! iDSTARGD PIOMEER |_
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY MORNING AT SDITAROD, ALASKA
y*l. 6 CHARLES A. DERRY, Leaseo and Publisher No. 42
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THE MARRiAGE OF A PRESIDENT
The marriage of a President of the United States is calcinated to
cause considerable flutter of hearts feminine. Womankino d^ad^
loves to revel in the details of a marriage m high life. And m spitt
of the fact that more attempt is made to conceal it by the
sterner sex, almost an equal amount o! interest w.l! be laxcn in tut
event by mankind. All the world iovcs a lover, and the fact that the
[over m this instance happens to be a man of matuie veais and to o<
cupy the dignified position of chief executive of a nation of one hun
dred million free citizens will not tend to lessen curiosity as to every
detail in connection with the coming nuptials. So absorbing is the
event that our Seattle correspondent finds a news item worthy of
cabling to this far-away point in the fact that the lady of the President s
choice has become the possessor of a magnificent diamond ring, t os
siblv. were cable tolls less expensive, he would favor us with the cost
of the trinket and the words with which the gift was bestowed, the
country naturally is on edge with curiosity. In the lirst place, people
will want to knew who the charming widow is wno has captured the
heart of the President. The Pioneer's information on the subject is
comprised in the meager dispatch received last v,eek, and outsid of the
fact that the name has a familiar ring, those Iditaroders who are ac
ouainted in Washington are unable to enlighten us. There will be de
tails for fair readers as to trosseau, the materials tnereof and all tne
little items as to cut and style which make up the society reporter s ob
servations on such an event in the social world as this promises to be.
For the time being, and until the nuptial knot has been tied, Woodrow
Wilson, President of the United States of America, will be relegated to
a back seal, and Mrs. Norman Galt will occupy the spotlight of public
interest. Naturally, the wedding wall take place m the Wmte House,
and until tire distinguished groom leads his fair bride to the altar, he
may prepare to bow to the dictates of the feminine portion of his house
hold, and to be ordered about at the whim of imperious decorators,
florists, dressmakers and others who will have charge of tne arrange
ments for the momentous event.
Not all of the comment on the President’s forthcoming marriage
will be of a congratulatory nature. Unfortunately, the liberal ten
dency of the times, which prompts the suggestion that each of.us snail
be the arbiter of his own affairs and the custodian of his own con
science, has not yet so fully imbued the public mind as to assure grace
ful submission to a seeming breach of the conventionalities, especially
when that supposed breach is committed by a person in exalted posi
tion. But then, President Wilson has shown on every possible occa
sion that he does not care a fig for conventionalities, it has not been
forgotten how scandalized the press of the country was when President
Wilson broke away from established custom by reading his first mes
sage to congress in person, and some cannot yet become reconciled to
the fact that he has continued to follow that practice. He broke an
other cherished custom when he relieved his stenographer from duty
and laboriously pounded a typewriter in the production of his own ut
terances to the law-makers. But official and social Washington re
ceived its most severe shock when recently Mr. Wilson, having impor
tant business with the secretary of state, informally dropped in at the
office of that dignitary to talk matters over, instead of following prece
dent by having the secretary appear at the White House. In fact, it
may be said that Woodrow Wilson became a presidential possibility by
reason of the fact that he cast conventionality to the winds and fought
the political bosses who stood in the way of public reform in New Jer
sey. President Wilson possesses the characteristics which prompt Turn
to act on his own initiative, as great men have done since time began;
and should custom and precedent stand in the way, he puts them aside.
It was to be expected that a man or so vigorous a character would
not long remain a widower. Mr. Wilson is by no means an old man.
Look at the matter from any light you may, “It is not good that the
man should be alone,” and probably in no American home is there
greater need for the guiding spirit of womanhood than in the White
House. There are certain social dictums to be observed there that can
be satisfactorily carried out only by the wife of the President. Others
than Mr. Wilson have realized this. Who of the older generation does
not recall the subdued excitement throughout the country when the
middle-aged President Cleveland espoused the young, beautiful and
accomplished Miss Frances Folsom? With what avidity the readrng
public devoured every detail in connection with that interesting event!
And who shall say that that gracious lady did not exert a powerful in
iluence for good in the transformation of the politician into the level
headed and patriotic statesman?
Thei 'e are those who will assume that the marriage of the Presi
dent within so comparatively short a time of the death of his first wife
shows lack of respect on the part of Mr. Wilson for the late mistress of
the White House. But does it? Rather let us believe that the desire
of Mr. Wilson to again enter into the matrimonial state is a high tribute
to the departed. It is easy to suppose that the loss of his estimable
Lady, after a long period of close companionship, has left a void in the
Peart of the President which can only be filled by new conjugal ties,
m spite of man s self-admitted superiority over the gentler sex, he is
very much of a baby at heart, and given thirty years of married life
witP a woman whose main object in life is the care of home and family,
and the anticipation of his every wish, he is helpless as an infant without
her. It is natural that he should form another union; and it should be
conceded that this m no way shows lack of respect for the departed,
even though but sixteen months shall have passed since her demise.
And^ then it should be remembered that the ladv upon whom the
President s choice has fallen is a widow. In spite of Samuel Weller’s
advice to trie younger Samuel to Bevare of vidders,’ mankind is pecul
iarly susceptible to the charms of these bewitching creatures. No one
has ever satisfactorily explained in what manner the male biped is
brought to his knees after successfully resisting the guiles of the
younger and less sophisticated sisterhood. The probabilities are that
once the charming widow” had determined upon becoming mistress
of the White House, the rest followed as a natural consequence.
The country generally will congratulate the President and his
fiancee and wish them long years of happiness and usefulness.
GROUCHINESS
Someone clipped and placed on the editor’s desk the following
observations from the Kansas City Star, ihey are headed, Don t Be
a Grouch”:
Grouchiness is a habit of mind. It begins with grumbling and fault-finding and
impatience over tribes that go wrong. And, like Longfellow s turnip behind the barn,
it grows, and grows, and grows. The wife who begins by grumbling a little at her hus
band develops*the habit, until she becomes a nag and a scold. The man who begins by
growling at his imaginary troubles ends in becoming a full-grown grouch, with a scowl
on his face that even the dogs scare at. The surest beginnings of the grouch habit come
bv nursing imaginary troubles, and nearly all troubles are imaginary. Look back ten to
twenty years. The troubles that worried you then, what became of them? Forgotten
long ago. They weren't worth worrying about. You know that now. Neither are your
troubles of today. “Sorrow may come to call, but 1 will not take him us a lodger.” says
a Turkish proverb. If the grouch habit is growing within you, [duck it out, now. Be
genial and glad. Smile. Be kind. Be cheerful. Cultivate a happy frame of mind.
Force your face to smile if you have to, and soon the face of the whole world will smile
hack at you.
Much of the above is sound philosophy, some of it is sound sense,
and some of it is rot. Persons who believe themselves competent to
advise their fellows on matters of personal conduct should avoid any
thing smacking of hypocrisy. The man who “forces his face to smile”
generally is a hypocrite of the deepest dye. Between the confirmed
“grouch” and the “cheerful idiot,” commend us to the grouch. Had
the writer said “Be natural, and remain natural,” he would have ren
dered his public a greater service.
Grouchiness is more than a habit, it is an acquired habit. No man
naturally is a grouch. He becomes so by persistent and laborious prac
tice. Were his mental efforts directed m other channels and the same
devotion shown as he gave to his perverted ideals, he might attain emi
nence in some useful walk of life. As it is, he is a burden to himself
and a trial to his friends. We are not naturally sorrowful, or grouchy.
No infant who is sound in health and has his material wants provided
for is ever anything but cheerful. His little sorrows soon blow over
and his natural joyousness assumes sway. As he grows older his train
ing and environment will have great influence on his state of mi r.d.
Under certain conditions he will allow his troubles to assume too much
importance in his life, and the brooding over them will be the start for
the career of a grouch. But even then, the normal being who can carry
a long face and a biting tongue for every occasion, ignoring the beau
ties of nature, and even the beauties of human companionship, can do
so only by persistent effort. Joy and gladness wiil come to the surface
in spite of all unless ruthlessly strangled.
On the other hand, v/hat is more depressing and nerve-racking
than, the nincompoop who carries a smiling face for all occasions. No
matter how serious a situation may be, or how fraught with discomfort,
and anxiety, he presents a smiling countenance. One craves a license
to boot him.
Naturalness is the habit of mind to be commended. G.ve us the
man who has a hearty laugh when the occasion requires, and who pre
sents a grave and thoughtful face m the hour of difficulty and anxiety.
Let him display just anger, and recover his equilibrium and his good
nature in due time, exercising self-restraint and forbearance for the
frailties of others. But let not our path be strewn by cheerful idiots
and grouches.
The extent to which the government of Yukon territory aids its
prospectors in the opening up of new territory is shown m an adver
tisement in the Dawson News of September 3, which advises prospec
tors desiring transportation to the head of navigation on the tributaries
I of the Yukon river to communicate with the commissioner. It stated
that a boat would be sent from Dawson between September 1 and
10 and that those taking advantage of the free transportation would
be required to take with them a year’s outfit. The arrangement was in
accordance with the policy laid down by the government to aid pros
pectors to get into distant parts of the territory, with hopes that they
make new discoveries of mineral, and thus aid in the general develop
ment of the territory.
❖
In June, 1914, the Illinois Federation of Labor called the atten
tion of the department of commerce to the fact that the steamboat jn
t specters were neglectful of their duties, and thus the lives of thousands
of persons were being endangered. It was pointed out that excursion
steamers were being everloaded and that the inspectors paid no heed.
It is now alleged that when Secretary Redfieid appointed the commis
sion to investigate the sinking of the Eastland he choose men known to
be favorable to the ship owners, with the intent to exonerate those im
plicated in that terrible disaster. Such charges, if at all borne out by
the facts, demand investigation.
❖
When you are inclined to grumble at the fate which assigned to
you another winter in Interior Alaska while your friends and associates
are traveling the “great white ways” Outside, just console yourself
with the thought that most of those supposedly lucky fellows would
give their good right arm to be back here before spring.
-<$,
If Colonel Schleicher of Leslie’s Weekly can become so enthusi
astc a booster for Alaska through having made a fiying trip to the
('oast region, let us hope that next season lie will extend his peregrina
tions to the Interior, and then perhaps we shall witness some real boost
ing.
-A
The arduous task of producing a newspaper single-handed is con
siderably lightened by the words of appreciation uttered by our pa
trons. Kind words are more than coronets,” and are valued as highly
by newspaper men as they are by more highly-favored mortals.
-♦
The Pioneer s sporting editor was not on the job last week, and
the blundering compositor made us say that the Philadelphia “Ath
letics trounced the Red Sox. We have the advantage of most news
papers in being able to blame the jAinter man with impunity.
The dignified federal court officials mushing behind dog teams to
attend court in Iditarod next spring will be an interesting sight. Judge
Bunnell s Iditarod friends can readily believe that he will enjoy the
experience.
—-♦—
Gallant little Serbia, in whose behalf the great world war osten
sibly was started, seems destined to become wiped off the map by the
hordes of Teutons ere her allies can come to her rescue.
<$
The.correspondent who wrote that the President’s fiancee was a
cnarming widow probably was not the most gallant of men. He
infers that all widows are not charming.
^
Winter is upon us in earnest, and it is noted that it is not greeted i
with the same enthusiastic welcome that is accorded the advent of the
good old summer time.”
WORLD’S WNG CHAMPION
The black-poll warblers that build
their nests and bring up their young
in Alaska live the rest of the year in
South America, 5,000 miles away. The
nighthawk that breeds on the banks of
the Yukon, in Alaska, goes to Argen
tina, 7,000 miles distant, at the ap
proach of autumn. These arc* long
distances, you say. Yes, and they are
covered, you must, remember, by land
birds. The migration routes of shore
birds are even longer. Nineteen spe
cies of shore birds that nest north of
the Arctic circle winter in South Amer
ica, six of them going to Patagonia,
over a route that is more than 8,000
miles long.
The world’s migrating champion,
however, is the Arctic tern. It builds
its nest in the ice. not fur south of
the north pole. When the young birds
are full grown the whole family starts
south, and in the course of several
months arrive at the edge of the Ant
arctic continent.
What the track is over the 11,000
miles of lands, ice and water between
the two homes of this remarkable bird
no one knows. A few Arctic terns
have been seen along the United States
coast below Long Island, but the
mighty Hocks of thousands upon thou
sands. which range from pole to pole,
have never been noted by an ornithol
ogist competent to indicate their pre
ferred route and their time schedule.
They reach the far North about
June 15. leave about August 25, and
travel 22,000 miles a year. Not less
than 150 miles ;:i a straight line must
be their daily flight, and that distance
is no doubt multiplied several times
by their zigzag turnings in pursuit of
food. So the journeying habits of the
birds are full of surprises and contra
dict i. ns, and the mystery of their mi
grations is still engaging the attention
of a great many naturalists.
A few migrate only in daylight, but
'nr\M birds feed and rest during the
day and travel at night. The day
migrants include hawks, swallows,
nighthawks and chimney >wifis. The
nichthawks and chimney swifts catch
their food while on the wing. Their
progress north or south is Mow. Wh» n
they come to a lake or a large pond
thev flv around ii instead of over it.
J. B. Morrow in Cincinnati Enquirer.
A REMINDER
That I -till retain my business and stock
until after tk. tir.-.t of January, and that my
Cut Glass. Silver Deposit and Christmas
Novelties are selling at prices most reasou
uble.
All Hamilton and Howard Watches a: a
factory tagged price.
W ILLIAM TAYLOR, Flat City.
“ NOTICE to^REDITORS
In tin* rM'ijaU' -court !'•»r oner precinct,
Fourth division. Territory of \ia.-ka.
bef .n- ID':;. *i. iiioraglify, nun uis
sioner and • \ officio probate judge.
In Hie iuatter of tin* e-date of diaries Dra
’’■■.•‘ii. d‘T. a<rtl. \m. :?m - j'robale.
Notice is licrcby given by the under
signed, administrator uf tin* estate of
< !iarl< s hraoeuii. derea-cd. to tiic creditors
• r and all o.-r-ons having claims against the
"said deceased, to exhibit them, with the
necessary vouchers, within six in nil’s after
the Jlrst publication of tin.- nolicr. t . the
said adminisirator. at the office of I'red
llai-ris.iii, aitonie\ at law. Regina hotel,
Iflitaf’d, Alaska, the .-am*- being the place
Id:- the transaction of the business .if the
-aid estate in tile above precinct and terri
torx.
Dated S. pt. -JS, 1915.
F Ml. I. \!’I.ANT. .Ydruin s:r:i! >r.
Fir-t publication, Oct. -J, 19 15.
HOHlE OF FORFEiiURE
To If. Schofield, and to your heirs, execu
tor-. administrators and assigns:
You are hereby untilled that the under
signed, a eo-owner. ha- expended in labor
and improvements the .-uni «»r one hundred
dollars .ri iin.no, per year for the years
ion and lull upon that certain placer
mining claim known as Tin* Happy New
A'car A- • lath n. situated at the head of
Flat ereck. a tribu'arx *T offer creek, m
o’fer record.n.g district. Territory of
\l.i-k;i. in which y< u an* the owner of an
undivided one-eighth ■• us , interest.
You and each ■ f you .are hereby notified
that if at the expiration of ninety (90)
days after the last publication of this nolice
.'.on have failed or refused to contribute
your share or tin* afnre.-aid expenditures,
yoii.c int rD-i in sa d claim will become foi -
fi ifed and will become the property of the
undersigned, according to the provisions of
section 9R9 5 of Revised Statutes of the
I luted States.
DAVID STRAND BE RCi, Co-Owner.
Date of first publication. Sept. 1915.
Date of last publication, Dec. 4, 1915.
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gjas$sesE3»saz& SHORT ORDERS m^sssmest*^ 1
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__ ———— _Prop. 5
HARRY DONNELLEY
EEE2:. GENERAL MERCHANDISE
DISCOVERY, OTTER
“PlL-a, yST*, el Gold St., Flit City
1 Si 0 & ± *5« ITO K« /pH
g ygH i Mrs. Geo. Mutchler, Prop.
Nicely Furnished Rooms Barn for Horses and Dogs Baths in Connection
SoDCno St. f O 0 EVI a OO, Phone 15 j
DR. >ViOQi\’E,
FH YSICIAN AND SURGEON
DR. H. E. AlfRiftJGER,
Physician and Surgeon
Office: Fiat City Hospital. Fiat City
Consultation Hours in Forenoons and by
Appointment
DR. H. 3EHLA,
Appointments by Telephone
FLAT CITY
Professional
Michigan, 1881 Alaska, 1910
Kentucky, isdi
George Woodruff Albrecht
COUNSELOR AND LAWYER
IDITAROD, ALASKA
The Pioneer Attorney of Iditarod
E. M. STANTON,
Attorney at Law
; Oice: Corner Willow ami Second Sts.
Iditarod Pioneer Building
CM AS. r. TAYLOR,
Attorney at Law
BANK BLOCK
First Avenue Iditarod
Fred Harrison
ATTORNEY AT LAW
REGINA HOTEL PHONE 53
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FLAT CITY HOHBACK &. DURAND
Bet. the Grand and Bagoy’s Bars
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I
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