The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-12
THE ALABAMA APACHEs.
Methods Employed in the India
School at Mount Vernon.

School at Mount Vernon.
From, the Philadelphia Times.
MOUNT VERNON, ALA, Dec. 3.-Nov.
was the first day school was held in the new
school house, and it was a field day for the
Apaches. The pretty little arched room,
with its patches of stained glass here and
there, looked very inviting. A large black
board hung at the back of the platform
between the two end windows On one
side was a table with chart, pencil, ink,
ETC., and on the other side the melodeon.
On line with the platform were several
red arm-chairs taken from the teachers
porch. They looked bright and inviting,
and one of them was especially set aside for
Geronimo. There he sat in savage majesty
and scowled at all bad boys and girls
Lately he seems to be growing a little
weary, and there's small wonder, when it is
considered what it is for wild Indian to
do day after day what he has DONE Even
a civilized christian might grow weary
under such well-doing unless-he was paid
a salary.
GERONIMO AND THE CHILDREN.
On this first day there were forty chill
dren, among them many little tots, whom,
for once, Geronimo regarded with a mid
complaisance that enaoled him to permit
their presence. As rule, he thinks they
have no business at school, being too young
either to learn or keep quiet. He will
stand before them with a severe look on
his face, and make violent motions with
his arms first toward them and then
toward the door, by way of indicating his
opinion that they should be gathered up in
heap and thrown out. He gets terribly
provoked, and stalks about with a tragic
air if he is checked.
Without the little ones, there is an aver
age attendance of thirty good-sized chill
dren.
METHODS OF TEACHING.
The second day the school room was in
use the chart was mounted, and men and
children were equally delighted. Miss
Stevens and Miss Shepard both think it an
invaluable help. They write the lesson
from the chart on the blackboard. The
pupils read it from both, again ana again,
spelling each word, and then write it
repeatedly on their states. The children's
restless desire to get up aud run about is
soothed by periodic singing and calisthenics.
The calisthenics are source OF much amuse-
ment, and the small Apaches arc such OBJ
servant mimics that they are beginning to
do very well.
They are particularly delighted with their
lessons in marching. There is something
even in the embryonic masculine mind that
finds peculiar happiness in this dignified
ana self-lmportant exercise.
THEIR GREAT LOVE OF MUSIC.
Their love of music is really amazing.
Miss Shepard has started a singing school.
which she originally intended for mon and
women, as well as children, but the children
so predominate that they have taken posses
sion Of the field. Every afternoon the cow
bell is rung at about o'clock, aud all who
wish come to the school Like the other
sessions, it is entirely voluntary, but the at
tendance is good, averaging about forty.
One afternoon there were fifty Indians
assembled. Mrs. Foster, the pretty wife of
one OF the officers in the barracks, plays the
Accomplishments. Miss Shepard stands on
the platform facing the audience, beats
time with baton-otherwise parasoI-