The Alaska daily empire., 1920-01-29

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 took up great deal of room both ways, and ourselves. I drew up my feet and gathered my skirts close about me, somewhat appreheHsive of the proximity of the dark heads be- meath. The dance was serious, sol emn occasion, and anyone daring to laugh would incur the grave dis. pleasure of the Chief. The men stripped to the waist to dance, but the women wore their. "Mother Hub bards" of calico. or denim parkas with a gleaming halo of wolverine about the face, and all donned gloves for the occasion. The ceremony he gan with muscle dance" A young boy started it, moving slowly from one foot to the other, then faster with a quick barking noise like some wild animal; then man joined him, then another and another, all with muscles rippling under the bronze skin, gleaming with the sweat of
 muscular effort %
 They are very Japanese 'a tFPe, these Eskimos, and might be iai,en for Japanese jui-jitsu wrestlers. After this came the "Wolf Dance." more energy, more barking, the pur- suit and retreat; then the woinen Joined in one by one, with wonder ous. rhythmic grace of movemene--Sa perfect Oriental dance-rall swaying. undulating arms and hands and quiet feet. | thought of the sensation these dancersS would create on the vaudeville stage, and what lot of money they could make on the cir. k.cuit when they danced "The Comin Z lbf the Spring." j J. But we were far from the Great White Way" and the perfume that lsreeted our suffering nostrils was less expensive. s@ When the dance was over, one of
 the musicians, at the direction of tine Chief, took up a collection in his | "tomrtom.' Our contribution was
 candy and tea: we had been told by 1 the Interpreter not to give money, as we were the guests of honor. The Chief parleyed at length upon l the woes and wishes of his people; l the Governor made a dignified and l proper response, and the party was over. .s.st f.j ss.
 | There was a dance at the post that night, and I thought that the Eski- | ,,,n rtrputI fvly+ of t1o white mans performance. The scar. ! city of partners was such that boys
 in khaki guided other boys in khaki | through the intricacies of the one.
 step, while the blond young lady played the piano for an orchestra of l more boys in khaki, armed with the fatal ukelele, or some equally dan. l gerous weapon.
 I That morning the little Russian | church was opened for our inspect.
 ion. and for brief moment we
 stood in tiny spot so remote from Il that surrounded it, so rich in
 beauty and color, that we seemed suddenly to have been transported to the old world of art and tradition adn order. There was no services held in the little church any more, as the Russian government, since the
 war;; no longer suppoft6d the church in Alaska, and the Russian priests many of them of fine intellect and learning. being deprived of their sal, aries, were forced to seek a living as best they might
 The Russian church in Sitka is a veritable treasure house.. One icon. with it's serene and beautiful Virgin, has been the admiration and envy of many collector *'se El
 On our trip towards Nome in the arctic, in a stanch l!tle gas boat with lots of courage, we passed great rocky cliffs, arches, and mysterious caves, into which the sea .crept and rushed out again, a mas of hurrying foam. Floclrs of great sea parrots swarmed about the face of the rocks like bees around their hives for this was their home, this world of cliffs and. sea, and they flew after us, screaming in anger, for they fear cd that we were hunting them for their pretty gray plun,age and their yellow parrot beaks to adorn our long gloves for the Wolf Dance as the Eskimos do. :. u sa
 A little sheltered. beach was mass of moving brown and white. A herd of reindeer clustered there, with their native herder
 Tho meat of the reindeer is OK. ccllent and the skin is soft and warnl for clothing. ~ q. t,s
 The sun grew colder There was g hint of coming night. The rumor spread that we were |. approaching Nome. ,,Some of the men were point. ing put familiar landmarks. Saw tooth Range, with it's strangely IT,