The Arizona sentinel., 1879-06-21
COLORADO RIVER RESERVE, June 18th

COLORADO RIVER RESERVE, June 18th
EDITOR SENTINEL Il have DELAYED
complying with your wish for a little in
formation relating to the boarding school
recently inaugurated at this agency by
the Indian Dr. partment at Washington,
as was DESTROYS of seeing whether the
interest manifested in the beginning,
would he maintained throughout by the
pupils, together with the fact that also
desired to be able to report from actual
observation, the susceptibility Of these
children of nature in the attainment of
knowledge.
The school was established March 18th
last, with q pupils, male and female, on
the rolls. Considerable difficulty was at
first encountered, owing to the supersti-
ton of the old people, some Of them hav-
ing started the report that the children
were to be taken awav from the parents
entirely. This fear having been allayed
by the agent, Mr.. Mallory, the children
presented themselves on opening day. a
great number of the older members of
the tribe accompanying them for several
days in succession to see that all was
right.
The exercises opened with music, Mr..
Mallory leading on the organ, and inding
that the children were so partial to this
exercise, it has ever since been maintained.
Their sole knowledge of music at that
time consisted in tn the one old hymn of
our youth, "There is a Happy Land, far
far away" to-day some thirty hymns, etc
constitute their repertoire; and these are
sung with such true sense Of pleasure,
that even the most prejudiced against the
Indian race could not but feel impressed
tend helping hand to these wards of the
nation.
As regards progress in learning, not one
of the children knew a single letter of the
alphabet, or a numeral, when the school
opened to-day. all, not only know the al
phabet thoroughly, but spell and pro-
nounce words of five letters readily, and
five are reading the sirth lesson in the
Pacific Coast First Reader" In num-
bcrs, the majority can count up to 125.
am perfectly convinced that with care
and attention. these children can be edu-
Gated; it only requires time, combined
with patience, and the aid of the Govern
ment in feeding and clothing them; the lat
ter item OF expenditure will not be very
expensive. the girls at present are clothed
in dress Of dark blue calico with a
jacket to match, the boys in blue denim
trowsers, and close fitting jacket of same
material. Much as l feel pleased with
the progress made within the pas: three
months, look forward to far better re-
suits the ensuing year. Especially the
older ones are beginning to see the advan-
tage little education gives them over
those of their tribe who do not possest
any, and they are'less prone to pay any
attention 10 the crOakings of some of the
old women who are even yet prcjudiced
against education. A few DAYS since the
school was visited by one of the captains,
"Set-tu- ma" who has sent all his chill
dren 10 the school. 1t was his first visit
since the opening. I called his youngest
child. girl of six years, up to the desk,
to let him hear her say her alphabet, and
when he found 1 could not puzzle her he
was greatly pleased, but far more so when
on calling his eldest child, bright girl of
II years, he found that she could not only
repeat ner alphabet, spell words of five
or six letters, pronouncing them, but
could also read short sentences tpithout
smelling them. This is no ydrnished report
of the progress made. Several gentlemen
who have passed here have seen it, and
anv who desire to test the truth of IL
shall have every facility shown them of so
doing.
Tpe China pImp constructed here by
Mr.. Mallory and Mr.. Van Ness, is a com.
plete success as means Of irrigation.
forgot to mention that part of the
education of the boys consists of farming
They have already cleared, fenced and.
planted over an acre of ground. Beans.
melons and pumpkins constitute their
crop. This farm adjoins the agency gar
den and is irrigated by the China pump.
During the time the boys are engaged on
Al