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 consummate skill alarge and profitable
trade. Major Clarkson was one Of the able
Norwegian members of the last territorial
Legislature, and established 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 q
b~reech-clout constituency" but then we
never believed that the general meant tt
it was only a mild way Of expressing his
d%isapproval of the majors views when not
coincident with hls'n.
After ENJOYING a pleasant visit with Maj.
Clarkson, we called upon Major ]. G.
Gassman. the ef1cieut and popular agent,
and his affable and eentlemanly chief clerk,
MI. ]. q. Hall. Major Gassman accompa-
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 aud others partly con.
Quoted by Iadian labor. We first went to
the Episcopal church. q handsome and
comfortsble edifice, 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 assemblage 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 aco-received
a small present from the tree, and some use
full article Of clothing, a large pile Of which
had been brought to the Church for that
purpose. The presents were received by
the crest and small, the old snd Young
with that stoicism and air If Indifference
for which the Indians are noted; vet It was
APPARENT that the appearance, among the
Younger ones at least. was pretended. "a we
who received their presents while we were
in the church q look of triumph and n,eas-
ure which could net be concealed by their
illv assumed Indifference.
tuG Cu'iICl We went 10 Tue D'itEs
smith shop which has recently been removed
to a new and large building; to the %fourin9
mill, where a good article Of -four is war H.
featured: to the saw mill, the machine shop,
the cabinet and carpenter shops, and the
tin shop, in all Of which good work is done
by Indian workmen. The flour and saw
mills and the everal shops named are under
the general SUPERINTENDENT of 2. A. Cor
don, a 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 1ankton Indians, under the admir-.
i%stration of Major Gassma an, 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 bashesls 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
cf logs to che mill. Instead Of compelling
their squaws to do all the work, to pack the
irewood from the timber and water from
the river upon their backs, the lordly buck
now labors in the field, cuts and hauls his
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 of
housekeeping. Many of them are pro-
curing from the cabinet shops bedsteads,
tables and chairs, and some have even gone
SO far as to buy a broom and sweep the dust
Of ages from their hearth-stones. Some of
the men have thrown aside their blankets
and donned the habiliaments ofcivilization,
including a stand up collar and a struggling
goatee; while a few of the squaws sport a
%shignon. a pull-back, aud a good imitation
of the Grecian bend. But, seriously speak
ing, the progress which the Indians have
made, considering the earnest, patient and
~tireless efforts which have been sent forth in
their behalf, is not satisfactory. The old
Indian prejudice against labor and c%iviliza-
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 and
traditions exert an evil influence over the
better inclined, and deter many of them
from abandoning the ways that are dark and
the tricks that are vain. And it i, a fact,
49,
work or are converted and baptised, do so
from sinister motives. They expect to be
rewarded with extra issues Of r%ations, cloth
ing and other property, and when they are
not forthcoming, they abandon their work,
throw off the cloak Of piety, and without
any change of heart become q full fedged
savage again. Appropos of this: Some
time ago an Indian at this agency was
converted and baptized. Daily