The sun., 1894-05-13
irpt1x FIELD HAraoxs
Ths work Of . UsefsI Class 90 Ensis- Ne
rsau Empioyess.

rssu EupioTess.
WASHINGTON, MAY I0-while efforts havs
been made in the pending legislation for the
Indian service to cut down the force OF em-
pleyees. including inspectors and agents. on
the other hand the Interior Department has
sanctioned plan for Increasing the number
Of field mstrons 10 twenty.
The frat provisions Of thisl sort made By
ConRrsss are TO be found in the Chippewa
treaty Of 1885. which appropriated 81. .oo0 am
nually for the teaching OF Indian girls In do
nestle economy. and in the Sioux treaty OF
1868. which provided $500 annually for IA
tron. But the general legislation on the SUBJ
joct may properly date from an item In the
Indian Appropriation act OF March 3, 1891
To enable the Com ssioner OF Indian Affairs
to employ suitable persons ss matrons tto
teach Indian girls In housekeeping and other
household duties. at rate not exceeding 500
per month. s2,5oo." This appropriation was
Increased aiterward to So. 900. which was found
sufficient to keep seven mstrons at work.
During the three or four years Of their en-
ploymsnt they have labored among the Yaks-
mas. the Cheyennes and Arapahoes. the Ne
braska Poncas. the Mexican Kickapoos, the
Sioux. the Esvajos. and the Moquis. Their
general duties are to Instruct Indian women
in household affairs. assisting and encourag-
ing them in making their homes better and
in taking proper care Of their children. They
are expected to be women Of good judgment
and character. OF industry and sound health.
free from family and other cares. so as to be
able TO devote themselves wholly to their
work and to endure Its hardships. They
ought to have such facilities as houses OF their
own in which Indian women can find object
lessons, and also means OF visiting from one
family to another. Accordingly they are usu-
ally assigned to tribes that have received or
are putting up housea 1t is better, alao, II
they are near white settlements. so that the
Comm missioner Morgan Issued iI some me detailed
MscS sd 10
led mo. ovepSsated AND Suitable IIIpffis far,
generally. including disposition Of ali refuse:
preparation and serving Of food and regularity
and mendine garments; laundry work: adorn.
Ing the home with pictures. curtains, home
%sse raf Gs' .ns 81 Egst gt s&S snj
such as cows. poultry. and swine; care and
curds. and Keeping Of bees; care Of the .ick
care Of little children. and introducing among
proper obsstSsnes % Of SUNDAY u and S orgsniEation %
Of societies for mental. moral. social. and
IL was clear enough from this programme
mstrons @ had been: The aim was TO give
duties. Just as farmers and m echan les are sup
piled for the instruction OF Indian men. Be-
sides visiting Indian families they can receive
at their own homes tho Indian women that
may come to them. They can also act as ad-
yisers TO the young girls. Regular reports to
the agents are required OF the matrons. At
least eight hours a day was considered neces-
eary for this work for nve days in the week.
Saturday giving q half holiday.
Commissioner Browning In his last report,
cordially commended the prosecution Of this
work. showing how IL may have Q great In
huence In encouraging education and aiding
women OF good judgment quick
sympathies, fertility OF resource, large prac-
tfcal experience. abundant energy, and sound
health can find to do among an ignorant
superstitious. poor, and conhding people" He
was particularly struck with the value OF the
matron's services In encouraging those who re-
turn from years Of education at sch ools to the
and squslor Of their tribes and
who. save for the helpful influence Of this
friend In need might sink in despair at the
contrast. 1t further appears that since on the
small salary allowed her the field matron can
not always procure the little house OF her own
aud the horse for ma king her waits which she
would like. private philanthropy has in some
cases aided the agency supplies in making up
such lacks
, The ofllce OF field matron is certainly q
worthy adjunct to the system OF Indian educa-
lion and the proposal to increase its useful- |
ness deserves the consideration Of Congress-