Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-21
BY CORINNE FRAZIER.


AYINa the first visit that has
been made by O national preSi-
dent to the Federated Women's
il Clubs Of Alaska since 1914, Mrs.
John r. 6ippel, president of the
General Federation Of Women's Clubs,
found such o tremendous force Of en-
ergy, courage and enthusiasm behind
the club movement In that far north
ern country that she felt as though
she had been showered by q new foun-
tain of inspiration" in her contact with
the wide.awake groups in the towns
and cities through which she passed,
she declared In an interview last week,
close on the heels Of her return to
Baltimore:
Those women, overcoming almost
insuperable obstacles of climatic and
financial conditions. have become the
chief influence In community develop
ment in Alaska" she said. Their
gayety and optimism are no less amaz-
ing than their accomplishments. No
outlook Is too discouraging for them.
And they are doing wonders in the
matter of retaining the abandoned
parts Of their towns and villages, whose
| opulence collapsed like q punctured
balloon in the wake Of the gold rush
Of &c."
Mrs. Sippel's visit. the first made by
federation head since Mrs. Percy v.
Pennybacker made her memorable trip
| to organize the work in that region,
was hailed with unbounded delight by
the clubWomen, eager to show what
they are doing, and to learn OF what
Is being done by women in other parts
Of the continent
est compensation for making the long
trip In the mutual benefit Of the per-
sonal contacts made. She continued
Becoming personally acquainted
with these women has brought home
their problems so much more closely
ana binds them to me and to the parent
federation by stronger bond They,
In turn, feel sure, feel closer to the
federation for having had flrst-hand
reports OF our aims and the ideals for
which we are working down here,
which coincide In q marked degree
with those Of our Alaskan federation
I visited Juneau, Sitka, Wrangel and
Skagway," recounted MRS. Sippel, land
at each place I was met by the women
and entertained delightfully."- and con-
tinuously until my boat departed.
Cluohouses were exhibited proudly,
schoolhouses and public gardens were
pointed out-all secured through the
efforts Of the women. with the gen.
erous cooperation of the men. who are
all too willing to do the things If the
women will arrange for the details for
which the menfolks lack time
Yes, the clubs are composed largely
OF American women, some of them
born up there in the days Of the Alaska
Doom: others who have come with
their husbands or on scientific research
OF their own. in rare cases. Then
there are few native women who are
amlfated also. but the guiding spirit
comes from the Americans"
" WAS particularly impressed with
the work being done by the wom-
en- OF Skaeway-the farthest point that
the "ln-ship" goes. Skagway, YOU
know. was the boom town" of the
gold rush. Thousands poured in and
staRed their claims. All manner of
houses and Shacks sprang ND over
night, and among them were the usual
generous supply of saloons
To-day the town numbers its popu-
lation in the hundreds. instead of
thousands. And one Of the ex-saloons
Is the women's clubhouse.
"Thirty-fiys women are active men,
bers OF this little club With the help
OF the men, they have converted their
saloon into as nice a clubhouse as
l have found in any fair sized town
in the United States. It Is comfortably
furnished and attractively decorated.
On the ground floor they have a
library Of $500 volumes ANY one who
has ever been to Alaska knows the
time and effort that lie behind the COL
lection OF $500 books at any one