Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-08-09

| me pfebCNy lnlef-slabo ConiuielCt
law has Ia it the work of ten to
twenty of the best years of the life
Of Congressman (now Senate ~
Reagan, Of Texas. Mr.. Collins, OF
Massachusetts,, one Of the brightest
men in the house, has had for six
years a bankruptcy law, embody-
ing very necessary reform, but is
no nearer fullillment to-day than
at the beginning. Mr.. Collins,
discouraged, is about to retire from
congress. Mr.. Hewitt, of New
York, left congress because he said
he could accomplish as much out
of congress as in it, which was
simply nothing. Mr.. John Sher-
man has no better proof of his
practical ability than his great
resumption act, passed in 1878.
After live days stay in Wash
ington our journey was resumed.
Passing through Baltimore, Phila-
delphia and New York, Norwich,
Conn. home was reached. Those
innocent northerners had many
curious questions to ask "Did
our Indians live in houses ?''
"Wero we teachers obliged to
speak to our people in Cherokee2"
And more of this same kind.
The Indian and the Indians fu-
ture is always an interesting topic
in the cast. Upon invitation your
correspondent shared the after
noon of the fourth of July with
Congressman Wait, of Connecticut,
speaking at an outdoor reception
in Norwich Town, Conn. We
were expected TO speak about In
dian Territory. The common in
cidents of our home and school
life were eagerly listened to. Our
hopes aud purposes for the fur
therauce of Indian education met
with a ready sympathy. The par
ticula. association of boys in
whose honor this festival was
held has already rendered substan-
tial aid to Carlisle school.
After a three weeks stay at
home it was again time to be mov-
ing, this time in the direction OF
Carlisle, Pa. A few days were
spent in New York. Occasion
was taken to visit there the secre-
taries of the American Home
Missionary society who have the
care Of the academy in Ninita.
They are still disposed to contin-
ue their liberal support and to
help as far as possible to make
Worcester academy grow into
larger usefulness. a dip into the
ocean and attendance at one of
Gilmore's concerts at Manhattan
Beach, Coney Island, a park con-
cert 10y Cappa's 7th regiment
band, a comic opera at the Casino
and midnight promenade upon
the brilliantly lighted roof garden
completed our list of pleasures in
the great metropolis, with the ex-
ccption of IN great pleasure Of re-
union with sumEer school of the
American Tonic Sol Fa associa-
tion, then in session in New York
City. Our journey to Carlisle
took us through Philadelphia
and its beautiful suburbs. along
the Susquehanna to Harrisburg,
then down the Cumberland valley
between the Blue Ridge ard the
South Mountain Cor mUuntains)
made famous by the Gettysburg
fight. On the northwest of Car
Isle is an old government bar
racks, to which in 1873 Capt.
Pratt asked permission to bring
some Kiowa and Commanche pris-
oners which he had had in his
keeping in Florida with their
wives and children. Capt. Pratt
tried tie industrial experiment
upon these young Indians; indeed
he was one Of the first who tried
it. 1t worked well; as a result lie
now has a school of more than
GOO boys and girls fiom more than
40 tribes, learning useful trades by
a halEday's work in the houses,
shops and farms, and in the other
half day learning as much from
books as they could learn in any
school. The results are very salts
factory. Young men and women,
with very few exceptions 90 out
OF that school and follow useful
callings, as the record shows and
are saved to the nation, to their
own people and themselves. The
school in every respect is splen-
didly adapted to its work. Every
thing tends to impress the Indian
with the dignity and responsibili-
ty OF manhood and womanhood.
and TO refine them in all true grac-
es and feelings. The prayer meet
ing service conducted wholly by
the Indian pupils was very digni-
fled and full OF gracious influence.
The gymnasium, the reading room,
the library, the Young Mems |
Christian association, the Sunday !
school, the newspaper with its In |
dian printers, the literary socic. !
ties, are some Of their agencies I
10 make these young 1
people feel what manhood and /
womanhood are; and / am bound |
to say these agencies are used with
as great or greater success here as
they are anywhere. The shop
work Of the school includes wagon
building and ironing, tin work, /
leather work, mail bags, boots and
shoes. tailor work, MI this be.
sides two farms and the domestic
work which for a family OF 700 is
no trihe. IL may be worth while
10 ask if Vinita may not yet have
a school like this. Vinita has