Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-15
N EE D OF MAT IRON S
To Instruct Indian Women in Affairs of a
Domestic Nature.
The Good Work Already Accomplish
ed by the Few in Servfce-In-
dians MS Housekeepers.

Commissioner Of Indian Affairs Browning
is believer in the appointment of field ma
irons for the instruction of Indian women
In the arts of domestic life. Artisans are
employed to instruct bucks in the arts of
peace, but the Indian woman is left to
work out as best she can the problem of
exchanging a tepee or a wigwam for
home of civilized standard. Naturally, this
has resulted in the introduction of outdoor
life into the single-room log houses. Ir-
regular meals prevail. The dishes are sell
dom washed. dogs are permitted to roam
at will, and the corners of the room are
made the receptacle for household goods of
all kinds. 1t is common for these people to
sleep on the floor. The science of santa
ton is unknown to them. Ventilation is
not understood. The vitiated atmosphere
is rendered still more deadly by the box
stove Chairs and tables are disregarded.
Disease follows as a natural consequence
Of these uncleanly conditions The Indians
do not like this species of civilization, and
the Indian students, when they return from
school, recoil from their home. The Indian
woman is obedient to the custom of her sex.
She will sacrifice herself for the welfare Of
her children. She is industrious. and will
dress and care for her offspring in the
most approved white fashion, If she can
put learn now. BUT trlDdl custom, poverty
and ignorance prevent her. The Indian
girls. graduated from boarding schools can
have no appreciable effect on the current
of domestic life. unless the number so
graduated shall become much greater than
at present.
MatrOns Needed.
One girl, unaided cannot be expected to
reform an entire neighborhood. These girls
have spent but three or six years Of their
life in civilized surroundings, and then
when she returns to her home she finds
that the conditions are so widely different
that it is exceedingly difficult to apply the
rules and methods which she may have
learned at school. The need of outside help
has been long recognized by missionary
societies. and the labors of these people
have resulted in the lifting up of numbers
of Indian homes. In 1868, one matron was
provided for the Sioux; in 1866, one was pro-
vided for the Chippewa, and in 1891 an act
was passed to enable the commissioner of
Indian affairs to employ suitable persons
as matrons to teach Indian girls house
keeping and other household duties. at a
rate not exceeding $50 per month. This ap-
propria ton was $500, and for last year, and
for the current fiscal year, the appropria-
ton was increased to 5000. This keeps but
seven matrons at work. Small as this num-
Der is, their work is of very great value in
Fastening Indian civilization, and putting
IL on nome basis. MatronS are placed In
those tribes which have either received or
expect to receive allotments. and who are
endeavoring to adopt new modes of life At
present there are the Yakamas, Cheyennes
Arapahoes, Mission Indians, Nebra ska
Poncas, Mexican Kickapoos Sioux Naya-
hoes, and Moquis. The duties of these ma
irons are to sew, care for children, nurse
tine sick, organize societies for mental and
social improvement. and do all things con-
nected with domestic work. This often
prevents the 'relapsng' of returned stu
dents"
Commissioner Browning says: II am so
convinced of the valuable though intangi-
Bile results of the work of faithful field
matron that l heartily recommend the re-
newal of the appropriation for such SER
vice. The small salary does not allow the
matron to provide herself with a small
house as headquarters horse with
which to visit distant camps. In some in
stances these are furnished from agency
supplies