Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1880-09-25
A LETTER FROM WASHINGTON DESCRw-
TIVE OF \ TRIP FROM DARLING.
TON TO rIfE CAPITAL-TIIE
INDIAN SCHOOL WORK
AT CARLISLE.
WAsuNGToN, ID. &. K
Sep. Il, 1880. ,
Cheyenne TRANSPORTER,

Carlisle TO find time enough to write, Dut uu-
ill to-day my efforts have availcd nothing. II
find am at n loss TO know where 10 com
mcncc, but think the beginning would Dc.u
good place. want to tell you how kind the
Indians were TO us III crossing the plains.
had always bcen under the impression that
an Iudian had no natural politenoss, bnt
found that was decidedly mistaken. They
brought MS water, built our nres, divided the
game they killed with us, without any rcquost
on our part, ana in n hundred little ways
showed that they really have some good spots
in their hearts. Our trip to Arkansas City
was very pleasant one, much like others
we have had, excepting one evening when
we had 81 shower somewhat similar to the
one that cnused n man named Noah to con
struct n boat But like this same man, we
pulled through All right, ana reached the City
looking like workable ARKANSAS Travellers.
we were most kindly treated by the goou
people of the place, and ehall lone remember
our short stay there. our journey by rail
wasa very quick one forty minntes at StIeu.
is being the longest time we stopped between
Arkansas City and Carlisle. Our friend. Mad
Wolf was terribly frightened when we start
cd out and worked himself into quite u fever.
He has recovered from his fright now and
the trip is evidently doing him good. AS we
passed through Indiana and western Ohio, u
was very little interested in the scenery, in
fact, Thought the country was perfectly nor
l'id (being IL IIoosier myself, that sounds o.
little like treason) / began TO think | woS
really too much of an Indian - enjoy being
in civilized country. Buta we passed into
eastern Ohio and Pennsylvania / was per
fecty delighted. Those grand old mountains
with their sparkling little streams dashing
rapidly down over great rocks then flowing
softly on through the most beautiful valleys
made ii seem to us like enchanted ground
Carlisle is surrounded by Just such scenery
as this, and came to the conclusion that 4
was not SO much OF an Jrdian after all (cx-
eept in ignornce)
While at Carlisle we were the guests ofCapt
Pratt ana his charming wife, who made on,
visit so pleasant that we were 10th to leave
them. Surely Capt. Pratt is doing a goou
work. Whatever he does he does well lie
has put his whole heart and soul into this
work and is bound TO succeed. We found the
children all happy and contcnted. Not one
muimr of dissatisfaction did we hear while
we were there. Every one who has any
knowledge OF Indian character will unite
with mcin saying that was something remark
able. The day after our arrival was spent IN
Capt. Pratt has an excellent corps oftcachers
and we were highly entertained. ! was par
ticularly interested in the gymnastic excr-
ciscs. 1t made ones heart rejoice 10 see those
children act and speak quick. There is II
gymnasium for the use of the boys out OF
schoolhours. They practice great deal anu
enjoy il immensely. We visited the shops OF
the timer, wagon maker shoemaker, har-
agls .f1lifl 4,
where we saw the boys AZ work under com
petcpt instructors. The girls are initiated iu
10 the mysteries OF the kitchen, taught how
10 sew and, in short, do the same work that
the girls at the Missions do As far ms my
observations went, the children all do thcir
work checr0lly, willingly and well. They
have plenty to cat and wear, clean, airy
rooms, AMI are i'm the hands of the kindest
people in the world They have the highest
lregard for the Captain, ana Mrs, Pratt wins
thch hearts completely, as she did ours hy
her loving kindness. Dan Tucker ana Hen
dcrsCn called upon us one evening aud W.
had very pleasant time indeed. During thar
evening and the rest OF the timc that we were
with them, think that neither Of the boys
spoke one sentence of ArapAhoe to rs. While
there, we were taken on two excursions in
the mountains. ON one trip visiting Il papaf
mill and an iron mill The Indians thought
the paper mill most wonderful affair They
went from beginning 10 end and saw the
whole process. The.cvoningaftcr our arrival
ut Carlisle we were scrcnaded by the band
composed entirely OF school boys, with q
young lady at their head rs teacher, She haf
had them undcrmstructiOn but six weeks ann
they played at least five or six pieces velr
correctly. Dan and Tom Carlislc,two OF onf
boys, are members of the band Nodoubt you