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pity for her. Her husband consults her before undertaking 

 any important journey or trade, is an affectionate father, and a 

 good provider. Husband and wife respect the position filled 

 by each in the community, and there develops on this foundation 

 a real affection, which is touching in an old couple. The hard 

 conditions of Eskimo life do not tend to produce romances, 

 but many a promising young couple are seen who are very fond 

 of each other. The Eskimo are not so open in their display of 

 conjugal affection as white people, but after one becomes better 

 acquainted with them, one would not deny them this virtue. 



On the other hand, the Eskimo are very quick and ready 

 in expressions of sympathy. They will sit down and cry for 

 the misfortune of another as readily as for their own. Families 

 in mourning are fed by the whole village. Those in misfortune 

 never fail to receive a portion of the catch. The story of the 

 poor orphan is the favourite theme of their stories, although, 

 in actual life, the orphan and the widow have rather a hard 

 time of it. But there is always someone to give them a little 

 food or an old garment, so they manage to get along. The lot 

 of the childless woman is the hardest. She cannot retain her 

 husband's love, and if she is not divorced, has to bear the sight 

 of another woman filling her place both in the family and the 

 community. The aged are treated with great respect, and the 

 word of the old men and women is final. The Eskimo say that 

 they have lived a long time and understand things in general 

 better. They also feel that in the aged is embodied the wisdom 

 of their ancestors. This does not prevent them, however, from 

 putting the old folks out of the way, when life has become a 

 burden to them, but the act is usually done in accordance with 

 the wishes of the persons concerned and is thought to be a proof 

 of devotion. Pain and hardship are endured without complaint, 

 and any good fortune is considered an excuse for feasting the 

 entire village. An Eskimo never deserts his house-mates or 

 friends, and his integrity can always be relied on. It is true 

 that he tells little fibs in order to please, and enjoys deceiving 

 as a joke, but when an Eskimo's word is seriously given, no hard- 

 ship nor difficulty will hinder him from carrying out his part 

 of the agreement. The Eskimo are slow to make up their 



