The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-07
roNAsKET INDIAN SCHOOL
Interesting Exercises Mark tho Close
of the Year.

r,rovflle July I-Special.-On June 70
she Tonasket Indian boarding scnooi was
brought TO a close after a suceessthi run
OF ten. months. The day before the pa
rents of quite a number OF the pup.s
came In 20 be on hand. Promptly az AZ
o,eloek a. IN. the exercises began. School
was opened with the pupils repeating the
IortPa PRAYER Then, after couple or
songs the visitors were invited 10 Wink
out In front OF the school house TO witness
the raising OF new flag that the agent
had sent over for the school. Inc Gnu"
dren. eighty-four in number, marched our,
and they made nice display as they TOOK
shslr ,,osttions The girls were on the left
and began with a small one not over
YEARS OF age. and continued up TO the
largest n young lady who Is nearly grown.
The boys then took their places IN the
same order The flag was run up, ana
when II was urfurled there was oreezc
blowing from the west. which carried IL
out parallel with the procession.
Just as IL caught the breeze ths chill
dren struck I'D '"The Star Spangied Ban
ner" I'm which quite a number or visitors
totned among them some @. A. H. men,
and the way II was sung showed tnat the
snark Of patriotism needed little tanning
by that glorious banner.
After the song the children marcnea
hack to the school room ana until ~
choice reci,atsons and such music as IL
ea,dosn heard even in older schools. They
.han took a recess until 2 p. m. Capt
P,.ta, the acting agent, had promised 10
he present at the closing or the schooi.
nut lust before leaving the agency he re-
ceived a telegram TO go TO Cour q Aiehe.
All hands were much disappointed.
chief Lott and the head CHIEF from
Coly,ils we're here. and each made
good speech. full of sound advice to the
children and their parents. At p. IN.
the bell was rung. and by this time the
visitors were in full force and there
was not even standing room. so that
number had to stand In the door ana
yest,bule. The exercises were begun by
an address OF welcome by Prof. Parker,
who is one OF the teachers. and he did the
occasion justice. Then the children sang
.swelcome." The exercises consisted OF
Rotations and songs. and there was not
n breakdown. Each one performed his
part in a manner that was highly appre-
ciated by all. At p. m. the pupils again
took a recess until 3. as II was quite
warm. At s p. m. they assembled again.
After a song and recitation the super
tufendsnt. Mr. Hanks. called on the
county superintendent OF schools. Mr..
hanson. who, in a very neat speech
complimented the teachers for their
WORT. and the children for the progress
they had made, and said he was com
PEELED 10 say the children were ahead OF
any others In the county and the excer-
cises could not be excelled anywhere for
the practice
chief Lott then got up and spoke
through an interpreter. He told the
children they mast learn all they could.
for soon they would he thrown on their
own resources. and without an education
they were the same as II they were
blind. that he would like 10 zee every
Indian child on the reservation attend
rchoo,, and that the parents should bring
their children hack as coon as their va
cation was ended. After few songs the
CoIvilIe chief spoke in about the same
strain. Then Dr. Walker made speech
which was well applauded. Then the
runsls sang Marching Through
Georgia" The children marched through
the atsles and stopped and went through
their muscular exercises They sans
sst1ur Country" then. at 1910 n. m. the
exercises were closed by the school sing
ing ''Goos-Nv Till We Meet Again"
The Tonasket school has been running
now four years. II was established here
by a treaty when tho Indians coded that
pnrtinn az Okanogan county lying west
az the Okanogan. river. When IL began
Few Of the children could speak any
English. Now all can talk good English
and nearly all can read and write well
This school has had an able corps Of
teachers The superintendent, Mr.
Hanks. has followed teaching for many
wears and Is music teacher as we'll
The pupils understand the notes. and car
sing any OF the pieces by note. Miss
Williams IS successful teacher. al
though this Is her first year at feachinF
lgftts Indians. Her pupils show that she
understands her vocation. Miss Zoar
has the kindergarten. and the way he'
pupils performed was proof that then
had a genuine master. Prof. Parker Il
an old instructor. The seamstress. the
fnatron. the laundress and the cook arr
all proficient IN their spheres. The arCnt
has done all ne could 10 make the school
success so u IS no wonder Il should
have closed this year IN a blaze OF glory