The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-07-01
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On the q Of October. 1880. n
large, comIa0dious and well appoinf
cd building, intended for nm Agency
Boarding School having been com
plctsd, was opened for the reception
Of pupils. Up to that time the at-
tendance ut the day school had been
Irregular and limited in number.
averaging Is TO 20. The boarding
school opened with 8 pupils. At
the time Of my visit, ~ girls and
boys found homes within It's walls.
i speak from personal observation
when | say that tho food served is
good in quality and abundant in
quantity. The dormitories arc well
and comfortably furnished and fully
as neat in appearance as could rca-
sonably be expected. The children
are comfortably clothed and for the
most part respectful and obedient in
department. They are making fair
| progress in school nnder the fnssruc-
ton Of the Rev. j. 4. Wolfe of the
NJ. j.. Church, Principal, and his
daughter, Miss Lizzie Wolfe, hssis-
tant. Religious services are obsery-
al daily. The breakfast is presaccd
by alternate reading Of verses Of
scripture, tho repetition Of the
Lords Prayer and the singing Of n
hymn in which the larger number 81
the children join. Mrs Mafilda
Taft, formerly slatron Of the Buffalo,
\. y. Ophan Asylum, is Matron of
the Boarding School. This lady
discharges the laboriOus duties OF
her position with conscientious f;deI.
ity for n salary Of 800 per year. an
amount inadequately disproportion-
ate to the amount Of work necessary
| Especially when VIC consider that no
rations are furnished employees.
She understands the necessity of
having her word recognised "a law.
Ii IL said that certain Queen OF
England objected strenuously TO q
ees;ain measure proposed by the
Ministry. Upon being told that she
was required 10 sign the objection
able bill. she retorfed, athis Is COM
| pulsion." To which the Country.
and astutc noble Lord in charge of
the Bill replied, "no compulsion
your Majesty, but you must sign the
bill. And she signed. Same wav
with the local Hiowathas and
Alfarata's OF the Siletz Agency
School. There i no compulsion,
but they must obey the matrons.
Miss Matte T., Magahey rs Seams
tress and Julia Dotey rs Stewardess
hayo plenty oi hard work too, on n
snlary Of 300 per annum each, no
! rations III their cases either. The
former has to provide garments for
over twenty girls and finds timo to
instruct the more capable ones IN
the use of the needle aud sewing
machine, while tho latter in addition
10 cooking for the home circle and
the children, Is teaching the older
girls the system OF bread making ia
which many arc becoming quite pro-
iicient. Indeed all of the bread
consumed at the children's table re-
quiring 300 lbs of flour per week is
made by the older Indian girls.
There can be no question, taking the
accounts of the conduct and charac-
teristics Of these Indian children at
the time they enter the boarding
school. and comparing them with
now, bnt that great and encouraging
improvement has been made. At
first many of the parents of the
children objected strenuously to their
removal from their homes. The
parents frequently call upon the
children and are often desirous oI
having them visit their homes.
Under certain limitations this is
allowed. 1t was happy thought on
the part OF the Agent and Afatron tC
give dinner on Christmas day to all
the Indians on the reservation who
choose to avail themselves of a very
general invitation. Over one hun
dred partook of this bounty. 4
barrel of sandwiches, several box,e
of assorted sweet cakes from Port
} land, no end of dough nuts and an
ample supply of coffee was served
out. The girls in the boarding
! school arranged in their best dresses
} and each one furnished with new
; white apron served the company anG
it can readily be believed that th,
occasion was an interesting one
This we'll considered act did much Il
remove the prejudices and objections
of the parents of the children agains
the boarding school.
sANIrATINE.