The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-06-12

him. They reached Fort Wrangell, Aug.
10, 1877, and at once founded the Alaskan
Mission.
Mrs. Mcfarland entered upon her work
with great earnestness and wisdom. With
no Eschoolroom and only twenty-seyen
books. comprising four Bibles, four
hymn books. three primers, thirteen First
READERS, and wall chart, the only
Christian white woman in the country,
and steamer from home coming only
once month to bring mail, the work
would have daunted less Jealous spirit.
Probably the Church in the United States
has never had q greater surprise than
when it found out that the work IN
Alaska had been begun, and that Gull
tured woman was there single handed TO
carry it on. The situation, as soon as it
was understood throughout the country.
awakened an enthusiasm that has had
few parallels in modern Christian work,
and support for the work was guaran-
teed.
Mrs. Mcfarland rented little house
for herself, and with womanly ingenuity
made 1T as homelike as possible. She had
no sooner moved in than two or three OF
the Indian girls begged to live with her,
but as she had neither room nor furnish
ings, she was obliged to refuse To her
horror, in few days one of these little
girls, a mere child, was carried off to live
with one of the low white men of the
neighborhood. This made it evident that
some way must be devised whereby she
could have Il house of refuge for these
homeless girls. She at once made a n in
sistent demand OH the Church for homo
school, demand never silenced until
the means were Forthcoming. Brooklyn
and New York responded with special
enthusiasm. A large two story building
was rented for the work by Mr.. Wander
bilt and the girls began fiocking in. In
a short time there were twenty girls,
who attended day school and assisted in
domestic labors They showed great ap-
titude for houssworx, and, although COM
ing from homes whore they had never
seen table set nor bed made, they
soon learned to sweep, dust, scrub, wash
dishes, ana carry on the work of the
: house, thus giving promise for the future
home life of Alaska.
In the spring of 1878 the Presby terian
Board, recognizing the Importance of es-
r tablishing mission at Sitke, the capital,
sent out the Rev. John q. Brady of
New York and Miss Fanny E. Kellogg
of North Granville N. Y. Their work
, was success from the start, and in 1889
q new site for the school was selected o
short distance out of the village, and
building 100 By SO feet in size was erect
ed. About this time the Home for Girls
established at Fort Wrangell by Mrs Nc
Farland was transferred to Sitka, and
the two united as an Industrial and
Training School under Government con-
tract. Another building for the girls
was needed, aud one similar in str ucture
to that of the boys was erected, 1870 by
80 feet in size, both being two and a half
stories in height.
Grouped about them are the buildings
of the various industrial department. is,
fine hospital erected through the gener-
osity of Mrs. Elliott F. Shepard of New
, York, chapel, storehouse, and twelve
model COTTAGES" built by the student is
and occupied by young married couples
from the schools. These tiny cottages are
the pride of the Alaskans and the admir-
alton of the visitors forming with their
background of lofty mountains one of
the most charming spots in struggling,
picturesque Sitka.
9 They are built on Government land be-
n longing to the school, and the young
, married Christians are allowed to buy
! them, paying for them as they are able.
! They are laid out on little streets lighted
by lanterns; are carpeted, curtained, and
a furnished as neatly and comfortably as
their means will admit. This keeps the
young people from returning to their old
homes and old customs, and has been
found most effectual aid to the work of
the school. Miss Hilton hopes to have
special class for the instruction of these
young wives and mothers in the house
y wifely arts.
Within the last few weeks, owing to the
interchangeable efforts of Dr. jackson, the
, 6 overnment has formally assumed the
expense of the Industrial departments of
this training school-a duty long de-
ferred.
) Miss Hilton has been in the East about
eight years in order to fit herself for the
work before her. She starts for Alaska
= in July, reaching Sitka, Aug. II, in time
to get her model kitchen fitted up for the
opening of the school in September The
furnishings of the school will be obtained
at Seattle.
The girls in the training school are
! uniformly dressed in dark navy-blue
! flannel, simply but tastefully made. The
= cooking classes will add to this the white
caps, aprons, and sleeves as an insignia
of their department.. Miss Hilton will
endsayor to make the work rs attractive
D and as practical in its bearings as posi-
S BILE, teaching the girls how to be syste-
L matio and economical, making the most
of their simple furnishings, utensils, and
foods
Much is hoped from this entering
r wedge of skilled, Intelligent service that
9 to paraphrase TIE oft-quoted Herbert