The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-08
INDIANS AT SCHOOL.
EDUCATED AT A QUAKER INSTITUTE
IN INDIANA.


Carpenters and Farmers. and the Girls
soon Learn to BE Good Cooks aud
Housrkeepers.
The civilization and education Of the In
dian is no longer an experiment, as the re-
suits which have attended the efforts of the
management Of Whites Indiana Manual
Labor institute, south OF Wabash, Ind, con
clusively demonstrate The school, founded
in 1852 by Josiah White u benevolent Quaker
Of Philadelphia, though originally devoted
almost exclusively to the education of white
and colored children, is now virtually an in
stitution for the education Of Indians Mr..
White, in the year above named, donated
about 50, 900 for the purchase of n tract OF
land and the erection of the necessary build
ings, and with this sl.n 100 acres OF the most
fertile land In the Wabash valley were Sc
cured, and a plain brick structure, serving
the dual purposes of school and boarding
house, was erected The grounds about the
institution were laid out with great care, and
a considerable sum was expended III beauti-
flying and improving them.
SOCIETY OF FRIENDS
Some five years ago the national execu-
tive committee of the Society Of Friends con.
ceived the idea OF undertaking the education
OF Indian pupils after tue manner OF tho
schools at Hampton, Va, and Carlisle, Pa.
| Application was at once made To the secre-
tary OF the interior for permission 10 take
from the reservations III Indian territory
and Dakota a number OF pupils to receive tut
ton at the institute AZ the expense OF tho
government, and In March, 1888 twenty
seven children arrived for a three year
course OF study. A group Of Sioux Indians
from Pine Ridge arrived at the institute last
August. They were unkempt, ignorant and
coarse, and true TO their natural instincts
| were a. shiftless as Alabama darkeys An
allowance OF $50 per student was made by
the government to the institute people, and
this was continued until two years ago, when
il was reduced to Sl25. In the meantime the
class Of twenty-seven had been graduated
and returned TO tho west, while about seventy
more children Of various tribes We're brought
to the school and were receiving instruction
The small sum paid by the government for
the sustenancc and education hardly suftices
to pay the board Of the pupils, and with 10
hope Of being reimbursed the management
Of the institute has generously made up the
difference.
There are at present seventy seven Indian
pupils in the school-in fact. tue work OF the
school is now in the line Of Indian education.
OF the scventy-seven, tnirty-two are bors
and forty-fve girls, nearly ali Of whom a.e
members of the Sioux tribe. The institute IS
very pleasantly located ON the banks ot
Treaty creek, down to which stream Slopes
lovely lawn. There have been extensive al
ditions made to the original building now
used as a residence for the officers and much
money has been invested IN machinery and
tools for carrying on the farm work and for
instruction Of the pupils II the trades. In
dustrially the boys are taught husbandry.
together with carpenterng, glazing and
blacksmithing and recently another occupa-
ton, that Of the manufacture Of broOms, has
been added, the broom corn being produced
ON the farm and the brooms finished by
the Indian boys.
FACULTY oE IMITATION
In all branches the little redskins eyinced
marked aptitude. They possess wonderful
memories, and the faculty Of imitation Is de
yeloped 10 a marvellous degree. They dis
charge the duties of the schoolroom, work
shop and farm with an intelligen: interest
and perseverance that would put the average
farmers boy to blush. They never .rumblc
at any task which is assigned them by their
tutors. The girls are taught housekeeping,
and upon them deyolves the labor of keeping
the interior Of the buildings in perfect order,
OF performing the laundry work, sewing,
washing dishes and cooking the meals They
are quick TO learn, and IN Il comparatively
short time after their arrival become as pro-
ticient in the discharge OF household duties
as are their instructors themselves IN the
schoolroom they apply themselves diligently
to mastering the common branches for ten
months in the year, the pupils being divided
into two sections, one OF which attends
school In the morning and the other ia the
afternoon, the time when not employed IN
study being spent in manual labor at the
bench or in the field by the boys, and Ia tho
kitchen or laundry by the girls.
Bookkeeping, theoretical and practical IS
taught, and vocal and Instrumental music !
also receives special attention, many VI the !
girl pupils attaining considerable skill as
pianists An accurate record Of study, reel !
tation, work and conduct in and out OF the !
school room is made each day, monthly |
average ID sliuShi aIu uI"h WIS "SP'""' 'i'O I
allowance for clothing and spending money. |
credited to each pupil and drawn as needed.
This incentive to diligence and good be
hayior has strong influence, especially upon !
the boys Of the institution, ana the number |
of incorrigibles among the Indian pupils has |
been singularsy small. These children come |
TO the institute Of their own voliton, not |
pupil having been brought here against bis
will. New York World
Between the Acts.