The Democratic advocate., 1882-07-08
Indian Schools in Oregon.

foreSt HfuFc, near Portland, OfH4-Qn, u
the site Of an Indian training school, where
some very interesting and valuable ednca-
tionAl work Is going on. The institution Is
under the superintendcnce Of Captain NJ
c. Wilkinson, U. $ A., 20 whose zeal,
psiiencc and tact rs success s entirely due
Like all thinking men who have been
brought into relations with the aborigines
Of this continent, Captain Wilkinson has
devoted much reflection TO what II called
the Indian question. He believes chat the
real solution Of the problem lies in the sys-
teaafie education of the rising generation
He IS no advocate Of that system Of bribery
and feETor which has 30 long prevailed on
the frontier, bat asserts that the Indian
tribal relations must be broken up as IN
compatible with our social organization. and
that no adalt member Of any tribe Be kept
IS a ward Of the government Lct the
adults provide for themselves a. the rest
Of Us have 10 do. But in the case Of the
children Captain Wilkinsou justly holds
that the government can with benefit 10 All
parties cxpesd lie money in sheir esiacsiion
and training. They ought 70 b. taught
various trades and handicrafis 80 that when
they return 90 their homes they may be
properly fitted for hfe's struggles, and viii
infuze new ambitions into future genera
tons, and be missionaries Of the higher life
Of order. hbor and civilization.
In the training school al Forest 6Fuve
one hundred young indians between the
ages Of ave and twenty are keps, well fed.
vel clothed, and happy and, as far IS can
Be judged from appearances, quite as intel
ligcnt as similar number Of white youths
Thcy came 10 the school from the prairiez
and mountains dressed IN blankets and
mcceasins, with uncut and unkempt hair,
as Wild As young coyotes. They have al
ready learned to sing Ike nightingales and
work Ike beavers. IL i remarkable that
these young children Of the forest arc per-
fectly &naenable 30 discipline and never
break rule. The boys learn how 10 make
boots and shoes, build houses, shoe horses,
and hov 10 perform the various operations
Of agriculture The girls learn to sew,
darn, wash, cook, ehurn, iron, wash dishes
and keep their rooms IN order Both sexes
learn their lessons promptly and retain what
they learn tenacioasiy. The common school
games and amasemenss, playing ball, run
ming races, and the ike. are indnlged in by
the boys, while the little girls play with
dolls. They attend religious meetings and
lectures, and sing and pray. The singing
indeed, Is Of remarkable excellence.
Captain Wilkinson last fall conducted
his dasky pupils on visit 70 Portland to
attend the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton meeting, and the sight Of these young
redskins excited great admiration. Cap
tain Wilkinson gave some details Of the or
gauiEation Of the school The United
States government for the first year appro-
priated only $4,000 for him to start a school
Of twenty-five pupils, furnish transportation
forthem, teach, board and house them. The
boys built the house themselves, the govern
ment only furnishing the materials. The
four acres assigned TO the institution were
cultivated by the boys, who grubbed up
the stumps, and planted potatoes and yege-
tables for their table The school is thus
partly self-supporting. The boys are at
tired in regular uniform, and have their
regular officers as in our military schools.
Every advantage placed in their way is
eagerly seized on By these pupils, and it is
worthy of notice by those who talk OF the
ineorrigible character Of the Indians, that
the parents, many Of them chiefs, willingly
and thankfully surrendered their sons and
daughters in order that they might be
taught the arts and learning of the white
man.
All this work has been done in the space
of two years, and a clear proof of the re-
suits attained was given in local exhibi-
ton. Coarse leather shoes of frst-class
workmanship were displayed, the work
of BOYS between fourteen and twenty.
A handsome wash-stand and bureau were
exhibited by another Indian, and some
miniature oars and ladders by a young
Alaskan ten years old. An exhibit of ar
ticles from the blacksmith shop also attract
ed attention. The amount of work accom-
plished by Captain Wilkinson and his In
dian boys and girls is surprising. The
buildings are eommodious and comfortable,
the matron, Mrs. Buck, is highly efficient
head of this great home, and is ably second
ed by three lady teachers.
We agree with Captain Wilkinson that
this is the best solution of the difficulty
which confronts us in our dealings with
the Indians The present race, demoraliz-
ed by our yacillating and inconsistent Indian
policy, may perhaps deserve the reputation
of being incorrigible; let us then take the
rising generation away from the evil infu-
ences which have surrounded their progen-
itors, and train them up to be useful and
orderly members of society.-Hdyper $
Weekly.
Falsehood may have its hour, but it has
no future