Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-23
AMONG THE INDIANS.
Inspection Tours Being Made by
officers of Mission Societies.
THE WORK IN NEED OF WORKERS.
No Room for Lazy Christians Whose Gar
ments Have Become Glossy.
POLITICS ARE ALSO OUT OF PLACE.
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DISPATCH ]


RED ROCK, OToE AGENCY, 1. T., June
1S.-The general superintendent, DR.. Dor
chester of Boston, and his wife, are making
tour of all the Indian schools. Their OBJ
ject is to ascertain the efficiency of the pres
ent incumbeuts, and to recommend the re-
tention of those found interested and eff
cient and the removal of the unworthy.
The Doctor is Methodist minister, and
seems to be paying more attention to the
morals of employees than to their politics;
indeed, he is making a speciality of the
competence of employees as regards their
moral standing. He asks such questions as:
SIS he profane? Does he drink? OF what
church is she a member" The Indians
need good examples among them, of course;
live, energetic, Christian people. They
need workers, not lazy Christians whose
garments become glossy like satin from
hours of ease in their study.
Now will be the opportunity to exclude
politics from the Indian question and en-
force the civil service rules to the letter by
retaining all efficient Democrats in the
service, especially those of long experience
L
fedto the New World to escape persecu-
tion, and became as great prosecutors as
those at home, we are afraid that this new
administration that advocated civil service
so energetically during the past four years
will find it a dead letter now when it comes
so close to home. We are so very selfish
that our conscience can stretch wonderfully,
and money has a potent tendency to change
our views. We see through different chan
nels now.
This country and the moneyed offices be-
long to no one party, and should be equally
divided. When the question of the civiliza-
tion of a people as degraded as the Indians
are is before the people; when so much time,
energy, money and controversy areexpended
in their behalf, and when the result of ex-
perimenting is so important, it is not the
time or place to allow politics TO decide the
question of the fitness of employees for these
positions, or sect either for that matter.
A PLEA FOR LESS BIGoTRY.
Oh, that the world might worship God,
and follow the example of his beloved son
and let dogmas, rites and ceremonies be
blown away like so much chaff. hate
bigotry in any form. 1 hate this wrapping
of ones religion about ones self and look
ing up like hypocritical Pharisee and
thanking God for being Methodist, or
Baptist or a Presbyterian. Said mis-
sionary to me once: "Wouldn't you be
happier if all the employees in your school
were Methodists?" The answer called forth
the emphatic declaration that he would like
to see Methodist church on every hilltop
throughout this Territory. would like to
see churches scattered all over this country
whose membership were filled with charity
for all and malice for none.
DIR. and Mrs. Rust, Of Cincinnati, have
also been visiting Indian schools. They
represent the Woman's Home Missionary
Society, Mrs. Rust being Recording Secre-
tary OF that organization. She and ex-
President Hayes wife are intimate friends,
and both seem to be taking lively interest
in employees of these schools The present
agent for the Osages secured his position, I
heard, though Mrs. Hayes influence. The
Methodist Church is gaining, or wants to
gain, strong ioothold among the Indians
The missionary now among the Osages has
succeeded in getting the Indian council to
vote her $780, 900 for her school. She is a
Methodist sent out by the Woman's Home
Society.
Mrs. Rust carried home with her one of
little Dick Shunnatorna's pastel drawings
of an Indian standing on a rocky cliff look
ing at train of cars sweeping around the
curve Of hill just across deep ravine.
She told little lame Dick as he stood before
her in a condescending attitude that she
would show it to Mrs. Hayes. Dicks face
face shone like sunshine, and his round
head-the Indian boys have nicknamed him
Dick Roundhead-seemed to grow rounder
in anticipation of the honor. Dick is
natural artist.
The question of vacation or no vacation
is agitating the minds of both children and
employees. We all need rest, change of
scenery and diet. The children are
LONGING FOR JIRKED BEEF
cooked as their mothers cook it, good fried
bread and the freedom of camp life. Much
as We love them, and are interested in them,
we, too, are longing for q relaxation from
the cares that they bring us; and if per-
mitted to return to their homes for at least a
month, they will be all the dearer when they
return to us, and brighter, too. But, by
those in power it is argued that they retro
grade so much, forget the English and all
they have learned here at school. 1t is true
they do forget, and may retrograde, and so
white children, and even good religious
church members have been known to retro
grade during summer vacation. But the
great principle of rest from labor, especially
mental, which is followed in all schools, is
good for the Indians undeveloped mind
which cannot stand too great strain upon
it. And the buildings need a complete,
renovation, and all need rest.
Ration day again. Hungry again. Here
they all are-ponies, :papooses, blankets,
beads, feathers, paint, dogs, parasols and
variegated umbrellas, and hot wind blows
ing the dust into every crack and crevice,
turning the beautiful parasols and umbrel-
las almost inside out. The women, with
hot red shawls about them, are pressing up
close against the commissary door; others
with their children are squatted on tine
roadside, while the men are walking about
very leisurely, as becomes an Indian gen.
tleman. The old, old universal law of
fight for bread, jamming and pushing
and a scrambling for the sustenance of this
lite. When the summons come in such a
terrible manner as in the past few days;
when talent, wealth, energy, all, all are
swept away with one mighty sweep, how
little and Daltry all things earthly seem
when weighed in the balance with eternity.