, 1881-10-02
CIVILIZ1NG INDIANS,

The arrival In this city OF thfrty-tWO Sioux
| Indian girls and boys from the Hampton
School in Virginia, ell route to some of the
| Western Indian agencies, where the expert
ment OF starting them off In civilized life will
be made. brings UP the Indian question
| afrcsll, ami presents very interesting phase
| thereof, which, experimental at first, has
| reached at least an encouraglngly successful
! temporary result. These young savages
were placed i'll Hampton only three years
ago. When they went there they could not
| speak word Of American; they had not
learned to work; and they understood notll-
! ing of civilized habits. AS their Instructor
| remarked, "When the Indian youth first
went to Hampton they didn't know how to
wash themselves, dress. or make their beds,
or get into them when they were made" In
| this short period they have learned to speak
| and write American, and have become
familiar with arithmetic and geography.
| Tie boys have graduated as carpenters,
shoemakers, blacksmiths, whcelwriEhts, etc,
and the girls have learned to sew, cook, make
their own clothing, and to carry on the gen
eral work of housekeeping. The most OF
them have also embraced Christianity, and
all Of them were dressed neatly, conducted
themselves with ease and modest dignity,
and conyersel with more than ordinary in
telligcnce. The great point demonstrated
by this experiment is, that the Indian can
learn. More than this, the rapidity with
which they have acquired Our language md
the rudimentary branches of education, and
the caee and quickncss with which the two
sexes have adapted themselves to mechan-
ical pursuits and household duties, show that
they have adequate abilities and intellectual
perceptions; and, in short, that they can learn
anything. So far, therefore, as the question
of educating the rising generation Of In
1ians is concerned, 1T may be considered
settled. They are cap able of study md they
are capable Of successfully adapting them
selves to civilized trades and pursuits. These
points arc settled, for these children were
not picked out as smarter than others, but
represent the average ability OF Indian
youths.
So far, so good. These lndian youths are
now going back to their kindred, equipped
with education, implements OF industry, and
religion. What will they do with them?
How long will they remain in sympathy with
white civilization? How much will they ac-
complisEfn inducing the older and unnamed
Indians to give tip their wild life and adopt
the industrial habits of the whiteso These
are the questions that will at once occur to
any one, and the answers will be eagerly
looked for. Young tigers can easily be do
mesticated if taken when kittens. but it is
not the usual practice to turn them loose
among the wild tigers of the jungle again,
for they are certain to get back into their old
ways very speedily. Is there not the same
danger that these young tanned Indians,
when away from the influences of Hampton
School and among their own sayage rela-
tives. will drop coat and trousers and ret
back into breech-clouts and blankets, and,
instead ef ax.ssaw, and hammer, be found
t1ourishlnE the rihe and scalplng-knifee
This IS the problem yet to be solved. It is
to be hoped they will not only adhere to
their new habits, but have some success in
introducing them among their very unprom-
Using seniors. If It should prove so 1t will be
an encouragement tor the Government to be-
stow all possible help to the Hampton idea,
and extend the good influences of education
still further among the young Indians, and