THE
BEACON
This editorial sheet is published by
Muriel S pears of ^illiii^ham, Alaska,
whenever paper., thoughtc and time 1
overlay t« nako ic pc ih : o ,
Yearly subscription nates * ^5«00
A TRIBUTE ,t;
"Dr. Mike" sho is affectionately
called—this young woman with the blond
hair and dark sparkling eyes who moves
in an aura of friendliness and efficiency
through her daily duties and emergency
calls as relief doctor at the Alaska Na
tive Service1s Kanakanak Hospital nea r
Dillingham, whenever circumstances place
this institution without a doctor in
charge. Dr. Beryl F. Kichaelson, per
manently stationed at Bethel, leaves her
work there to administer to the ailments
of us and ours0
Drl Fichaelson first came to Alaska
as a teacher for ANS and, after teaching
two years, made up her mind to get her
PH.D. and return to work for the same
Service. Five years of study and $10,OfiC
later finds her now a practicing medic ‘
in fulfillment of her ambition. Her
years of study, rather than isolating her
from the people and stiffening her with
false pride have rather knit her more
compactly into the p-^horr of hitman un
derstanding and supplied hor with pro
fessional authority to relievo suffering
and instill confidence.
"DR. MIKE" is first of all r truly
real person with an enviable personality
with just the proper blend of matter-of
fact ness and humor; and, secondly a cap
able doctor with all the professional
attributes accredited to her field plus
the ability to "rough" it v/hen equipment
is inferior and accommodations poor as
often occurs in this pioneer area whore
the best is often humble.
Dr. Mike, a talented conversetionalist
has faith in-Alaska.. She believes we are
overlooking the possibilities the country
offers in the way of native vegetables
and fruit as a nutritious dietary sup
plement obtainable with greater economy
than rimporting * foods of similar value*
She believes Alaskan natives should re
new the customs of their forefather**
who enjoyed superior health by utilizing
what God furnished with the land!
A woman capable of coiiUuanaii% a high
incomed private practice prefers to
work in her presort capacity because withi
her money is NOT the answer? for vocation
al victories supply the riehea of her life
while money furnishes only oho necessit
ies. Characteristically embedded in
this outlook lies the genuine simpli
city of greatness ai much a part of
"Dr. MikeM•
**A U A VSpr
J&z. Ujatf J| -llltiJi
•».Ward jf2 was REALLY something i Fiv*
patients—fckfr mothers* Brumbaugh with
3 hoys, 1 girl; Bennett with 3 girls, 1
hoy; Feans with 1 hoy, 5 girls; and,
Spears with 4 girls, 1 boyi Talk, talk,
talk. You know these mothersl Every
child was horn anew in the few short days
these women were together. The fifth
patient, a bride of a month, Liisia Vestal
didnlt have much of a chance...poor kid.
-...Everybody howled over Beans1 lack of
privacy* bhe was always being walked in
on,. •
...The whole ward was begging to be dis
charged except Spears, the only one the
Doc said could go. One dey her fine
husband said to the Doc, ,vWhen can the
Mrs. come home?11 The Doc just looked at
him with that humorous glint in her eye
and said,'’’Yesterday.” • • •
••.Tomorrow is the Fourth of July and
• the town* s usual program of games will n
he enjoyed.*.maybe this is because the
gal who usually managed this program iff
baby-sitting with her small son...
•••Seems how L©wefs is having a Sunday
matinee called ’’The Greatest Show on
Earth” which should be on every movie
goers JIQST list.%*
...They ere secretly married and are jus
not talking. Ever since The Beacon was
seoop^fcxon a Vfedd?ng last October the
Editor is sensitive, but apparently ao
one cares...
...Fish were so thick in the river on
July 2 they were a ctually jumping on
the beach...
...In the past ten years over 50 millior
babies have been Dorn...
...has such a question as this* Loes a
doctor doctor a doctor according to the
doctored doctor*s doctoring doctrinej
or, does the doctor doing the doctoring
doctor the other doctor according to hij
own doctoring doctrine? ...
...They all slept for three days after
their discharge—they were so tiredl