Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-12-31

that he smokes cigars from the same box.
The major is the big chief of the traders
department, and presides over and manages
with consummatc skill alarge and profitable
trade. Major Clarkson was one of the able
Norwegian members Of the last territorial
Legislature, and established a high reputation
as an able and logical legislator. Gen. B.
became SO positive at one time as to allude
to him as the obstinate representative Of a
breech-clout constituency" but then we
never believed that the general meant it
it was only q mild way Of expressing his
disapproval of the majors views when not
coincident with hls'n.
After ENJOYING a pleasant visit with Maj.
C~larkson. we called upon Major j. G.
Gassman, the efacieut and popular agent,
and his affable and gentlemanly chief clerk,
MI. ]. e. Hall. Major Gassman acco,npa-
MED us on a visit to the principal points of
interest at the agency, and pointed out to
US the different mechanical industries, some
OF which are wholly and others partly con.
Quoted by Indian labor. We first went to
the Episcopal church, q handsome and
comfortable edifce, aud found the room
crowded to its utmost capacity with Indian
women and children who belong to the
agency Sunday school. The occasion Of
the assembiage was the distribution of
Christmas presents, which had been placed
npon a handsomely decorated Christmas
tree. Each scholar-and the Suneay school
life of many Of them should have COM
menced thirty or forty years aeo-received
= small present from the tree. and some use
full article IF clothing, large pile Of which
had hecn brought to the Church for that
purpose. The presents were received by
the great ard small. the old snd Young
with that stoicism and air If indifference
for which the Indians are noted; vet II was
Younger ones at least, was pretended. "a we
%noticei uncn the countenances Of those
who received their presents while we were
in the church a look Of triumph and n1eas-
ure which could net be concealed by their
il'v assumed Indifference.
From the church we went to the black
smith shop which has recently been removed
to a new and large building to the hourine
mill, where Il good article of -four is war IT,
featured: to the saw mill, the machine shop.
the cabinet and carpenter shops, ard the
tin shop, in all Of which good work is done
by Indian workmcn. The flour and saw
mills and the everal shops named are under
the general snperintendcnce of ?. 4. Cor
don, Il genuine Yankee mechanic. All the
shops are supplied with the best machines
and tools, and Maj. Gassman claims that he
better prepared to manufacture and repair
machinery than any other point in the ter
ritory.
The Yankton Indians, under the admir-.
~is'ration Of Major Gassman, have made con-
siderable progress towards civilization
During the past season they did near all the
work in preparing the ground, sowing the
seed and harvesting 300 bnshesls of wheat,
besides considerable crops Of corn, oats,
potatoes, &c. They have put up large guam.
titles Of hay, and cut and hauled a number
Ct logs to che mill. Instead of compelling
their squaws to do all the work, TO pack the
6rewood from the timber and water from
the river upon their backs, the lordly buck
now labors in the field, cuts and hauls hi
wood like poor white trash, and does many
, things which a few years ago he considered
mental and beneath the dignity Of a brave
' They are improving in their style o
housekeeping. Many Of them are pro
curing from the cabinet shops bedsteads
tables and chairs, and some have even gon
so far as to buy a broom and sweep the dus
of ages from their hearth-stones. Some o
, the men have thrown aside their blanket
J and donned the habiliaments ofcivilization
t including a stand up collar and a stragglinl
goatee; while a few of the squaws sport
%shignon, a pull-back, and a good limitation
of the Grecian bend. But, seriously speak
ing, the progress which the Indians hav'
made, considering the earnest, patient an
~tireless efforts which have been sent forth il
their behalf, is not satisfactory. The oil
: Indian prejudice against labor and ~civiliza
ton and the least departure from the Gus
toms and traditions Of their ancestors, pre-
walls among a large majority of the tribe
and those who hold to these customs an
traditions exert an evil influence over tn
} better inclined, and deter many of then
from abandoning the ways that are dark an,
} the tricks that are vain. And it i, a fact
} too, that many Of the Indians who 60 t
} work or are converted and baptised, do g,
from sinister motives. They expect to b
, rewarded with extra issues of r%ations, cloth
ing and other property, and when they ar,
not forthcoming, they abandon their work
throw off the cloak of piety, and withou
any change of heart become q full fedget
savage again. Appropos Of this: SOM
time ago an Indian at this agency wa
converted and baptized. Dali,
thereafter he repaired to the church to offe