ICniitak rur
Published every Saturday
Yearly Subscripts
Entered in the Postoffice at Kc
Class matter under act of Con
iak, Alaska
S5.00
Alaska as Second
of March 3, 1878
THE ISLAND PUBLISHING COMPANY
Sig J. Digree, Editor and Publisher
Betha Digree, Executive Secretary
MEMBER OF ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use or republica
tion of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in
thus paper and also the local news published herein.
' SNjtnvs of (America's Last frontier
Christmas 1955
The hearts of all of us, and es
pecially children, will be gladden
ed tomorrow in the celebration of
Christmas.
On this eve of Christmas, mem
ories of past Christmas’s return to
bring joy to the heart and a fond
ness for a day when self is forgot
ten, resulting in the giving of gifts
to children and others, that happi
ness may be brought thereby to
someone near and dear to us.
The age-old tradition of buying
gifts, the display of tinsel, which
has become almost a symbol of
Christmas, the feverish haste in
sending greeting cards and mak
ing the necessary purchases to
better celebrate the event—will all
e dispensed with tomorrow. The
parent of fhe child will now sit
back and listen to the shouts of joy,
watch for the enhanced gleam that
lights in the eyes of his offspring
as the child finds just what he
wanted for Christmas.
Gifts to the grownups, to, though
not received with such efferves
cent enthusiasm, have their place,
It may not be the gift wanted or
desired, but the feeling of a loved
ones sentiment and desire to re
member you, is the important
thing. Thus is Christmas a time of
giving, which takes its pattern
from the first gift of all, when
God gave his only Beloved Son,
Jesus Christ.
Christ’s birthday, celebrated on
Christmas, can be observed in
many other ways than by the giv
ing of gifts. A splendid way is by
going to Church. Thereby, whether
through a thought gleaned from
the sermon, a hymn, or the music,
the awareness of the true meaning
of Christmas is brought to you
Seek it out if you must, for you
will be well rewarded.
The joy of giving, too, can be
come more joyous by seeking out
someone in need of help, and
bringing to them some measure oi
happiness.
Finally, look to the heavens and
see the glistening stars that shine
in the firmament. Your lofty sen
timents (about yourself will be re
duced to humbleness. Then look tc
the earth, and all about you, and
think of the humble manger in
which the Christ child was born
Then you too will say with the the
Wise Men, This is truly the Son
of God, who will lead all men tc
peace on earth, good will to men.’
Christmas Day did not receive
formal legal recognition through
out the United States until the
late 1880’s.
On the Island of Jamaica, Christ
mas is heralded with firecrackers.
The name Christmas comes from
the early English term Christes
Masse, or Christ’s Mass.
Toys for children this year
range from $1 picture books to
$3,000 electric trains.
* * * * *
The roasting of the Christmas
pig is an important ceremony at
Christmas in Poland and Serbia.
*****
Here’s the Gift to Give
—a -«g
If you are faced with the “I
don’t know what to give” problem
this Christmas the Treasury De
partment suggests Savings Bonds
as an excellent answer.
The boy didn’t know this effe ct was being created by'his balloon.
— - <APwirephoto)
Christman lory
Of The Year
The Christmas story of 1955
comes from Spring City, Pa.,
which, appropriately enough, is
not more than fifteen or twenty
miles from Bethlehem (also Pa.).
More specifically it is from the
Pennhurst State School at Spring
City—an institution once referred
to as an insane asylum, where lock
ed doors were once a common
place, where once two “jail” wards
with barred windows restrained
those whose offense against socie
ty was to be sick—mentally sick.
But that dark age of haunting fear
and revolting rumors is now
known as “B. P.”—before Phillips
—William A. Phillips, who became
superintendent in 1948 . . . and
some years before his present boss,
Harry Shapiro, a life-long cham
pion of the mentally ill became
State Secretary of Welfare.
In 1955, the Christmas season
began early for the more than
3,500 “students” at Pennhurst—
with a special “Hannukah” obser
vance for the Jewish patients on
December 12—and carries through
New Year’s. The detailed, eight
page program, printed in the
school print shop, lists a whole
series of afternoon and evening
parties for the girls and for the
boys—held in the wards and in
the auditorium basement — with
music and refreshments. And per
haps the most eloquent line in all
light pages reads: “Christmas
gifts from employees.” There’s an
elaborate program of singing,
dancing, band music and recita
tions by the school children, and
at the Superintendent’s parties
there’s a box of chocolates, five
different fruits, ice cream, a candy
cane and a half dozen other child
hood delights for each boy and
girl.
Christmas Eve is the time for
decorating the Christmas trees and
the Day itself begins with eight
o’clock mass. Then Santa, suitably
burdened, visits all the cottages
and wards. There’s music and
carolling, a big turkey dinner and
a special Christmas service in the
auditorium.
As a footnote to this Christmas
story and to the spirit of Penn
hurst, it might be mentioned that
these manifestations of good cheer,
good will and heartfelt concern
for the happiness of “the least of
these” problem people will not be
paid for with taxpayers’ dollars.
All expenses are being met by pri
vate gifts and through the aid of
the Pennsylvania Association for
the Mentally Retarded and its
chapters in the 34 counties served
by the institution.
Today, as on the first Christmas,
there are still wise men and still
the same stars in the heavens, in
cluding, as St. Mathew reports,
“ . . . the star which they saw in
the east” and which “went before
them, till it came and stood over
where the young child was.” And
while today’s gift shops report
little demand for gold and incense
and myrrh, there is no change in
the hearts of the givers.
San Francisco. (AP)—Floods in
Northern California and Oregon
cost the lives of more than 30 per
sons as torrential rains continue.
Thousands of persons have been
driven from their homes in a 1000
mile stretch of the Pacific coast.
Humboldt County, California, is
isolated. Meager radio reports tell
of towns washed away and at least
30 dead.
Savings Bonds First On List
The U. S. Savings Bonds you
give this Christinas will help build
security *for the future—the ideal
s;ft f°r,«alF
them first on your list.
NE : RAVLOFF
MARi:iv BEN PEARSON
Netty Rose Shuravloff and Ben
jamin ranklin Pearson were
joined in holy wedlock, Wednesday
evening, December 14, at the Rus
sian Orthodox Church.
The bride is the daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Nick Shuravloff of this
city.
The matron of honor was Mrs.
John Chya. Bridesmaids were Pa
tricia Shuravloff, sister of the
bride, and Betty Chya, Nina De
veau, Lydia Mahle.
A reception followed the wed
ding at the Montmartre.
The bride and groom will leave
for Mt. Vernon, Washington, about
January 18, to visit relatives of the
latter.
NOTICE
Game night at the V.F.W. is now
Friday night
ACADEMY APPOINTMENT FOR
SON OF NORTH STAR CAPTAIN
Seattle. (AP)—John Salenjus,
son of Capt and Mrs. Charles Sa
lenjus of Seattle, received a full
time appointment to the U. S. Mer
chant Marine Academy at Kings
Point, N. Y. He has been an
Academy temporary appointment
since August.
After graduating from High
School he worked on a tug between
Seattle and Alaska. His father is
captain of the North Star, Alaska
Native Service vessel.
Ray Ingraham, employee at the
Heavy Equipment Shop on the Na
val Station, became seriously ill
last week, and was rushed to the
Griffin Memorial Hospital. He was
operated on, but his condition was
such that he was flown out to the
States for further surgery.
For the last four years mailman James Conley, right, has been
delivering mail to Mrs. Marie MacDonagh, left,, but last week, by
chance, Conley discovered Mrs. MacDonagh was his half sister whom
he hadn’t seen, knowingly, for 25 years. Mrs MacDonagh, a clerk in
a Mill Valley, Calif., store, asked Conley his name at the request of a
customer. When she learned it was Conley the two compared notes
and the relationship was discovered. They plan to have Christmas
together. (Af»wirephoto)
Most cherished among the gifts
bestowed by the passing year is
the memory of pleasant associa
tions with those whom we have
been privileged to serve.
So, it is most sincerely
that we wish you a
MERRY CHRISTMAS
AND
A HAPPY NEW YEAR
Bank of Kodiak
KODIAK,ALASKA