The weekly Alaska citizen., 1919-11-10
WRITER MAKES
 PLEA FOR MORE
 HUMANE SPIRIT
CLAIMS TOO MUCH PETTY cos SIP EXISTS AND IS SPOILING GENEROUS HUMAN SPIRIT SHOWN BY SOUROUGHS OF ALASKA
(By "Dick".


 phasized in all similar articles, namely: "The Wonderful Hospitality of Alaskans." myself have treated the subject enthusiastically in former literary efforts of mine. and in speak ing to my Outside friends of Alaska. But somehow that particular para graph in the above mentioned article set me to thinking. and to wondering if we were quite deserving of so much praise in this regard? Are we not, perhaps, resting on the reputa- tion and laurels of those wonderful old pioneers, the True Sourdoughs of tine north?
 Of course, l realize that this praise is applied to Alaska in general but after all, do not each one of us in dividually go to make up the whole, the Alaska that is spoken of?
 Are we really extending this "won- derful hospitality" or are we but making grand stand plays for the benefit of the outside world that we are trying to attract? Think on this question earnestly.
 Personally, I'm beginning to believe this muchly mentioned attribute of ours is "a house built on sand" and on sand that is fast seeping away, tho hate to admit it even to myself, and would not admit it for a king dom to those Outsiders. Many of you will emphatically disagree with the substance of it at least. and know this: love Alaska as much as you do and mine is no short acquaintance with her either. for have been here off and on from early childhood.
 acknowledge, of course. that we extend a generous hospitality to strangers passing thru our land; that our chambers of commerce in various Alaskan towns are doing good, earnest work and advertising, but do you realize that no matter how much work they do. no matter how much time and money they spend in advertising, that it is absolutely to no avail unless they are backed by the individual? Further than that we brand those organizations as hyp- ocrites and falsifiers unless we do back them, and by backing them l don't mean opening our homes and pocketbooks to tourists or strangers, necessarily. Hospitality like charity and all other virtues should begin at home, and again, not necessarily Ly entertaining, but by our daily actions, thots and speech toward our fellow men, and that I feel is where we are lacking.
 There is entirely too much gossip ing joy-killing and pettiness right here in our own town and vicinity, tho do not think the other Alaskan towns differ from us much in this regard However. that doesn't ex- cuse us nor lessen our responsibility
 Let us take for example, the treat ment accorded the stranger within our gates" AS a toruist. he is dined,
 :;ht-shown and entertained beyond his comprehension, BUT let that same tourist decide to cast his lot with ours, no matter what his sex or stand ng, he is invariably made the help less, puzzled victim of gossips and scandal-mongers; his illusions regard ing Alaskans are sadly shattered, and in many cases he leaves Alaska in disgust, and we do not gain by the telling of his experiences among his Outside acquaintances, you may be sure. And tho gossiping is a trait that Is usually attributed to women, it is not the woman alone, in this instance, who are responsible, for the men are as fully as much to blame it is fifty-fifty proposition, and it is a shame that such 8 condition ex- ists.
 Nearly every woman who comes to this country to take up her resi- dence, no matter what her deport- ment, goes thru period of merciless, shameful propation, as 1t were, where her name and character are bandied from mouth to mouth in terms of ridicule, besmirchment and insinua- tions, not alone in homes, but in cigar stores. on the street. anywhere. If her past Is not known, one, of the most insinuating nature, is fabricated for her, and is related as a truth. If she stays close at home and minds her own business, everyone knows there's some reason why she dare not show her face--if she Is sociable and full of spirit, people just know she's not what she ought to be. or so they declare behind her back. Let them meet and greet her face to face, tho. and they are sickeningly kind and profuse with their cordial CD invitations.
 Think of these things and if you are guilty, be ashamed, or if your sense of shame has been dulled. ask