Following is an article Jjy Dr. Neu
man which is reprinted from the j
Magazine in Eskimo, published by
the Bureau of Education:
The necessity of warmth and light j
without question was one of the great- j
est primitive needs of the Stone Age j
of the Eskimo. Without the lamp
there was no possible chance to com
bat the rigor and darkness of the Arc-1
tic winter. What wonder that upon>
this household utensil, in fact, its
most precious possession, all domestic
and social life was focused.
And yet, the necessity of light and !
heat was really of secondary import-1
ance. Without the lamp the drink-1
ing water would have been impos
sible to obtain from ice or snow. Be
sides that it was indispensible for
drying the clothing (an Eskimo will j
freeze in wet apparel). This was done
by hanging the clothes on a frame
built over it. It was also very useful
in making implements such as snow
shoes, sleds, and many others. The
making of these implements was
greatly aided by dipping the wood in
water or urine and slowly steaming
it over the lamp until the material
became flexible. The bone, ivory and
deer horn were also similarly treated.
A lamp burning brightly was the
sign of prosperity. On the other hand
as the lamp consumed a good deal of
fat, and fat xvas an important article
of diet among the natives, the dim,
flickering light was an indication of
starvation and hunger.
It is not surprising that the lamp
figured largely in all religious and
festive gatherings. Oral history still
preserves a good many names of the
ancient native women who won fame
for their skill in procuring a maxi
mum of light and heat from a mini-!
mum amount of oil.
The lamp was always the personal
property of the woman. In a good i
many villages the marriage was sanc
tified by a young gil l moving her lamp
to her future husband’s igloo. Until
but a very few years ago the removal '
of the lamp from an igloo by a woman
constituted and was respected as a
divorce by villagers, relatives, hus
band and chiefs. It was the woman’s
work to obtain oil from seal and wal
rus fat, although a very inferior sub
stitute was sometimes obtained from
deer or bear fat. This fat usually was
rendered by chewing out the oil in a
small wooden vessel.
The lamp wick was constructed j
from finely powdered moss. The moss ;
was placed in a long ridge in the low
er part of the lamp and a piece of
bone shaped like a long narrow spoon
was used for trimming it.
A lamp of a good house-wife ac
cording to the Eskimo idea, never
smoked.
In size the lamps varied from very I
small traveling lamps, measuring
from four to five inches in diameter !
to very large ones. I have one in my'
collection which is 48 inches long I
and 1214 inches wide. The size of j
the lamp varied with the locality. I
Where seal was plentiful and easy to
obtain the lamps as a rule were very
flat and semi-oval and have a small
ridge in the upper third for a reserve
supply of oil. They vary in shape, ac
cording to the great primitve indi
vidual ingenuity of the native.
These lamps were made from soap-;
stone, pottery or wood. Soapstone
was preferred, but was not always
used. It was found in only a few lo
calities in Alaska and sometimes it i
took years to make the journey to the :
quarries to obtain it. At one time1
soapstone was a medium of exchange ]
between the different tribes.
It was customary to place the lamp!
in burial places over the body of its j
owner.
The very old lamps show signs of |
stone hammers and jade chisels. The
soapstone is well adapted for this
purpose as it is easily worked and it
has the property of absorbing oil in
it sporous substance. Besides it is
the only material which in a lamp
never becomes overheated and at the
same time it retains the heat longer
than any other material known to the
Eskimo, or special occasions lamps
made from whalebone were used by
Eskimo doctors in connection with
their ceremonies in healing the sick.
These lamps were always destroyed
at either the recovery or death of the
patient. The soot collected from the
burning of these ceremonial lamps
was highly valued by the women for
tattooing.
Thee seal oil lamps are still used
by the old natives, and wherever a
scarcity of wood exists. It is inter
j esting to note the old men grouped
around the dim light enthusiastically
I telling their folk-lore to the younger
. generation. The Eskimo girls take
i great delight in playing with minia
ture models of these lamps.
’ For various reasons the natives pre
; fer to live two or three families in the
1 same igloo. At the same time it was
a mark of etiquette for each woman
: to have her own lamp in her comer
' of the house.
j The old men and women still carry ;
long slender pieces of wood which are j
I used for obtaining light from the'
lamps for their pipes. In the pictorial j
■ writings of the natives I have often
seen the lamp turned bottom up. This
meant starvation.
A broken lamp is mended by dril
ling holes and wedging with whale
bone. Broken pottery lamps were ce
mented with a compound made <d
seal blood and dog hair.
There is a very interesting legend
of an old man who, although very
rich, was much disliked by the vil
lagers. For years he had been chisel
ing a large piece of jade into a lame.
When it was completed he called vil
lagers together and bragged greatly
about his new wealth.
To demonstrate the great beauty
and utility of his new lamp he tilled
it with seal oil and lighted it for the
delectation and envy of his guests.
When his guests had departed, the
rich man still left the lamp burning
and retired contentedly to his luxuri
ous fur couch. But while he slept
evil spirits from icebergs and hum
mocks, who hated the Eskimos, enter
ed the igloo, overheated the’jade and
set fire to the house. The cabin and
its miserly owner were burned to cin
ders. Since that time, according to
my informant, no Eskimo has eve
tried to make a lamp from jade.
Without the lamp there is no ques
tion but what the Eskimo would now
be extinct. And yet, strange as it
may seem, it was, in my opinion, not
invented by them. It was apparently
borrowed from a more advanced tribe
and in another land, during some of
the many migrations of the long
“Stone Age.”—Dr. Daniel S. Neuman.
Talkeetna, Alaska, Mar. 22, 1917.
Editor Anchorage Daily Times,
Anchorage, Alaska.
Dear Sir:
In your issue of March 15th you
state a wire was received from Tom
C. Price, our representative, at Ju
neau, requesting information concern
ing roads and trails that would be
feeders to the government railroad. I
take pleasure in giving you some in
formation from Talkeetna, There have
been a great many prospectors and
miners freighting supplies into Iron
creek, at the head of the Talkeetna
river, a distance of about thirty-five
miles, using the river as a trail. The
citizens of Talkeetna and vicinity
have petitioned the AlaskaRoad Com
mission to have a road or trail built
from this point to Iron creek. From
reports of miners in that section, some
good copper prospects are found. Any
thing that the people of Anchorage
and The Daily Times can do for us in
that respect, will be highly appreci
ated.
Yours respectfully,
M. H. HEALEY.
Talkeetna, Alaska.
Vaudeville stunts of all kinds at the
Spring Carnival, Labor Temple, April
4, 5, 6 and 7. 701
Alaska Pioneer Buttons. Walter A.
Lord, jeweler. 727
MKEETi
TALKEETNA, March 27.—Mr. Hob
Donaldson, district store keeper for
the Commission, is spending a few
days at Dead Horse Hill, where he is
having a new office built for the com
ing year.
Traffic is very heavy both ways and |
many travelers stop here for a rest.
Mr. and Mrs. Aron Ericson of An
chorage and Miss Rae Amstead were
recent guests of Mr. and Mrs. Ray
mond Krautter.
Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Attridge passed
through on their way to Anchorage.
Mr. J. W. Wright and family expect
to move to Dead Horse Hill soon.
Mrs. C. A. Ileig has returned to j
Talkeetna, bringing with her a fine1
baby girl, six weeks old.
The past winter has been very suc
| eessful for the business people located i
here and they are all wearing big
smiles.
There is a great deal of snow here j
yet and the weather continues cold, i
hut we are trying to be optimistic
about it.
I
JUNEAU, March 17—The fifteenth
session of the grand camp of the Arc
tic Brotherhood was held here during
the week. It came to an end last night
at the hall of the Juneau camp of the
brotherhood, with the election of of
■ deers for the next two-year period.
' The installation of officers was con
ducted by Past Grand Arctic Chief J.
F. A. Strong.
i The officers of the northern order
for the years 1917 and 1918 wd| be:
Past Grand Arctic Chief—John T
Reed.
Grand Arctic Chief—John H. Mar
shall, Juneau.
Vice-Arctic Chief—\V. A. Clark,
Nome.
Chaplain—A. J. Achison. Skagway.
Recorder—Lester O. Gore, Juneau.
Keeper of Nuggets—Harold 11. Post
i Juneau.
Grand Camp Cook—James Brennan,
! Petersburg.
Grand Trail Guide.A. A. Allan,
; Nome.
Grand Trail Blazer—Joseph Mur
ray, McCarthy.
Grand Outer Toll Gate Keeper
i Woodbury Abbey, Juneau.
Grand Inner Toll Gate Keeper
j Dr. W. E. Peterson, Sitka.
Trustees—J. R. Heckman, Ketchi-1
1 kan; John Ronan, Seward; Nate II.
Coombs, Council; C. A. Sulzer, Ketch- j
ikan, and P. C. McCormack, Wrangell.
I
Postage stamps we have, Kobarts. |
Try a Times Want Ad for results.
Model Laundry moved to 232 Fifth
and C streets. Hose Kerrero. 391 I
Joe Kisling, watchmaker, near Har- !
mony theatre. 433
Stop at Peterson’s Hctel. 399 j
The coal bunkers at the Blurt Point
coal mine on Kachemak bay are re
ported to have been destroyed by a
recent gale.
Latest War News at Peterson’s. 399 ,
i
DANISH CLUB
HANDEL
Meets Every Friday, 7:30 |>.in. j
A. P. Rasmussen, See’tv.
EUREKA HOUSE.
THE COOK INLET
TRANSFER CO.
WOOD AND ICE
A SPECIALTY.
MARIUS BENSON -
Mgr.
Palace of Sweets
Next to Empress Theatre.
Ice (.’ream,
Light Lunches
And—
Home-Made Candies.
ALL CREAM MADE
FROM FRESH MILK
Palace of Sweets
Union Laundry
and Bath House
Eouith Ave., Between H and I,
A iichnr»»({e
OCR WORK IS GIARANTKKD
—and—
SANITARY
THE LARGEST AXl) (LEANEST
BATH TI BS IN ANCHORAGE
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION.
ivpiutniHU >»I tli»* Interior, r S.
I at lid topee at .Juneau, Alaska, 1 '»-l»i-iir\
it*r;
NOTK'I’ is Imrehy aiwn tl>.a(
Swa f.-i .1,. of ,M;il:i!i is'wi, A* a.ska, \\:n\ on
( m-1 ober IK, 1 !t 1 a, made h omesteud entry
No. U2 4.',x. for N *2 Ni:j ,. Sec. 20, N
NWS See. 21 a ml KM* SKU, Section !.
Township 17 N , Kan-'.- I Reward Al<
ridian. lias t i 1 <*< 1 notice of intention
to make riv v«ar I’roof, to est •>1 -Iiish
claim to tin* land a 1 »•»*..• described. fore
I i o| old Uavid. United *«t ue«
sior* ' , ; 11 Anchorufc •. A I ask.-. on tin*
10th day of April, li'17.
t’laimant names as witnesses:
I’eter Murray, of Alatamiska, Alaska.
t«eor«e Nylen, of Matanusku, Alaska.
(Jeorue (IrHimm, of Matanuska, Alaska
Arthur A. <\»bb.
«*. 15. WALKKU. K-^ist. r.
Department of tin* Interior, Alaskan
Knu inecriin. <’omrnissioii, Anchorage,
Alaska. .March 2S, 1 !• 1 7 Authority lia \ -
itu; been received by this office for the
construction of a Sewerage System to
consist of n trunk and outfall sewer on
K Street from tin* alley between 1th
and .Mli Streets, tln-nce westward to
Knik Ann. and laterals in the alleys be
t w eeii :‘.rd and 1th Streets, and 4th and
7.ill Streets, from ll t" K Streets, sueli
work is eoniem]dat ed. The total esti
mated nisi of the Work is $18,000; tin
total cost ]" r lot for lots la-tween 2rd
.ml .'Mli Streets and I’ and K Streets
will tie $7«u)0. and for lots between 7.th
and Nth Streets, and blast <' St r* et and
tin* Alley betwiTii L and M, $7,770; both;
assessments heinn payable in four st ud
annual installments, the first due uimn
eompb tion. the seetunl six months fol
lowing enmpletioti. I lie t bird t \\ * I . •* ■
months followitn; completion, and tin
fourth eighteen months followin'-: com
pletion. i ih jeei ions ainl Miun'-stions in
writing will be ic eivt d at ibis office
up t*» April 1.'.. !'.' 17 «»b:ectinns should
state tin lot and b b >i ■ 1< owmd by the
writer. I <k WATTS, Townsite Man
ALIAS SUMMONS.
1 n tin- Cistriot Court 1'or the Territory
i»i Alaska, r.hi ‘I I >i\ ision
John K. St••♦'•ii. Plaintiff. vs. Sadi*- Kath
erine Steen. I >efi ndaat. A--1X
THK rKKSIDKXT < >F TIIK FXITKI>
STATICS. CUKITIXC
To the abov* luniftl defendant, Sadie
K;it iierine Steen
You art* hereby sumiiHiiui and n -
11ui!<■< 1 in ;11»|»«*;*i' in tin- lustrht Court
tor tin* territory of Alaska, Third J»i vi
sion. and ansvu r 11:»• complaint of tin1
iil'iivt-nani'-il plaintiff, a copy of which
is hen with d*di\♦ r* d to you, within;
thirty days after tin- ser\ iee of this,
summons upon you; and unless you so
appear and answr the* plaintiff will ap
ply to tin* court for tin* relief demanded
in said complaint, to-wit: For a decree >
of divorce* dissolving the bonds of mat
rimony existing between plaintiff and
defendant. Tin* service of this sum
mons by publication is authorized by
order of tin* court tiled in said cause.,
dated February 111. 1917, directing the
publication of summons once a week for
;it least six weeks, and the defendant
must appear and answer within thirty
days after th** expiration of said period
of publication.
WITNKHS. tin* Hon. Fred M Brown,
Jmice of said court, this tin- 12th day of i
February, in the year of our Lord one
thousand nine hundred and seventeen
and of our independence the one hun
dred and forty-first.
ARTHUR LANC. Clerk.
ART HFlt Fit A M K,
Plaintiff's Attorney.
First publication Feb. l'O. l')17.
Last publication April X, 1917.
(Seal)
NOTICE rOK PUBLICATION.
Department of the Interior, U. S. j
I I,and Office at Juneau, Alaska, February |
3, 1917.
NOTICK is hereby given that William
! Hushes, of Knlk, Alaska, who, on April [
: 1t». 1915, made Hormstoad Kntry, No.
I 01780. for NWV-i SW!o Dots 4. »J. i
NW'V, Sec. 2. I sit 2, Section 11, Town
1 ship 1C N\. Range 2 W.. Seward Merid- \
; ian, has Hied notice of intention to make
: hve years Proof, to establish claim to ,
the land above described, before Deopold
i>avid, U. S. Commissioner, at his office I
at Anchorage, Alaska, on the 11th day of <
April, 1917.
Claimant names as witnesses:
Fred Crocker, of Knik. Alaska.
Malcolm A. McNeil, of Knik, Alaska.
Stanton Shafer, of Knik, Alaska.
James Patched, of Knik, Alaska.
C. H. WALKKH. Register.
NOTICE
The restaurants, cafes, and st ill lions- ;
' es designated beneath wish to announce :
to the public that on account of the
! high tost of food stuffs they find it
; necesarj to change their course of serv
j ice, which change will be effective on
and after April 1, 1917. The undersign
ed tuke this method of assuring their
patrons that any additional charges ap-,
! pearing on their bills of fare after that
date are dm* to the increasing prices
| they are obliged to pay for food xup
, plies and are necessary to enable them
to conduct their business without actual
Dated this 25th day of March, 1917.
Mint Grill. 1. K. Hensler.
Royal Cafe, Gus Costovcos.
Oyster Grotto, George Kosmos.
Cameron’s Cafe, Charles Cameron.
RifTle’s Kitchen. O. Riffle.
, Union Cafe, O. Kuvara.
U and J Cafe, Geo. Cicovieh.
Frisco Cafe, Andy Masuvieh.
Tony's Cafe, Tony Kovacovich.
Dick's Kitchen, John Dahl.
Anchorage Cafe, James Vouros. 699 .
Phone 43-Y for car. day or ni>{ht.
Wood and coal a specialty. Universal
Taxi and Transfer. 126
Open ail nijfht. the North Pole Bak
ery. 716:
Temple Auditorium
A. L. U.
Spring Carnival!
OPENS
Tomorrow Night
DAWSON NIGHT
Everything in the Hall 10c
ADMISSION
10c
NORTH SIDE LUMBER CO.
HAVE TAKEN ALL AVAILABLE SPACE ON
REGULAR LINES. FIRST SHIPMENT DUE HERE
APRIL GTH.
Will Have Complete
Stock
We Are Always on the Job!
RECREATION
Bowling Alleys and Pool Parlors
YOUNG VIKING R. HEGSTROM
Next to Harmonv Theatre.
The Royal Cafe
Special Arrangements Made for Kntertnining Private
Parties.
rile place of real service. Boxes, Punch Counter.
Try Some of Our Special Dishes.
AN ATTRACTIVE LINE OF
WOMEN’S DRESSES, COATS, SUITS,
WAISTS AT
MRS . D. CORLEW
FRISCO CAFE
OPEN DAY AND NIGHT.
Kverythiug in Season and Service the Very Best.
Private Boxes for Large or Small Parties.
ONCE A PATRON ALWAYS A PATRON