West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1896-07-16
OUR INDIAN SCHOOL.
Ihe Teacher Gives An Account of
the Closing.
corrcspondence Of the Argu..

AeIHdpS low items concerning
the closing exercises of an Indian
school of one years growth, will in
terest my friends.
On the morning OF June 30th,
long ere o O'Clock, while old Sol
had not yet began cooking his
breakfast, the Indians began TO
come. Men, women aud children;
mothers carrying their babies, com
ing from the farthest part of the
reservation over rough mountains,
seven to s miles.
Promptly at o a. M, to the music
OF the bell, the pupils filed into tho
building. After the visitors were
seated tho exercises were opened by
reading the 23rd Psalm and repeat
ing the Lords Prayer, in which all
joined.
To see the children read and sing
from book, was truly a strange
sight to the parents. After this
there were recitations, songs, lia-
logues, reading, etc. The parents
seemed greatly interested, If staring
eyes and open mouths was any
index. They seemed especially
pleased when boy or girl of six
years would take charge Of class,
ask questions about 1t, draw pic.
lures and writo on the black. board
and ask questions of the class and
have them answer.
These little tots, who one year
ago did not only know any English,
but were so reserved that / could
not get them to speak a word after
me or look at me, now can read in
the 1st and 2nd readers, write
very legl BILE hand and read writing
as good, il not better than print.
They know a number of songs by
note and sing them well and are
very expert in drawing aud sketch
ing. They can write and read
numbers to millions and add very
creditably. They have also learned
considerably of Geography.
One interesting feature OF the
exercises was a doll parade. In
January gave all the girls dolls
and hair ribbons and the boys
pocket mirrors, combs, and all
handkerchiefs. The dolls wore of
good size, with hair, eyes and ad-
Unstable limbs. told all the girls
to bring their dolls on the last day
OF school. Aside from the doll ex-
ercises | wished to see who were
taking the best care Of her ioll. A
number brought their dolls looking
almost as clean as when they got
them, some having new suits made
Of brightgoods. Little Magdelena,
with sad face, said her doll fell
off the horse as she was coming and
broke one Of it's legs and arms and
she could not bring it when it was
so badly crippled. Leanna said
the dog killed her doll and Lul-
lupo's doll was not well enough to
bring, which meant that she had
soiled it. ! did not scold any for
not taking better care of their dolls
but made such display Of the nice
clean ones and praised the owners
50 for the care they had taken of
them that the delinquent ones felt
very lonesome over it aud will strive
in the future to do better.
After the children had given their
performance asked the gray-head.
ed Chief, Yguacia euro, to talk to
the children. lie began with an
elaborate praise Of the school work,
saying that he was sorry that he
did not have tho same chance TO
learn when be was a boy. As ho
finished be said he would like to
talk more but his breast was too
full TO talk. Then Capt. Domingo
Quitac arose and talked enthusias-
tically Of the good Of the school
and the advantage Of civilization
in which he said "1n the noise
and clash Of toe tread Of civiliza-
ton, the Indians must awaken from
their stupor and fall in with the
advancing power which nothing can
resist. The Indian must no longer
consider The reservation only his
home, but be q citizen Of the great
United States and regard it all as
his home. lie must o5oy the laws
and respect the flag Of this great
home. Must learn TO distinguish
between the good and the bad, and