The Arizona sentinel., 1894-12-08

One of the most enjoyable evenings we
have spent recently, was in attending little
impromptu entertainment given by the
pupils of the Fit. Yuma Indian school in
honor of the Mother General of the order Of
Sisters in charge of it, who was at thai
time visiting them.
We arrived trihe late and had only @
moment to notice the beautiful and tasty
decorations of the large and well lighted
school room, when through the door at the
left of the stage, toddled, hand in hand, two
little brown skinned daughters of Uncle
Sam, aged probably about seven, who ad.
vancing to the front of the stage, bowed
gravely and proceeded to deliver little ad.
dress of welcome, which it need not be said
was listened to with almost breathless at
tention.
The gravity of the little tots together
with their hard-hard struggle with the
Queens English; was toe amusing and the
applause could hardly be restrained until
they had finished.
We have neither space nor ability to de.
scribe the exercises as they deserve, but
among the most important on the program
was "Tambourine Drill" by about forty of
the Indian girls in beautiful unit orms, with
red, white and blue sash draped over the
left shoulder and tied in large bow on the
right side below the waist.
After taking their places on the stage in
order of size, the smallest in front, another
girl seated herself at the organ and played a
march in excellent time, to which the fig
ures of the drill were executed, and when
we consider that this one number lasted
some twenty minutes, consisted of an ia
finite variety of changes and was completed
without break in the time or an error of
movement, we can well pause and think
what an amount of patience and trouble it
must have taken to accomplish.
Following this was song which was well
rendered, evidencing quite good voices
among them and barring slight hardness
of tone and dragging of the time which is
difficult to avoid when scholars of all ages
sing together it was quite well done.
The Fort Yuma Cadets in their bran new
uniforms showed up splendidly and Captain
Joseph Escalante with his gold lace and
manly bearing, looks every inch an officer,
while his little company goes through the
manual of arms with the precision of veter-
ans.
Look out, Co. HI The cadets are close
after you in the execution of the military
drill. Your laurels are in danger.
Then came the drill of the Juvenile Cadets ,
little boys in knickerbockers, with bamboo
sticks in lieu of guns, commanded by one of
their number, none of whom were over nine
years of age.
They were as proud as Punch and march
ed about carrying themselves so straight
that actually some of them seemed to lean
back and don't doubt left the stage feeling
much larger than their older brothers, the
cadets.
The annual address to the Superintendent
was delivered by ex-Chief Miguers son, a
boy about Is, who we were told Is very
bright and who certainly did himself credit.
They are difident as rule and we were
surprised and pleased TO see him step to the
front and without embarrassment deliver
rather lengthy address in good language
and with appropriate gestures.
This closed the excuses which seemed to
be immensely enjoyed by the children and
are one of the means employed to make the
school attractive to them. But when we
consider their condition when received, at
the school, and the almost insurmountable
difficulties to be overcome in their educa-
ton, not speaking word of our language
at first; we wonder that so much is &C.
complished even by the patient, gentle
Sisters, and deeply regret there has been
nothing done to prevent its undoing by re-
turn to their homes and the habits of the
tribe when their school days are ended.