Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-09-29
Scheel Celebration On the Cattaraugus In.
dian eservation.
Of the NY. Tribune ]

| dian Reservation.
| Correspondence of the NY. Tribune.l
CATrARAUeUs REsrRvArIoS, June "a, 1858.
For some two or three weeks past the people
in this vicinity have been on the gui rirs in
anticipation of a visit from the Superin tendeut
of Public Instruction, Hon. H. Fl Van Dyck, to
review the schools on the Cattaraugus Reser.
Walton, and see the progress made by the " red
men OF the forest" in education and civilisa.
tien. He announced his intention of being
present on the 2lth Of June, and preparations
were accordingly made to hold large Indian
celebration on that day, at which the different
schools on the Reservation should be examined
and " Isdisndom' come out in brightest
colors Notwithstanding the heat, 1.-THE sun
shone with more than Fourth-of J uly fierce
ness, large concourss of people we're present.
| The Indians were decorated for the occasion
| with ribbons, bead work and silver ornaments;
| In fact, the crowd presented quite picturesuue
appearance. Babies squalled after the mos /
approved white fashion, and one was forcibly
| reminded that ''Old Joe Brown and his tan
| little Indian boys" is by no means an excep-
ton. The Superintendent Of Public Instruc-
ton was on the ground at an early hour, and
although usually very dignifed in his deport-
ment We caught him Laughing in bis sleeve
as he was presented to Mrs Silver Heels, a
stately. richly dressed squaw. Every man has
an eye to the silver; and the sagscious Super
intendent seemed to glance almost instinctiyely
at the pedal extremities of Mrs. s., no doubt
expecting TO discover a small Potosi; but, alas
her mOccasins presented ocular proof that her
heels arc anything but flesh and blood and Mr..
V. will probably always remain in doubt as to
| the real facts in the case.
The different schools seven in uumber) bear
| Ing hags with appropriate emblems and mot
toes, headed by the Seneca National and Tenn
| perance brass bands, marched to the large and
beautiful church lately built at the Lower Mis-
SION Here large cOncourse of people were in
| waiting, and not more than half of those pres-
ent could find seats inside the church. A
| prayer was offered by the Missionary, the Rev.
Mr.. Gleason, hymn in Indian was sung by
| the choir, and then the examination of the
scholars commenced. Those who understood
"lndian nature" arc well aware that in the
presence OF white people, the children espe-
cially are extremely difident and as this as
| the first time the scholars ever appeared in
public II was the expectation of some that they
| would improve upon the practice of boarding
| school misses of talking in a very low tone and
say nothing at all, but We were agreeably dis
appOinted-they not only spoke very promptly
but loudly and distinctly, and without any ap-
| parent fear.
1t will be a matter of no small SUNRISE tn
| many when they learn that the Sc children have
| not on an average had the benefits of more than
| two years instruction, and some but a very few
months, and that they commenced with little
| or no knowledge of the English language, and
| yet could write on the black board in a good
legl6le hand, as difficult words to spell as there
are In our language, such as 60guet, rhubarb.
| ddgHsTTe0tVpe, 6c,, and that they could point
out any State In the Union or any county in
our own State, and that they also had good
| understanding Of arithmetic, and executed
their problems with a mcdaniel skill on the
board, which could not be excelled by our best
English schools. The instrumental music ON
0aC0Q a glnn fur ahoA
bands Of the Nation, and one from the Allie
ghany Reservation. The vocal music which
was exceedingly rich and beaut tiful, was by the
| scholars and Indian choir After the exami
nation, Mr.. Van Dyck, in few familiar, mat
ter-of-taet remarks. congratulated the Nation
| on their progress In improvements of all kinds,
| and, In behalf of the State, thanked the teach
ers and the Superintendent of the schools on
this and Allegheny Reservation, Mr. Petite,
OF Versailles, for the patience the persever
ance, and the earnest efforts they had made in
lnstructing the children Ssnd interesting the
Indians in the cause of education. He closed
oy exhorting all to assist, by their influence
ana otherWise, so noble and philanthropic an
enterprise.
After Mr.. VS. remarks had been Interpreted
to the Indians by DIR. Strong, a speech wa,
| made in Indian by John Shanks, who has hitb-
erto been an inyeterate enemy TO the cause of
education among his people. Living in that
part OF the Reservation where they hold to
their ancient rites and customs, he exerts a
great inhuence-but great Z" change" hes
taken place in the spirit of John dreams. -
he is now a friend to education, and has even
given mp bis own house to be used for school
aud moved into a "shsnty'' till they can buiId
school house. John is a real Indian orator.
and his speech abounded in beautiful imapery
and comparisons 1t was interpreted into
English by the Rev. Mr. Wright, the former
missionary-now engaged in translatinr the
New Testament into the Indian tongue. Mr..
Jemison, an Indian from the Alleghany Rescr.
vatlon, made an eloquent speech, after which
procession was again formed and marched 10
the banks of u beautiful stream, where, upder
the shade Of the large butternut trees that
lined ITS banks, was spread bountiful repast,
prepared almost entirely by the ''dark-eyed
daughters Of the forest" We think thew must
have practsed, even if they have not rsad the
Tribune's excellent articles on cookery
| for at this rate We fear they will soon excel
their white sisters even in this department, if
| the articles served up on this occasion are any
| criterion by which TO Judge
| l cannot close without remarking unon the
happy state Of feeling which seems to exist
between the Indians and those who have charge
Ot their educational and religious interests
Mr. Wright, the former missionary, is a yener-
able man, whose countenance is ever beaming
with smile towards his 'sred brethren, y
and whose lips have taught them to love and
reverence the great and sacred name of God /.
Mr. Gleason, the present missionary, although
ne has not been with the Indians so long as Mr..
Wrigh', Is still regarded by them with love and
confidence, and over them he seems to watch
| with almost parents care. Mr.. Petit, the
gide-aWake Superintendent Of Schools on tn
Cattaraugus and Allegheny Reservations, is
Just the man for that position. With the aid
OF his energy and Perseverance, assisted by
the able teachers he has now, the educa tional
interests Of the Senecas cannot fail 10 be ad-
vanced asrapidly as practicable ERIE. 3