Seward Daily Gateway

MAURICE L. SHARP
RETURNS VACATION
CHEMIST MEETS WITH PECULIAR INCIDENT WHILE AT CHICAGO CONVENTION

Maurice L. Sharp, popular Anchorage resident and chemist in charge of the Bureau of Mines office, Alaska Railroad, returned to Seward Saturday from the great Outside where he has been romping about for the last three months seeing what there was to be seen after an absence of, lo, these many years. One brief glimpse of his smiling countenance was sufficient for one to note that the vacation acted as a wonderful tonic for he looks the picture of health. Mr. Sharp is the noted producer of Anchorage having put over successfully some of the finest shows the Territory ever saw, and while Outside this trip he took the opportunity of looking over many new manuscripts.

He had the pleasure of attending both the Shrine and the Elks convention at Chicago and had the time of his young life. One incident of that visit will ever be recalled, he said, due to one afternoon when he was waltzing down one of the main thoroughfares. He was wearing at the time an Anchorage "Bills" silk ribbon on his hat. He noticed a stranger eyeing the ribbon curiously but was stunned when all of a sudden the stranger burst out, "Well I'll be darned. from Alaska. huh!" As quick as lightning Mr. Sharp responded, "No, from Anchorage." Mr. Sharp stated he was not only stunned but shocked at the language. But before he could get better acquainted the ruffian rushed away with tears streaming down his florid cheeks. Mr. Sharp is under the impression it was an oldtimer who accosted him and that when he saw a relic from out of the past he just lost control of himself.

For a period of a month and one-half Mr. Sharp hovered about the Pittsburg office of the Bureau of Mines going from there to his former home town, Fort Wayne. Ind. There he spent an enjoyable visit at the home of his parents and relatives. Salt lake was the next port of call; thence to Portland, Ore. where, as he had done while in Pittsburg, he made trips of investigation to various mines and plants where the methods of manufacturing by-products from coal were closely studied. The gas plants were extremely interesting to him, he stated. He also paid a visit to the Seattle station of the department.

The visits to these stations and plants impressed him immensely in connection with the future development of Alaska coal.

Mr. Sharp departed today for his Anchorage office.