THE ALASKAN, DEC 26
     The new comic opera "The Alaskan" which John Cort is to present in this city at the Centralia Opera House, Thursday evening, December 26, aims at a gay and amusing reflex of pioneer life in and bout Nome in the early days of the gold fever there.
     Joseph Blethen, author of "The Chinook" and other plays successful in the west, who wrote the book and lyrics is a young newspaper man of Seattle, Wash., who was himself among the first of the gold seekers to venture "inside" the ice blocked trails, and writes of the argonauts and the country from whimsical observations and experiences he shared with the adventurers.
     The composer of the opera's score, Harry Girard, was also of the Alaskan prospectors, abandoning a successful stage career at the height of a season with Lulu Glaser in "Dolly Varde," whose leading singer he was, to try his fortune at Nome placer mining. The new opera is the result of a meeting of the pair in the northwest, and may be said to have been written on the spot.
     The humors of the northwestern place camp life under summer sunshine and winter snows, more than a hint of the love affair begun while its principals are snowbound, and an attempt to convey some comic types of camp people who are reported ambitions of the authors. The scenes and action are confined to Nome and near Nome. The production is in a prologue and two acts, the introduction being pictorial, pantomimic and musical, the first act scene a gold mining camp in summer and the second a Nome home amid the gaieties of a New Year's Eve camp frolic.
     In his production of the piece, Mr. Cort has faithfully preserved the atmospheric requirements of the book.
     Where the author calls  for Esquimo dogs of the kind in Alaska as "mushers," the manager has supplied them twelve, brought direct from Nome, and with their huskies their Alaskan driver, a well known northwestern mail carrier brought from Alaska especially for the performances. Where mukluks, kiaks, comiaks and parkas-Alaskanese for hid boots, skin yawls and fur jackets, respectively- have been the book's requirements, Mr. Cort has brought the real thing from the country of the opera. the light effects, also, are said to convey something of the peculiar sky tones of Nome in summer and winter, in daylight and night.
     The cast has been selected with special care. Miss Agnes Cain Brown sings the prima donna role. Mr. Girard, the composer of the score, appears in the baritone part. Other important principals of the company include Edward Martindell, Teddy Webb, Anne Adair, Harold Vizard, Charles Derbyshire, Amy Leicester, Wm. Fables and M.V.L. Smith. Choruses of Esquimo girls, Nome show girls, mines, prospectors and feminine visitors to Nome from "the outside" also appear. The production has been carefully staged by Max Figman.

HOME FROM SCOTLAND
     Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Gilchrist returned Saturday evening after nearly four months absence from this city. Mr. and Mrs. Gilchrist left here early in September for a visit at Mr. Gilchrist's old home in Scotland, and after visiting all the principal cities in the east, they embarked for the old country and spent nearly two months visiting points of interest there.
     Their first visit was at Lanark, on the river Clyde, where Mr. Gilchrist has two sisters and one brother living. From there they visited points of interest in that vicinity. They spent some time in London, about a week in Paris  and visited Versailles, and other points of interest in France. While in London, Mr. Gilchrist visited the Bank of England, the greatest financial institution in the world. While interviewing the officials of the bank Mr. Gilchrist was informed that that bank had raised the rate of discount to 7 per cent. the highest rate of discount that had ever been known to that institution, and Mr. Gilchrist says that this fact caused considerable excitement at the time. In England he found that things generally were in a very prosperous condition, common labor being at a higher premium than ever before known in the history of the old country. While in Paris he purchased copies of the New York Herald, The Brooklyn Edge and The Chicago Times containing the same news as published in the United States on the same day. Whole on the water, going and coming, he was kept posted on the events of the world by wireless telegraphy, and by a morning paper printed on board the ship. Mr. Gilchrist is the next youngest family of a family of nine children, all of whom, with the exception of two, all are living. This was his first trip back to his old home since leaving there many years ago, and while both he and Mrs. Gilchrist enjoyed the trip immensely, both are more than glad to be back at home, as they saw so much of interest to them that both become tired of looking, and the only place that looked good to them was their home in the city of Centralia.

"GIRL OF THE STREETS"
     "Girl of the Streets" will be at Centralia opera house on Saturday, Dec. 28. In presenting this play Geo. B. Edwards & Co. have outdone all former effects. The piece has enjoyed a liberal patronage in the great cities the past two seasons and this will be its first appearance in our city. The play is a strong melodrama, depicting life in and around New York City. All special scenery is carried so as to introduce "the black pool," Sing Sing prison, the counterfeiter's den, Harlem River, the Suspension Bridge, New York city illuminated on a winter's night, etc. Though the piece is boisterous in merriment, still it is refined in tone, pure in though and spontaneous in action and pleases the ladies and children as well as the gallery gods. A number of clever specialties are introduced. Prices, 25, 35, 50 and 75 cents.

RETURNS FROM EUROPEAN TRIP
     Sunday's Seattle Times contained an excellent picture of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. B. Lemon, who have just returned from their honeymoon trip in Europe. Mrs. Lemon is a former Lewis county girl having lived with her parents for many years in Chehalis. She was formerly Miss Francis Clark, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B.J. Clark, who made their home in Chehalis for many years where Mr. Clark ran a tobacco and notion store. About five years ago the family moved to Seattle, where Lee Clark, Mrs. Lemon's brother, was engaged in the dental business. Mrs. Lemon was well known in this city as in Chehalis.

WILL PRODUCE COAL SOON.
     White in Tacoma a few days ago, P.H. Smith, of this city, gave the following interview in regard to the coal mines in this vicinity:
      "The opening of the mines near Centralia will greatly increase the coal output of Western Washington," Mr. Smith says, "No one can state now what the exact daily output of the new Union Pacific mines will be, but I believe that after the first few months of operation these mines will come as the largest producers of coal in Western Washington. The coal will be used for railroad purposes only, but will be of great value in aiding the railroad in the construction of the Puget Sound extention.

EXPRESSES GRATITUDE
     I desire to express gratitude to the many friends who assisted me to win the piano in the Chronicle contest. Words cannot express my joy. 
Mabel Brown

HORSE KILLED BY LIVE WIRE
     A horse belonging to the Model Laundry, of this city, was killed on a live electric light wire that had blown across the road. During the heavy wind storm Monday the wires that conduct the current from the Chehalis electric light plant to that city and some of the telephone wires got tangled and when the power from the light plant was turned on the telephone wires were burnt and one of the electric light wires broke and fell to the ground. One end of the wire fell into a mud hole containing considerable water and it is thought by those present that when the horse stepped into the water, he received the full current carried by the water.
     B.H. Rhodes of this city and W.W. Canon, who were both there at the time say that the road both ways was blocked for nearly an hour before the current was shut off from the power house, and that the flashing of the different wires there very much resembled an electric storm.
     Perry McCleary, of this city was driving the laundry wagon and he says that the first thing that he knew of any trouble was when the horse that he was driving fell. He states that the horse did not make hardly a quiver after falling.
     It is also reported  that someone working at the power house was seriously hurt while trying to answer a phone call at the power house, and it was not until the power had been shut completely off that traffic could be resumed.

THE COUNTY BOARD
     The board of county commissioners of Lewis county, Washington, met in special session on Saturday Dec. 14, 1907, all members being present. The board approved the following bonds and contracts: Bond and contract of J.S. Ryan to build bridge across Olequa creek three miles south of Winlock: C.G. Ingalls and L.M. Springer to furnish  road plank in road district No. 1 Board adjourned to meet at 10 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 6, 1908.

PRETTY GIRLS IN "THE ALASKAN"
     An interesting story is told of the show girls that appear in John Cort's production of "The Alaskan," the latest New York comic opera hit to be sent on the road direct from its successful summer run at Knickerbocker Theatre, which will be the attraction at the Opera House, Thursday night.
     When Mr. Cort produced the piece in New York it was expected that he would engage the metropolitan type of beauties but he didn't, and it was a big surprise when a big aggregation of northwestern feminine loveliness landed on Broadway direct from Seattle. None of them had ever been east before and to keep them in good humor it was up to the manager to show them the big town.
     A large sight-seeing automobile was chartered for a period of several days and Mr. Cort's Seattle girls attracted much attention along "The Great White Way" of the Metropolis. They were shown all over the town, then to Coney Island and to the races. The names of the girls are Mazie Hartford, Eloise reed, Genevive Reed, Marjory Ganes, Daisy Johnstone, Marie Goodner, Anne Hudson, Lillian Norton, Pearl Gabrielle, Lena Williams, Lydia Dompierre, Ellen Tate, Pearl Girard and Vivienne Frazer.

MEETING OF SUNDAY SCHOOL WORKERS.
     
      At the regular meeting Monday evening Supt. Kellogg finished the topic "The Art of Questioning." The last half hour was devoted to the study of the Sunday school lesson. There will be no meeting next Monday evening. The next meeting will be held at the Methodist church, Monday evening, January 6. The topic for the first half hour discussion will be "Guiding Principles in Securing Attention." The last half hour will be devoted to the study of the Sunday school lesson January 12. These meetings begin promptly at &:15. A great deal of interest is being taken. It is time well spent, and you can not afford to miss them miss them if you are interested in education in general or in Sunday school work.

SECURES GOVERNMENT CONTRACT
     The latter part of last week, Somerville Bros., of Napavine, received a contract to deliver 1,300,000 feet of lumber on the Isthmus of Panama. The entire output is to delivered on the Isthmus in ninety days, and the mill company at Napavine have sublet the contract to eight Lewis county mills. The lumber will all be loaded on steamers at Kalama.
     The project is being financed by the Lewis Country banks.

REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS
Transfers of real estate in Lewis County Washington for the week ending Dec. 14, and as reported by Settemaier Abstract and Security Co. of Chehalis, Washington.
     Centralia Investment Co. to D.J. Hickey lots 8 to 10 blk 1 Investment Co. Cenetralia Add Centralia $900
     H. Pinsin & wife to Margaret Eaton 1 1/2 ac in n w corner s 1/4 sec 9, 14, 2 w $800.
     W.P. McCandless & wife to Chas C MOore part lot 3 blk 60 Centralia $900
     J J Baxter & wife to Leci J Volk 1/2 acre in s w Centralia $500
     Rhode A. Greenlet to Edgar B Barber blk 58 R R ad Centralia $300
     Leroy Chandler to Harry L Chandler n 1/2 n e 1/4 sec 10 tp 13 r 5 west $1
     W S Jerrells & wife to Jas O Plyer n 1/2 n w 1/2 sec 21 tp 13 r 2 west $1100
     F G Bedell & wife to Frank Thebald lot 13 blk 21 Urquhart add Chehalis $75
     C Bergren & wife to E & W Spencer 160 ac in sec 9 tp 13 r 2 west $8000
     Jas C Scoky & wife to John R Nismi e 1/2 of 3 1/2 sec 30 tp 13 r 3 west $4000
     Irving M Hard & wife to John Jensen a lot in blk 7 Mineral $1.00
     J B Wert to J A Veness Lbr Co Blk 16 Kerrons add Winlock $800
     Thos Crocker & wife to Wm Wichert lots 2 & 3 blk 2 Crockers add Winlock $200
     N P R R Co to Weyerhauser Tbr Co 432 ac in sec 10 and 14 tp 14 r 5 west $2590
     Chas F Andrews & wife to J C Sayer lot 2 blk 38 Centralia $325
     W M Berry & wife to Erb & Most n w 1/4 of n e 1/4 sec 31 tp 13 r 2 west $1000
     E J Topper & wife to Dan Allred lot 9 blk 2 Woodland add Centralia $900
     C G Parson & wife to J F Laughran lot 7 blk 1 West add Chehalis $500
     Jane Harrington to R B Silva undiv. 1/2 interest in n e 1/4 of n w 1/4 sec 27 tp 12 r 3 east $600
     Contmental Tbr Co to Milwaukee Land Co 20939 ac in various tps $1
     A L Flewelling & wife to same about 14000 ac in various tps $1000
     P K Harrington & wife to R B Silva n e 1/4 of n w 1/4 sec 27 tp r 3 east $200
     J H Van Woert & wife to same n e 1/4 of n w 1/2 sec 27 tp 12 r 3 east $200
     W M Urquhart & wife to J B Delaney & wife s 1/2 of s e 1-4 of n e 1-4 sec tp 12 r 2 west $100
     F Hanaford et al to Wm Seggelke 4 tracts in sec 17 tp 14 r 2 west $1
     Aug Von Boecklin & wife to W B Berry lot 1 blk 7 Hofmans add Little Falls $30
     Geo W Null & wife to Carl M Null s w 1-4 s e 1-4 sec 7 tp 14 r 1 west $400
     Chas O Miller & wife to Jas Branneman 1/2 interest in 20 ac in n e 1-4 of s w 1-4 sec 30 tp 11 r 2 west $10
     J Branneman & wife to Dexter Whitmore same $10
     H J Miller & wife to M & T McGrail lot 14 blk 1 Eastern Land Co ad to Centralia $600
     Mary A Beebe to same lots 4 & 5 blk 63 R R ad Centralia $175
     Jas Callahan & wife to Eva Smith lot 3 blk 2 Wests 2nd add Chehalis $675

BRIEF NEWS ABOUT TOWN

Walter Ainslie made a business visit to Oakville Sunday.

J R Buxton made a business trip to Doty Monday afternoon.

Miss Agnes Saindon was over from Chehalis Sunday afternoon visiting friends.

Jim Suiter is filling his old position as conductor on the South Bend passenger.

W H Rogers, of Chehalis, was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Eben Pearson Sunday afternoon.

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Saindon, of Chehalis, spent Sunday afternoon with relatives in this city.

Fred Bowers came down from Tacoma Saturday evening and spent Sunday with his family in this city.

Mrs. Julia Ellsbury went to Seattle Sunday and will spend the holidays with her daughters, Mrs. Minkler and Mrs. Bloomer who reside in that city.

Mr. and Mrs. E.F. Nudd and family were passengers for Seattle Sunday, where they will spend the holidays with Mr. Nudd's parents, Mr. and Mrs.. W.H. Nudd.

Mrs. Harry Ward left Sunday for Tacoma, where she will visit friends and relatives during the holidays. Mr. Ward went up Tuesday and will take Christmas dinner in that city.

C. R. Fowler and daughter, Miss Mary, arrived Sunday noon from Portland. Miss Fowler is an attendant at Whitman college and will spend the holidays with her parents in this city.

Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Armentrout and son, Raymond, left Sunday for Tacoma, where they will spend Christmas with Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Bede. They will also visit in Seattle before returning home.

Mr. and Mrs. M. E. Heath left to day for Salem, Oregon, where they will spend the holidays with Mr. Heath's parents, who will also celebrate their golden anniversary on Christmas day.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ramthun went to Oregon City Sunday, where they will spend Christmas with Mrs. Ramthun's parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. Bar. Mr. Ramthun will return the latter part of next week. Mrs. Ramthun will visit there for several weeks.

Miss Mabel Berlin was home from Auburn Sunday.

F. A. Mardin returned Tuesday from a few days' visit with friends in Tacoma.

T. L. Picard went up to Tacoma yesterday evening to spend Christmas with relatives.

Mrs. Patsy Hancock went to Aberdeen yesterday to spend Christmas with her mother.

Stantley Stewart was a passenger for Vancouver Monday evening, where he went to file on a timber claim.

Roy Greene came down from the University Saturday and will spend the holidays with his parents in this city.

Mrs. Perry Hubbard went to Seattle Tuesday evening to spend Christmas with her son, Ed Hubbard and his family.

W.M. Osborne was a passenger for Tacoma Tuesday noon, where he will spent the remainder of the week visiting friends.

Dr and Mrs. E L Kniskern and children left yesterday to spend Christmas with Mrs. Kniskern's father Leslie Butler.

Captain and Mrs. N. Robinson were passengers for Tacoma yesterday noon, where they will spend the holidays with friends.

Mrs. Chas Sticklin went to Chehalis Tuesday afternoon and will spend Christmas with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. C.B. Quick.

Geo. B. Mason and mother, Mrs. E. Mason, went to Everett Tuesday and will take Christmas dinner with Mr. and Mrs.. F.B. Hawes.

A stranger giving his name as Geo. Ives contributed $850 to Justice Miller's court Tuesday afternoon, on a drunk and disorderly charge.

Mrs. C.R. Gillespie, of Goble, arrived Monday afternoon and will spend the holidays with her mother, Mrs. D.J. Cunningham, in this city.

Miss E. M. Adams, of North Yakima, is spending the holidays in this city the guest of her uncle and aunt, C.B. Adams and Mrs. A.T. Carr.

Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Raught and family, of Winlock, and A.L. Raught, of Tacoma, are spending Christmas with their parents in this city.

Misses Daubney and Ramsey, who are teaching in the public schools at Kelso, came home last Saturday to spend the Christmas vacation.

Mrs. J.W. Woods returned to her home in Tacoma Monday evening, after a week's visit with her parents Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Butz in this city.

Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Clark came down from Seattle Sunday afternoon and will spend the week in this city visiting Mr. Clark's brothers, Mel and Frank Clark.

Surveyor General E. P. Kingsbury came over from Olympia yesterday and will take Christmas dinner with the family of Geo. H. Miller at their home on Ford's prairie.

Mr. and Mrs. Gus Thacker came up from Chehalis yesterday evening and are spending Christmas day with Mr. Thacker's parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.G. Thacker, of this city.

The basket social at the school in District No. 15, on Lincoln Creek, last Saturday evening, was a great success in every respect. The proceeds amounted to over fifty dollars.

Ed Waunch was unfortunate enough to severely mash the end of the fore finger of the right hand while at work in the camp of John Boyer at Grand Mound last Thursday evening.

Irving Buzzell has a splendid oil painting in the window of his furniture store on Tower Avenue the work of Elmer E. Adams. The picture is truly a work of art and reflects great credit on the artist.

Elmer Ward came down from the University at Seattle Saturday and will spend the holidays with his parents in this city. Elmer still has to use crutches from the result of his injury in the Thanksgiving football game.

Mrs. William Ramthun and daughter, Lucile, are home from Seattle for the holidays.

Miss Mabel Birage, who has been at tending college in California, is home to spend the Christmas vacation.

Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Kennedy came over from Raymond Yesterday to spend Christmas with Mrs. Kennedy's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ramstead.

Rev. J.W. Hard, rector of St. John's Episcopal church of this city was ordained to the ministry last Sunday, services being held in Trinity Church, in Seattle. The services were performed by Bishop Keater of the diocese of Olympia.

"Billy" Ross came down from Tacoma Tuesday and will spend the holidays with relatives in this city. Monday evening, Billy says that he pulled off a four round boxing contest with Fred Hicks, a Tacoma boy. The match was for ten rounds but Ross won in the fourth.

The Centralia Volunteer Fire Department's annual ball given last night was a decided social success. About one hundred couples were present and all enjoyed the event immensely. Every Christmas the fire boys give their annual ball and the business men of this city show their appreciation of the boy's work by giving their dance a liberal attendance.

Mr. and Mrs. H. Julius Miller arrived last evening from Seattle. Mrs. Miller went to Seattle last Friday to meet Mr. Miller who has been in Alaska for the past ten years. This is his first trip out since leaving here ten years ago. He is engaged in the law business at Juneau and has several cases to be heard in San Francisco early in January. He expects to visit here some time, both before going to San Francisco and on his return to Juneau.

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