Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-05-23
SOME PHASES OFINDIg JLIFE.
The Shoshone Indiaa Boarding School.
[Article written by Mrs. L. W. Quimby.J

Away uD IN the II JunCa1n businesses
Of Nevada, among lava beds, and
volcanic hills the Shoshone reservation
occupies portion of the wide domain
that once was all their own. But alas.
the fertile valleys, the wide stretches of
plain where the buffalo, and wild horse
once roamed are no longer their posses
sion. The sage brush, the mountain
fir, and the stunted willow dot the
mountain sides or skirt the limpid
streams. The ShoshOnes are a feeble
race fast becoming extinct. The Pintes
are kin to them, both tribes being less
than one hundred years ago of the
Snake tribe Always docile, and lack
ing the warlike proclivities of their
race, they were d prey to hostile tribes
who robbed, and drove them from their
homes at will. Washington Irving
pictures them as ''poverty stricken,
degraded fish-eating savages." The
more warlike of whom followed the
chase, and accumulated horses and
arms when they gradually broke away
from the parent tribes, and acquired
the name of Pintes.
There are about 600 adult Indians
Shoshone and Pinte on the Shoshone
Reservation under the governmental
guardianship, with Major w. B. Har-
grove as agent. He is a man possessing
in an eminent degree the necessary
qualifications for an Indian agent.
Quiet, reticent, firm in his dealings, his
word is law among them, while every
Indian in both tribes looks up to and
honors him as "Obetsee" father). He
is Just, and scrupulously honest, and
the Indians are quick to perceive these
qualifications so rare in their relations
with white men. A deep and abiding
friendship testifes to their appreciation
Of it, even though the quality of graft
tude is woefully lacking in the race.
In the school are so pupils about
equally divided between the sexes.
There are little girls ranging in age
from i to s ears, 4 from 8 to y, the
rest of the IS girls are from 16 to 20
years old. They are comely children
and when they form in line, dressed in
red flannel dresses and white aprons,
ready for chapel service the little ones
make a pretty picture. [ have been
permitted to change the regulation
dress, and have had all of the little
ones red flannel dresses made, and for
best, white sleeveless aprons. The
older girls wear blue flannel for best
and blue denim with sleeveless waist
aprons for common. All of their
shawls | had modelled into capes and do
not allow the blanket fashion shawls to
be worn. | have given the little ones
their first lessons in useful manual
training. Have taught the older ones
useful lessons that supplementing their
domestic service as detailed, will hope
prove Of more value in their home life
than all the book learning they possess.
Even the little year old girls can make
bed nicely, scrub chair, set tables
and dust. All can sew on buttons, and
the little girls braided and sewed a
pretty floor rug as Christmas present
to the agents wife. They have made
four very pretty braided rugs and four
canvas floor mats, have learned to tan
skins, and tanned and mounted two
Coyote and one cat skin for floor rugs.
The more [ see of Indian service, the
more [ am impressed that industrial
training counts for more in future
benefits and usefulness than book learn
ing.
Over $1,000 was paid to hired en-
ployees at this Agency last pay day.
There are about 600 adult Indians on
the reservation as we'll able to earn
their living as corresponding number
Of the lower class Of emigrants. The
men are handsome specimens Of
athletic manhood, strong, lythe, muscu-
lar beings, capable of being brought
into line as laborers with splendid
success. I believe the future well-being
of the Indians depends on their being
taught to work. If we can get the
Indian away from the reservations,
scatter the tribe and spread them among
our people forgetting that they are red
men, considering them only as men,
they will do as others do. If we ever
civilize the Indian we must make the
common school the corner stone. No
doubt compulsory education will have
to be resorted to, and field matrons,
and field masters / coin the world will
have to be provided to teach industrial
pursuits from house to house. To SOW,
to plant, to raise stock, to build houses,
barns and fences, to make shoes, and
harness and furniture must be a part of
their training. Matrons find eager
minds and willing hands to learn bread
making, sewing, knitting and home
making
A FANIANGO.
Once year the Pinte and Shoshone
Indians have a fandango. Families
gather from far and near bringing tents,
cooking utensils, beds and provisions
and have a weeks picnic. | rode out to
the grounds where one was in progress
last week. On the level barren plain
at the foot of the mountain, some 20 or
more tents were struck, horses and
wagons and huge piles of sage brush
(fueD dotted the spaces between the