The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-06

ing among the giant trees, more fitted TO
natures rule than woman's; accessible
until recently only by pony trail; the APP
parent obstacles surmounted to educate
the young pioneer, all combined to make
it an object of interest.
The capacity of the people for self-gov-
eminent is never better illustrated than in
the frontier schools Their organization
in the spar sely settled districts, under pc
culiar difficulties, where but few families
have formed a nucleus around some COM
mon center, wildly exemplifies the
strength and power of peoples govern
ment Many dangers and hardships are
encountered and much bravery is dis
played by the men and especially the
women. who enter the forests of Western
Washington to make home and rear and
educate family of children. OF such
material is the typical American born.
The schoolhouse though rude and diminu-
tive as a structure, the grounds the work
of natures own landscape artist, the ak
the training club of the gymnasium, is the
college, nevertheless, of the nation at
large, upon whose alumni the highest
diplomas of civil and military preferment
have been conferred. The barefooted boy
who after school hours drives the cows and
brings the wood, spends his holiday with
pole and gun along the mountain streams,
the scion of stock whose mothers are
able to work and willing to walk, repre-
sents the man susceptible of the highest
mental and physical development. Many
hardy and intelligent people have settled
along the north fork valley. Your cores
pendent found them robust, generous and
progressive to high degree.
The state OF Washington, according to
statistics, has expended more money for
educational purposes than any other state
in the Union save California. She is not
to be third-rate state in the educational
struggle, as the schools on the frontier will
testify. Let those who suppose education
to be an unknown quantity in the rural
districts visit the schools of this valley.
They represent today the extreme frontier
seats of learning in the country. In later
years when prize contests take place in
college halls and the campus resounds to
the shouts of rushing classes, description
of these primitive schools may be of inter-
est to the student as connected with the
educational days of his sire.
From the Seattle. Lake Shore & Eastern
railroad to the source of the north fork
there are five organized schools with good
attendance. The first, at North Fork, is
taught by young lady in tent. Around
the center pole are arranged rustic seats,
and from the ground to the height of four
wainsCoting to keep out the cold air from
below. The floor is also of shakes A
small blackboa hangs on the side wall
which, with the homemade teachers
desk, completes the furniture. The room
is clean and pleasant, and several children
from the Indian village at the forks above
a mile distant, were noticed on their way
to school. Three comfortable and con-
venient schoolhouses. known as the We'll
com Bliss and Kendall schools have been
lately completed. The first is taught by a
lady, and the two latter by men.
Beyond all these, 10 the north and east,
within easy distance of Mount Bakers
SHOWS and ice, in the thickest of the tall.
heavy timber, where one must look 10 the
zenith TO see the sky, the very outpost of
the school system of the county, stands
the little cabin schoolhouse which called
forth this notice. Its size is 12xl4 feet,
with a half window above the door for
light. The school is taught by Miss Lii
liam Griffith an educated Fairhayen lady,
to whom your correspondent addressed
some inquiries, which brought forth the
following statement:
arrived on the Sound August l. $780, and at
present find myself in one OF the rural districts
of Western Washington, situated on the north
fork OF the NoOksack river, some thirty miles
from the bay cities, and twelve from eumas, the
nearest town. 1t is ten miles from the nearest
railroad aud mile half from the nearest store.
How | came to be here was more chance than
any desire OF my own 10 be so far away. Hav
ing been offered a school, aud being DESTROYS of
seeing the surrounding country. accepted, and
on April -, 1891, Left my home in Fairhaven
and boarded the train Tor silver Lake station, on
the Bellingham Bay 4 British Columbia rail-
road From there pursued the rest of my jour
uey on horseback, distsnCe of eighteen miles,
nv escort walking beside me. carrying an ak,
with which to cut the logs that every now and
then had fallen across the road. AS We neared
our destination my pony jumped TO one side,
landing me in the middle OF the road and strik
ing my head against q large stone At this
iuucture / felt somewhat sick OF my bargain
and entertained a vague idea had seen enough
OF the country A little further on we arrived
AT the residence OF Alexander Hamilton, at whose
home was to board during my stay III the
neighborhood. The photograph 10 which you
refer is a very good representation Of my school
house The school furniture consists OF few
rustic benches made OF split cedar and "a very
small black board. yet the pupils are as prompt
in attendance and as eager 20 learn as though
thew had all the convenlences OF modern
sch0oIhouse The district is s new one, having
heeu organized this spring in order that the
children living too far from other schools might
resp the beneht OF an education. Having no
srhooIhouse they used the little cabn. The
land for miles around is claimed principally by
uen with families The timber is very heavy
and hard to clear, yet most every one, though
Ihey have been here but few years, have nom