Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-11-16
A MODEL INDIAN SCHOOL.
visit of a Los Angeles Delcg alton to
Knmn.

Under the guidance of Colonel Tommy Gates.
numper of well known citizens of Los An.
geles. who happened to meet in Yuma three
days ago. were escorted to the buildings on tho
old military reservation, this side Of the river.
These buildings have been fitted up by the
Government into school rooms for the educa-
tion Of the children OF the Yuma tribe. The
visitors consisted of General i. u. Hewitt, of
the Southern Pacific, H. ]. Woollacott, j. W.
Haverstick, Captain A. W. Barrett. Ben e.
Ward, Captain P. NJ. Darcy, and J. w. Scott, OF
Santa Monica.
They found the school, which is in charge of
the Sisters of the Society OF st. Joseph, mode |
of ueatness and good order. There were ninety
children receiving instruction in the four diff
ierent rooms. They are separated into two
grades, the primary and upper grade. and
whilst all OF them show advancemena in their
lessons, some of the larger children exhibit a
proficiency in reading, arith metic and pen
manship which would be creditable to white
children in our best schools. One large hoy,
who is the son of chief, and a manly looking
fellow, showed astonishing proficiency in all
the branches taught The rapid way in which
he solved examples in fractions, made some of
our sm srt delegates wonder what would be the
outcome ii they were put to similar tests.
The old Chief of the Yumas takes deepin-
terest in the school, and visits il every day
He has appointed one of his men as disciplin.
arian, who, whenever any of the larger boys
are obstrev ereus or unruly, brings them to
terms in dcnhle-quick. But the visitors were
assured that infractiops of the rules were no
more frequent there than IN white schools, and
that the behavior Of the aboriginal scholars
was generally good. The Sisters are greatly
beloved 10y their young charges, and acts of in
subordination are therefore very rare. Per
haps the tact that the native policeman stands
ready to enforce discipline has also restrain
ing effect upon the larger boys lately gathered
in from the wilds; but on the whole the good
order of the entire school is sttested by the
teachers.
The ladies who have charge OF this Indian
seat of education are: Sisters Ambrosia, Super
intendent; Alfonso, Principal; Edmond, AS
sistant reacher; Desiders, Assistant Teacher
of the Girls; st. Martini Matron; Mary joseph,
Assistant Matron, and Amisila, Seamstress.
DR.. p 6. Carter is physician Of the establish
ment.
The visitors, after examining the sohoorooms
and hearing the several classes go through
iheir lessons came away deeply impressed
with whist they had seen. They were pnani-
NOUS in their declarations that as large per-
centage OF the Indisn children trained aud edu-
Gated at this school will turn ont good and use.
full members of the community white chill
dren who are educated in our common schools.
This is saying a great deal. Here are children
whose savage nature comes TO them by in
heritance, who, under the mild discipline OF
the excellent ladies in charge are falling into
the line of g civilization which is the result OF
centuries Of slow but steady progress.
Oranges are ripe and sweet IN the Yuma
gardens