People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 27-25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1896 — IN ARCTIC REGIONS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

IN ARCTIC REGIONS.

A CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL. AMID ICE AND SNOW. How the Members of the Peary Expedition Passed the Day—Teaching the Eskimos American Manners—Loath to Quit the Dinner Table.

fm\ rg. RS. PEARY, who spent so many tej dious months with |) her husband in the Mjfl rJjUi Arctic regions, was * - determined that the » holidays should not 5V pass her by unnoh l —v. ticed; and so , though she was livP ing in the most primitive fashion,

with a frozen world all about her, she made hearty though simple preparation for festivity. They spent, she says, a day in decorating the interior of their Arctic home for the Christmas and New Year festivities. In the larger of the two rooms the ceiling was draped with red mosquito netting. Wire candelabra and candleholders were placed in all the corners and along the walls. Two large United States flags were crossed at one end of the room, and a silk sledge flag was put up on the opposite corner. I gave the boys new cretonne for curtains for their bunks, and we decorated the photographs of our dear ones at home with red, white and blue ribbons. We spent the evening in playing games and chatting, and at midnight Mr. Peary and I retired to our room to open some letters, boxes and parcels given us by kind friends, and marked: “To be opened Christmas eve at midnight.” On Christmas day we had what we considered the jolliest Christmas dinner ever eaten in the Arctic regions, and then we invited our faithful natives to a dinner cooked by us and served at our table, with our dishes. I thought it would be as much fun for us to see them eat with knife, fork and spoon as it would be for them to do it. After our meal had been cleared away, the table was set again, and the Eskimos were called in. We had nicknames for all of them, and it was,-the “Villain” who was put at the head of the table, and told that he must serve the company just as he had seen Mr. Peary serve us. The “Daisy” took my place at the foot of the table, and her duty was to pour the tea. The “Young Husband” and “Misfortune” sat on one side, while “Tiresome” and the “White Man” sat opposite. It was amusing to see these queerlooking creatures, dressed entirely in the skins of animals, seated at the table, and trying to act like civilized people. Both the Villain and the Daisy did their parts well. One incident was especially funny. The White Man, seeing a nice-looking piece of meat in the stew, reached across the table and endeavored to pick

“It was amusing to see these queerlooking creatures.” it out of the dish with his fork. He was immediately reproved by the Villain, who made him pass his mess pan to him, and then helped him to what he thought he ought to have, reserving, however, the choice piece for himself. They chattered and laughed and seemed to enjoy themselves very much. Both women had their babies in the hoods on their backs, but this did not hinder them in the least. Although at times the noise was great the little ones slept through it all. The Daisy watched the cups very carefully, and as soon as she spied an empty one, she would say: “Etudo cafee? Nahme? Cafee peeuk.” (More coffee? No? The coffee is good.) Finally at ten o’elock the big lamp was put out, and we told them it was time to go to sleep, and that they must go home, which they reluctantly did.