with cver-beating
surf.
1t is common knowledge throughout
Alaska that no one was ever refused
food and lodging at Mary's cabin; it
is also known that, although open
handed and free, she is shrewd bar
gamer and possesses remarkable COM
mercial sagacity. Few traders, if
any, have been able to get the advan-
tage of her in business deal. There |
are those in her employ who at times
complain of her as harsh mistress,
for in business she expects everyone
to live up to obligations and is so
strict in that regard that it is hard
at times to reconcile this severity
with her natural attitude of easy
generosity. But with Mary business
is business, and philanthropy is
quite another matter.
Toward the hungry, the helpless and
little children her tenderness is I'M
failing and her bounty lavish. She
has no children of her own, but she
has adopted a numerous family-not
a pretty baby or two, carefully Sc
lected for health and charm and prom
Use, but such forlorn, abandoned and
neglected waits and strays as come
under her notice in remote and law
less zone. There are all races and
colors, declares her biographer, Mona
Marquis Snyder, but Mary is merci-
fully color-blind! She gives them all
a mothers care insofar as she is ca
pable, educates them after a fashion
and, when they drift out of the home
eddy into the greater life current, she
sees the boat well provisioned.
One deed of generosity, dating back
20 the earlier years of her prosperity,
will never be forgotten in Alaska. In
1898, only five years after the found
ng of her herd of reindeer, word
.ame that more than four hundred
vhalers had been caught in the ice
Jacks of Point Barrow and were slow
y freezing and starving. They were
i've hundred miles away from Mary
Antisarlok's snow-covered cabin; they
we're many more miles distant-and
niles of the northern wilderness, icy,
ocky, storm-swept and terrible
rom sources Of civilized supply. Quite
imply and as a matter of course,
Nary, reserving only few head for
Domestic necessity, started her whole
lerd of reindeer northward to the
escue. She received no personal APP
eal, asked no advice, awaited no in
tructions, made neither bargain nor
fort to protect her interests. She
aw her chance for first aid, and gave
j., instantly and whole-heartedly Ill
Later, the Government replaced the
acrificed deer with interest and gave
er the thanks she deserved. But
ince that day it is for more than her
usiness ability that the Reindeer
,uean is respected throughout Alaska.