The herald., 1893-02-27
MISSION INDIANS AT SCHOOL.
What Is Being Done at the
Banning Institution.
The Superintendent Tells What the
Teachers Are Accomplishing.
Though Only Three Years in Existence
1t Is One of the Most Success
fol Schools Now in OPP
Grafton.

BANNING, CAL, Feb. 25.-"There are
at present 12S Indian children in attend
anee at our chool, OF which so are boys
and 45 are girls" said the Rev. B. Flor
if.n Hahn, superintendent OF the st.
Boniface Indian industrial school at
! Banning. The reverend gentleman is
assisted by eight Sisters of st. Joseph,
from Carondslet, Mo. "The pupils"
continued the superintendent, ''are in
structed in all the ordinary branches of
learnipg-reading, writing, geography,
physiology, singing, object lessons, etc.
| The boys are given industrial exercises
in shoemaking, carpentering, farming,
| horticulture, gardening, ETC., under the
supervision of employers. The girls are
given industrial exercises in sewing,
needle work, laundry work, dairying,
cooking, and all the different work Of
housewifery. The behavior of the Indian
children is very good, with some excep-
tions. All pupils are given religious
instruction three times week." con-
cluded the superintendent.
| The st. Boniface industrial school, for
the education and industrial training of
Indian children, is the gift of Miss Cath
crime Drexel of Philadelphis, daughter
of tho millionaire banker. 1t is sub
stantisl fonr-story brick, S4x84 feet,
just north of the town of Banning, jut-
ting up against the foothills. 1t was
opened less than three years ago with
four pupils, and is now one of the most
successful schools in the United States
certainly the largest and most success.
full in the state. The school is not To-
Gated upon the lands OF any reservation,
but is very near the limits OF the Po-
trero reservation, and the pupils are
from the Potrero, Cabola, Cahuilla VAL
ley and Colorado desert reservations.
The children, on entering the school,
leave behind their semi-civilized cos
tunes and tribal dialects; are dressed
as the paleiace, and at once enter upon
the study of the English language.
They are also given bath to begin with
bathrooms being connected with the
school, which they are required to pat
/, ronize twice week. These stated days
are known as bath days.
The grounds surrounding the building
comprise Sc acres, 81 OF which are il
bearing orchard and vineyard. The yield
of fruit is abundant for the school, the
drying and preserving of which furnish
an industry for the Indian children
which they seem to delight in, probably
with minds upon the appetizing returns.
Water is pipsG from the head OF noun
tain caflon in the rear of the building to
reservoir on hill of sufficient altitude
to force water to the highest part Of the
building. This pure mountain cafion
water is used for irrigating purposes,
and the Indian boys are also utilized in
digging irrigating bitches, turning on the
water, etc.
Ample Fairgrounds are provided for
the sexes. The amusements of the boys
are exercises on the horizontal bar, ira
peze, dumb bells, etc. i; and the little In
dian maids choose the lighter forms, such
as swinging, skipping the rope, forming
in line and marching and sing
ing. They dress neatly and
are very careful about their
clothing, but are not as vain as the
paleface girl, A noticeable popularity
is that they do not indulge in idle chat
ter. They generally talk about their
lessons or amusemente, but only in a
few individual cases about each other.
Besides the recitation and waiting
rooms on the second floor of the build
ing, there is large and handsome
chapel, in which there is beautiful
altar, the gift of Mrs. Mary Suzsry of
Beaumont. In this chapel the religious
instruction takes place. The children >
are very devout, and seem to readily
cast away their pagan ideas and super
stitous beliefs under their new instruc-
ton.
The children are uniformly healthful
and more robust and less inclined to
sickness, as rule, than the Caucasian
children. There are, of course, rooms
for the sick, where they are medically
treated when necessary.
One-half OF the day is devoted to
study, the other half to labor, reason
able time being allowed for play in the
grounds set apart for that purpose.
The general government allows the
school $125 per year for each Indian pu-
pill, but the allowance is, however, linn
tied to 100 pupils. In return for this
government aid the Indian pupils re-
ceive tuition, board and clothing free.
Owing to the increased attendance, an
assistant has recently been added to the
school, the Rev. P. Emil.
The object of this school, or rather
of its founder, is to teach Indian child
rem to become useful and self-aupport-
ing citizens. When these children,
now being taught useful trades and oc.
cupations, reach their majority, they
will be able to pursue those
occupations and will become use
full citizens. They will not return
to the desert and mountain canon habi'
tations OF their fathers, but cultivate
small ranches and vineyards in tht
fruitful valleys, acquire property and be-
come useful citizens. By this system
of educating the Indian and teaching
him to work and be self-reiiant and self
supporting the rssHad Of heavV burden
and the Indian problem will be solved
The Indian agent will also find his occu,
patton gone. The Spanish conquista'
doree had system similar to our In.
dian school, and had not only Christian
lied, but had civilized the mission In
d;ans. But after the Mexican occupa.
49,. ii 4 Ia I'D want of the irranraeaihla