Douglas Island news., 1919-05-23
ALASKAN BOY
 NOT SURPRISED
Sees Picture Show, Automobiles and Other Wonders for First Time
 Without Surprise

Having adapted himself to auto mobiles, street cars, sky scrapcrs big department stores and motion picture theatres as easily as a duck learns to swim, Harry Peterson. l5- yoar-old-sailor from far-away Atka. one of the remote western isles Of the Aleutian group. will head north ward tonight as Quartermaster on the power schooner Apokak of the Kuskokwim Fishing & Tranaporta- ton Company
 He arrived In Seattle two weeks ago as quartcrmaster of the same o,mpany's power schooner Bender Bros. Capt. Louis Knaflich, presi- dent Of the company, who commands the Bender Bros, thought there was great treat in store for himself when he stcercd Harry against Che triumphs of modern civilization
 But Harry ran true to Northern form. He came. he saw he under stood i'm a flash. There was no open mouthed bewildorment, no staring amazcment, no alarm over wagons ! that ran without horses. Instead. Harry was delighted, not astonished. | He was apprcciative, not alarmed.
 Just about what | expected" he said.
 ] It is an old truism among the AL aska mariners that those born in the Great North take" easily to the wonders Of civilization. The sky scrapers don't overwhelm them for they have seen mountains much higher. They are used to great open spaces and great distances
 Harry was born on Atka island. l His father was a Swede and his mother a Russian. Both died when l he was a baby and Harry was brought up in the Jessie Lee Home maintained in Unalaska by the Meth odist Ladies Society of Tacoma. f Captain Knaflich is enthusiastic over che work of the home.
 "It turns out fine boys" he said They are thoroughly grounded in reading. writing, arithmetic and Che other grammar school work. Better stn. they come out of the home sturdy in character Take Harry for instance He Is a real boy an ! through. but he likes to work; hc has the sense of responsibility and duty.
 Coming south, the Bender Bros. had terrific fights with gales. You remember how long overdue we were. ! At times it looked as 1T the vessel could not live. As she would flee. rcciing and plunging, before Che storm. I would glance at Harry, steady as a rock and as calm and lsclf-possessed as you are now One Of the storms was SO bad that it blew us back 200 miles Harry is fine quartcrmaster and if he com tinucs as he has begun, he will rise high in a sea career"
 During his two weeks in Seattle. Harry spent his money wisely. He has seen the good plays in thc mo- ton picture theatres. He has seen the big plants on the waterfront He has become acquainted with life on the wharvcs. He has ridden in automobiles and has examined their machinery. He has been around everywhere.
 In some cases what he has seen proved a surprise Co him. but it has never left him opcn-mouthed with amazcment. Surprise was quickly ! followed by appreciation.
 Just about what ! expected" he says, "only better"
 And then he added, "Priccs arc somewhat high here are they not?"
 Captain Knaflich plans Co send both the Bender Bros and the Apo ! kak out on their first voyages of the season for the Kuskokwim River district Both vessels have full car goes of food supplies and the Bcndcr Bros. has twenty passengers booked. Seattle Times.