be voted down without any very promising power
of appeal. It was at one time suggested that they could become associate
members, but the notary, upon examining their prospective position in
the club, declared that their taxes would be so many and their rights so
few that it was an offer not to be considered. So the matter was
dropped, and an "Irreparable" was always a creature of the gentler sex.

The most important event in the year to this society was its annual
meeting and festive celebration in December. Upon this occasion the
members reviewed their accounts, perhaps voted in a new member, acted
upon delinquents, and, in a word, settled up the business of the year.
The festivities sometimes took the shape of a mothers' meeting, a
quilting-party or a cozy little tea. In 1876 they were, however,
affected by the excitement that prevailed throughout the whole United
States, and which fairly reached them in December. Alaska, it was true,
was not one of the thirteen colonies, but neither was Ohio nor Colorado.
It was much larger than Rhode Island or Delaware. It had great
possibilities, and it had cost money, which was more than could be said
of the original thirteen, leaving out Pennsylvania, which even then
could not be counted as a very expensive investment on the part of Mr.
Penn. These patriotic reasons fired the hearts of the "Irreparables,"
and they determined that Alaska should celebrate the Centennial of their
country, and that the celebration should be theirs.

Then the question arose of what nature this celebration should be. An
Exposition was clearly out of the question, and even a school-fair was
voted troublesome. Some of the younger members favored a dance, but this
was objected to, because of the absurdity of a roomful of women waltzing
and treading the light, fantastic German by themselves. It would seem,
said the Baroness Contaletto, like a burlesque of merriment; and so the
dance fell through. A service of song, a tea-drum, a cream-cornet, and a
pound-party met the same fate; and finally all minds gently but firmly
centred upon a dinner-party; and so it _was_ a dinner with courses.

Naturally enough, it was not at first easy to arrange, but the admirable
spirit of organization pervading the society soon brought everything
into shape. There was a committee upon the bill of fare, upon the
toasts, upon invitations, upon the room and upon the general
arrangements. It was true that the only room in the vil