MOON MAIDENS
By George T# Masury
"Al" Mo ok, "Jimmy" the elderly Chilkat Indian fron Klukwan, and
myself had finished our supper and left the old road house where we were
staying and were comfortably stretched on the grassy bank of the Chilkat
river near Wells* The river was flowing smoothly past the remaining piling
of the old Porcupine bridge in front of us* Above, the moon shone in all
its 1 ° glorious fullness, its beans lighting the Salmon Flats opposite
so clearly that the alder brush that dotted the flats* sanded surface were
plainly visible. As we reposed, absorbing the beauties of the night, languid
ly at peace with the world, my eyes turned toward the moon where plainly
etched in shadows on its surface was the outline known to us as the face of
"the man in the noon." The eyes, nose, mouth and chin were clearly visible
and as I continued to scrutinize it, I wondered vdiat the ancient Chilkats’
belief was concerning it, so turning to "Jimmie", who was my mentor in the
ancient customs and lore of the Chilkat Indians, I asked him how the "man
in the moon" came to be there. "Jimmie" looked toward the moon, removed
his pipe and told us the following tale.
"A long time ago, when this valley was populated with many Chil
kats ouid long before the time of the white man, the Chilkats learned to ob
serve the moon with the greatest reverence and they always talked to it with
much politeness, as it quickly resented any undue familiarity. This became
known through two girls%o were carried off by it. Ihese two girls had been
sent to the river for water and the moon was shining as it is tonight. One
of the girls lookedat it and remarked that the moon looked like her grand
mother* s lip button. She had no sooner made this remark when both were
drawn up to the moon, the one who had made the remark being smashed to
pieces on it. The other you can 3till see there on the moon’s surface,
holding her bucket."
Looking again toward the moon, and following the shadowy lines as
pointed out by "^immy", "Al" and x could plainly see thelndian girl holding
her bucket as she has since the unfortunate remark made by her companion so
many long years ago.
SECRETARY WEEKS ASSURES SKAGWAY 2HAT POST ’’/ILL REMAIN:
Qie Daily Alaskan, of Skagway, recently printed a copy of a let
ter received from Secretary ofWar John W# Weeks, to the effect that the
troops will not be removed from Chilkoot Barracks at present# Hie letter
was addressed to the Bank of Alaska, which had written the War Department
as a result of rumors to the effect that the post was to be abandoned#
JUNEAU BALL SEASON OPENS:
The Elks defeated the American Legion ball team at Juneau in the
opening game of the season, 7 to 8, A game between the Moose and the Alaska
Juneau team, which immediately followed, resulted in victory for the latter,
17-3, lhe Legion team is reported to be brilliant, despite their defeat by
the Elks,
Although this post mil not indulge in "day-light saving time",
a new list of calls, effective the 1st of June, moves the working day for
ward a half hour, quitting time also coning a half hour sooner*