Trailing and camping in Alaska . ollar, a number 14 boot anda number 5 hat to be adapted to pull a sled. He should bestrong in back, weak in mind, with high shoulders and alow forehead. Among those who had arrived at Copper Centerby pulling sleds and back-packing, many had neg-lected a previous examination for the necessaryqualifications. When they now proved that pros-pecting was not their natural calling, and thatAlaskas springtime did not bud gold leaves, theirminds became semi-deranged. We had met a mannear the lake who evidently was insane. On beingasked whence he came, he emphatically re
Trailing and camping in Alaska . ollar, a number 14 boot anda number 5 hat to be adapted to pull a sled. He should bestrong in back, weak in mind, with high shoulders and alow forehead. Among those who had arrived at Copper Centerby pulling sleds and back-packing, many had neg-lected a previous examination for the necessaryqualifications. When they now proved that pros-pecting was not their natural calling, and thatAlaskas springtime did not bud gold leaves, theirminds became semi-deranged. We had met a mannear the lake who evidently was insane. On beingasked whence he came, he emphatically replied: From California. As I, being from California, was ridiculed aboutthe answer, I explained that the transition from thatState to Alaska was sufficient to affect the strongestminds. I felt, however, that my brains were notsufficiently scrambled to be addicted to mentalstorms. At the rapids we met another man who was men-tally affected, and when asked from what State hehailed, he, too, replied: From California. 50 <5-a- to. Trailing and Camping in Alaska 51 The joke was becoming serious by this time, anda lunatic from some other State was in demand todivert insinuations and relieve suspicion. At Copper Center there appeared at our camp aman who talked in a very rambling manner. Hewas as crazy evidently as a rabbit in the third monthof the year. The members of our expedition hadgone to a near-by tent-town, with the exception of amilitary officer and a New York sketch artist. Theyhad remained apparently to see if this man would beasked the usual question which had recently resultedso embarrassingly to the interrogator. As they ap-peared so interested, I resolved to prove to themthat there were deranged people who had come fromother States besides California. With desperationI asked the expected question. He straightenedhimself to a dignified attitude, as he replied: I am from Humboldt County, California! In reply to his counter, I lied and said I was fromMissouri, and Calif
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