Central Washington University - Hyakem / Kooltuo Yearbook (Ellensburg, WA)

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1 pro! this sort, the grubstake law provides that the locator shall own half of the claim, while the remaining half is divided rata among the grubstakers. The skip-jack” and “creepers are essentially Alaskan. The “creeper is worn not—as one might reasonably suppose from the namc-K,n the knees, but on the shoes. It consists of a flat metal plate sole-shaped, provided on the lower surface with several spiky points, also with straps so that it can be adjusted over the shoe, and is invaluable for nav-j igating on slippery sidewalks during a “cold snap. The skip-jack” belongs in the class with sleds, skates and skees. It is simply a strong, well curved barrel stavi provided at convenient height with a seat by nailing a flat crosspiece to an upright, which is fastened so idly to the conca surface of the stave. On this, young Alaska seats himself and goes merrily skimming down a snowy hillside, or the s ippe bed of a frozen water course. A long line of children coasting on skip-jacks is one of the many odd. interesting sights wil which Alaska seems so prodigal. .... . , , j In the building of plots, the weaving of tales, we are told always to leave something to the imagination of the reader. Surely a similar rule may be applied in “coaching for examinations. May we not leave something to the interest and diligence of the student? Then we shall leave you question six. which a very short excursion to a geology or an encycL pedia will answer for you. Better still, treat yourself to a real excursion which is becoming very popular with tourists now adays.—a summer visit to Alaska. If on the way you can take in the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Fair, which is to be hek in Seattle in 1909. so much the better. But do not stop there, for that would be like going to France to see Switzerland. Seattle is only Seattle, but Alaska—is Alaska. Someone—it sounds like Joaquin Miller, and he has been here and ought to know — has said: The Yosemite valley is beautiful. The Yellowstone Park is wonderful. The Canyon of the Colorado is colossal. But Alaska is all of these. At any rate, it is a land worth knowing, and a personal introduction, not only to Alaska localisms but to Alaskan scenery. Alaskan life, and Alaskan possibilities will be not only more accurate, but infinitely more interesting than a mere bowing acquaintance obtained by proxy. B Alice Henson Christoe Class of 1900

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is by no means the common mode of dress in Alaska. Alaskans dress precisely like other people. It is only in the extreme north and in extreme weather that furs are donned, and this garb is considered as much of a curiosity in other parts of Alaska as in the States” — which, by the way, is an Alaskan localism meaning that part of the United States not in¬ cluded in Alaska. The word husky means an Indian dog, as does also “malamute. The latter ter m hails from Eskimo-land, and more strictly speaking, the words refer to the strong, wolf-like Eskimo sled dogs. Chechako is an Indian expression meaning a new-comer — a tenderfoot,” to use a common western localism. The Alaskan opposite for ’chechako is “sour-dough, an elegant phrase borrowed from early days in California, and mean¬ ing old-timer. It refers to the popular and ingenious method of raising” bread by using a portion of sour dough instead of yeast, practiced by prospectors and others long removed from civilization’s helpful hand. The evolution from chechako to sourdough ’ is a gradual process, of variable length — and many and amusing arc the distinctions drawn between the two classes in different localities. Here in Southeastern Alaska, where steamers and mail steamers especially are events, in the largest sense of the word, they say that one has reached the sourdough stage when he knows all the steamer whistles, but never knows when they are due — thus implying that the “sourdough has lived in the country so long and become so thoroughly amalgamated that his tics and interests elsewhere have gradually vanished. The “chechako, on the other hand, always knows when a steamer is due — though the various whistles arc as Greek to him —and can always be detected by the feverish eagerness with which he awaits his mail — and also, as a rule, by the quantity of it, this latter being in an inverse ratio to the length of his stay. Cache and mush are transplanted French terms—“cache being in fact, a pure French word meaning a hiding place. So in the interior and other parts of Alaska, caches —little log hub or cabins safely perched up on stilts—are often built for the storing of surplus food or supplies during an owner’s absence. Mush” is corrupted from the French imperative form marchez, meaning march. I his expression is a great deal used throughout Alaska, broadly signifying “to travel. In managing dog teams, it is the signal for the start. It is related that in the restaurants at Nome, when a customer is asked what he wishes for breakfast, and replies loudly “mush.” all the dogs of the place get up and walk out. We cannot personally vouch for this, nor does our experience allow us to deny it. Mush sometimes means merely to walk. At Nome they go for a “mush over the tundra” where we would go for a stroll or for a constitutional, as the case might be. A musher is, of course, one who mushes.’ The tundra” is a flat, treeless waste frequently met with in extreme northern latitudes. To hit the trail” means up here “north of 53, to start, set out, or travel. “Placer” is by no means an exclusively Alaskan term, but it is typical of Alaska, nevertheless, since it was her rich gold deposits that first drew attention to the country. Placer mining and quartz mining arc the two methods of mining gold, employed according to the nature of the deposit. In the former, the gold-bearing rock has been decomposed and the particles washed down or deposited in “pay streaks.” the loose dirt being separated by such simple means as “washing” or sluicing.” In the latter, the gold is contained in veins or ledges of quartz, and the rock must be crushed in order to ob¬ tain it. A rocker,” or cradle, is just what the name implies, a boxlike contrivance on rockers, sometimes used for washing gold, but now considered rather antiquated on account of its slowness. I o grubstake means to furnish a prospector with the needful supplies while he is locating a claim. In cases of 19

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From Old Friends. T is always a pleasure to hear from old friends. It docs not necessarily follow, however, that when letters cease to come from people, they arc no long er friends. Especially is this true of people who are leading very busy lives, whose days are full of duty either in teaching, studying, or in some other occupation. We are very glad to print in our book this year a message from, or concerning, four very busy people — four people who are never¬ theless good friends of this school and of all her students. Miss Antoinette V. Bruce, former teacher of music in the Ellensburg State Normal School, has been in operatic work for the last three years in Europe. She made her first appearance in Bruges just a year ago, in four scenes from different operas, and was well received. Her maestro in Milano, however, advised Miss Bruce to study an¬ other year, which she did. Now he says her voice is for the big mezzo-soprano parts in the great operas, that he will get an en¬ gagement for her not as a debutante but as an artist. Miss Bruce sings in German, French and Italian now with scarcely any foreign accent. We heartily rejoice with Miss Bruce in her wonderful success. The Outlook” even with its overcoat buttoned wrong side before is much more imposing as an annual than it was as a monthly paper. I was much interested in the copy I received last year, and am glad to greet the students of the Normal, old and new, through its pages this year. To say that 1 have enjoyed my two years here would be expressing it mildly. The different nature of the work, the change in surroundings, and above all the contact with the men at Harvard has been very pleasant. At the same time I have felt somewhat as if I were away from home, and have looked forward with pleasure to next fall, when I expect to return and take up my work with you again. E. J. SAUNDERS To My Old Friends of the W. S. N. S.: From amongst Dewy-McMurray Theories, in the depths from writing theses to greet my old friends of the W. S. N. S. 1™ , compared with the many pleasant memories that I shall Although absorbed in study I frequently pause for some social Parsifal, Sembrich, or Melba. Then, I wish you were all with success and for that of your inspiring Alma Mater. of controversies with Baldwin, Sully and the rest, I look up Even events of Columbia University take small place in my ever hold of my faithful student friends at Ellensburg. event, theatre, opera, for such rare treats as the wonderful me. From this great metropolis I send you best wishes for Mary A. Proudfoot si