The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-01-24
CHRISTMAS DAY.

How Il Was Observed ut tho Albuquef1ue
Indian School.
A writer in the Albuquerque, N. NJ,
Morning Journal thus describes the Christ
mas exercises at the Indian school in that
city: "There were compositions by boys
and girls and original orations by some OF
the boys and singing Of Inappropriate gospel
hymns in which all Joined, led by an organ.
Whether by appointment or not, all the
pieces read or spoken bore upon Christ
mas, and we're very creditable to the per-
formers. When one hears of Indian
speeches, possibly the thought may arise
Of something OF the fire flashing forth
from the classic speech of Logan, chief OF
the NIingoes. But things have changed,
even with the unprogressivc red man, and
these youths. gathered in the school room.
neatly clad, of most respectful behavior,
singing songs iEeighted with the name Of
Jesus, having in full view at the sides OF
the platform hamper baskets piled up
with presents awaiting distribution among
Themselves, could hardly be expected to
speak with the fire OF the old chieftain as
he recounted the wrongs he had received
at the hands OF the white man.
The only part in the exercises not by
the children themselves was single APP
propriate remark from Prof. Bryan, i'm
pressing upon them the event that Christ
mas was designed to commemorate. But
their minds seemed to be already in
formed OF that and impressed with 1t judg.
ing from the tenor OF their pieces and
their frequent mention OF it. One Of the
girls in her composition dwelt in her in
formal way upon two points why We
should be glad on Christmas day; one was,
because it was the happiest day oil the year
as on it the Savior came into the world;
and the other, because Christmas came
every year. There is philosophy and there
is religion in this latter reason and her
way OF expressing it, to the rejecting
mind, more to commend 1t as using the
good that is in this world than the COM
mon expression giving loose rein to friy-
olity saying, Christmas comes but once
year"
will not omit to mention a little in
cident occurring in the school room.-I
am not sufficiently acquainted with either
the historical or current Indian character
to know whether honesty Is one OF their
characteristics. But at any rate there was
very pleasant public impromptu display
OF it that morning. Just before the gen
eral distribution Of the presents, began
there was the giving out OF setyof neat
little work baskets, one 10 each Of some
half dozen girls, which contained scissors,
needles, thimbles and other articles used
in the modern fine art OF mantua-rnaking
and which were awarded us prizes to the
recipients for excelling in certain line OF
housekeeping.
The first name called as receiving a
prize was Juanita. The principal inquired
where she was and told her to hold up
her hand. But no hand was tobe seen
held up. The girl bearing that name sat
Just in front OF him and two or three seats
away. Instantly the children around her
began to point to her. The little basket
was held towards her, it being thought,
maybe, that she was too modest to claim
it. But still she did not move to receive
it. The neighboring children poked her
with their elbows and punched her with
their fingers, and reached out over the
benches and brought the basket and held
it to her but she shook her head and held
it down and would not touch the prize.
At this juncture one Of the lady teachers
suggested something, and after a mo-
ment's parley it was found that a mistake
had been made in the name on the card
attached to the basket. The prize was
for uauialta, anothergirl, towhom it went.
But the exhibition of honesty on the part
of Juanita was very pleasant to see.
Though her name was on the prize and it
was forced upon her and she could have
taken II, and, maybe, nobody would ever
have thought Of II afterwards, she seemed
TO know that It was somebody else's and
she would not take II.