Omaha daily bee., 1889-07-14
AN INDIAN TRAINING SCHOOL.
Progress of the Santee Normal
Training School.
CIVILIZATION OF THE RED MAN.
Taking a Look at the Buiidin rs-How
They Live and what They Do
The Kitchen, the Farm
aud the workshops.
Elevnting the Indian.

first visited by DR.. Thomas S. William
son, followed two years later by Rev.
stephen II. Riggs, D., with n view Of
establishing Protestant missions among
the Sioux Indians. These fathers of
written language and education among
the Sioux remained with them almost
to the time OF their death, rearing chill
dren in their midst, passing through
the terrible Minnesota massacre of 1862,
and dying in peace OF mind, satisfied
that their early struggles were not in
vain, and that their sons and daughters
we're taking up the work where they
left it.
Situated twelve miles east of Mo
brara, on the Nebraska bank OF the Mis-
souri, river, is Santee agency. Located
on the hillside one sees group of eight
large buildings, two of which are Of
modern architecture.
''wHAT ARE THOSE BUILDINasP"
is the most natural question in the world
for stranger to ask. "They are the
buildings belonging to the Santee nor
NAL training school, for the exclusive
use OF Indian children from the various
agencies" is the reply, land It is under
the control of the American Missionary
association, being its own properly"
This institution was founded nineteen
years ago by Rev. Alfred l.. Riggs, the
eldest son of Raw. Stephen r.. Riggs,
DID,. From small beginnings it has
grown into the second largest Indian
training school in the country, while it's
standard is much above any other. l
uopt IN tolxa ba roo dave nfT Tuu pUI,
ON A TOUR OF INSPECTION.
First we will call on Mr. Riggs at his
residence, in front of which is "a beauti-
ful lawn. He greets the visitor with
an unaffected, kindly smile, and bids
him be seated in the large sitting
room. off from which is his Office. He
is a busy man, every little detail is
under his eve, and if he has much to do
he will ask to be excused until the task
10 finished, while you are left to look
through magazines, newspapers and
books; and one wonders how ne gets
time to even cut the leaves of the mag
azines, let alone read them. He is a
quiet onversatiOnalist, thoughtful and
careful in expression, direct in applica-
ton, plain spoken, vein OF quiet
humor rintermingling, but always elevat-
ing. The plan of living might be
termed
''THE COTTAGE HOMES"
since six of the eight buildings are de-
voted to sleeping purposes almost ex-
clusively, especially with the pupils
and those without families. The Dakota
Home, under the supervision of ma
tron, is for the large girls, where is
taught sewing, fancy work and ironing.
The young mems hall is similar in pur
pose, while the boys cottage and the
Al 1,,sl 4 e.,
the younger children. Whitney hall
is a new building, built from funds
donated by gentleman In New Eng
land by that name, and is used for the
more advanced boys, and as residence
for the local treasurer of the associa
tion.
THE DINING HALL
Is the largest structure of all, the main
part being 42x92, three stories. Here
is found dining hall with "a seating
capacity OF 200 at table, the kitchen,
bakery and laundry, while the upstairs
is for teachers and employees, and, when
completed, in the third story there will
be rooms for the older girls. The boys
and girls have their various duties to
perform here-assistant cooks, wait
ers, dishwashers, bakers, etc.,
to which they are detailed for q
month and relieved and placed in differ
ent capacities. They are cheerful in
their work, are fed we'll, though the
TODD is plain, and everything goes along
smoothly under perfect discipline.
THE EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES
OF the Institution are of tho very bost.
The ladies and gentlemen are from the
east and come among these people with
pure desire to do good. The method
OF teaching is the best that educated
and christian effort can bring to bear
upon q race " hose intellect is yet COM
of higher education for the Indian their
progress has necessarily been slow. But
their success in the last decade has been
such as to make revolution in the In
dian mind, and he now is anXiously
seeking for educational advantages
The school building is large and the
work methodlcal. Each boy and girl Is
taught halliday in school and a half
day in Industrial work, thus preparing
them in mind and body.
THE INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION,
in q certain sense, is at the very foun-
dation Of the work and fundamental to
Mr.. Riggs theory OF education. He
said: 1--WE believe in it as q condition
to true acknowledges, and as the
necessary avenue to the knowledge OF
the world without. Industrial educa
tion does not mean merely teaching
how to make living, but rather how tC
enter into life; and our aim in all occu
pations, in the house. the farm or the
shops, is to make all subserve this end.
The shoemaking department displays
excellent work in stitching. The car.
penter work is mainly devoted to the
Joining OF the various angles, table
making, truss work, etc. some OF which
Is excellent. The work in the black
smith shop shows up exceptionally good
and the work done here, the superin
tcndent declares, can be placed beside
any blacksmith's work in Nebraska.
THE PRINTING OFFICE,
OF which THE BEE correspondent has {
selfish pride of being the first superin-
- tendent and laying the foundation stone
OF a useful art among a heather people
Is complete in every detail, having al
eight-column Acme cylinder press,
Sanborn paper cutter, a Gordon jobber
proof press, etc. The Word Carriel
(Ehglishl, Iapi Oaye lIndian), and An
pao lInd:an) are the three regular pub
locations, while the missions along the
Missouri river and elsewhere on tn,
reservations give 1T a good deal OF jol
work. II is well-equipped Office, aut
the work turned out is tirst-class. A
compositors the Indians do woll, espe
I'll L.. ~. L.. .n.,A Ia