Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-11-25
THANKSGIVING AT INDIAN SCHOOL,
Nearly 300 Pupils Enjoyed a S%umptuous
Dinner Improvements in the Indian
Service Growth of the Santa
Il, Tunl
Fe Institution.

lie Institution.
n dining room of the United States
Indian industrial school presented a
very attractive appearance yesterday
as 272 neatly dressed pupils filed in and
took their places at the &c tables loaded
with all the substantials of the season.
1t took 300 pounds of turkey and duck,
II mince pies, u gallons of cranberry
jelly, two barrels of apples, 70 cans corn,
240 pounds of potatoes, 40 loaves of
bread, 20 pounds butter and 81 choco-
late cakes to furnish Uncle Sans wards
with what Superintendent Viets consid-
cred a square Thanksgiving dinner.
He is a careful, as we'll as a generous
provider, however. and no waste or ex-
~travagance followed. The children were
waited upon by the teachers and m
ployes of the school. who declared unan-
imously that they never saw anywhere
better behaved or more appreciative
children.
Much credit is due the industrial force
of the school, who, for some DAYS preyi-
Gus, worked faithfully to make the &C.
casion a success. Each face in this
corps, from that of the alert and ener-
getic matron, Mrs. M. r. Hall. who was
chief engineer of the affair, down to the
serious, patient one of Severiano Ia
foya, the baker, showed a smiling con-
seriousness of duty well done.
Nc one who is at all conversant with
the inside affairs of Indian schools and
who has watched their development for
a term of years, could look upon the
Santa Fe school dining room yesterday
without a thrill of pride and joy because
of the vast improvements in the Indian
service which have taken place within
Is years. The schools of today are
marked contrasts to those of that time.
The personnel of the service has espe-
clally beer improved and, with the en-
ployment of refined, earnest, cultured
people, has followed a correspondents
Improvement in equipment, dress, table
service, etc, until now the person who
IS IN the care of Uncle Sam, either as a
ward or a civil service employee, needs
not the pity of any one. The children
yesterday had a good home and a good
dinner to be thankful for. The older
ones We're thankful for that fine growth
or a Christian civilization which made
the home and the dinner possible.
The present management is evidently |
running the school for the benefit of |
the Indians, and they are rapidly find |
ing 1t out and responding in large num-.
bers. The school already has a far larg-
err attendance than ever before, and had
1t not been for precautionary measures
taken because of the prevalence of
smallpox in some of the most progress
slve pueblos, the school would ere this
nave reached the limit of it's capacity.
soon as it is safe to do so, Superin-
tendent Viets proposes to secure the 2s
pupils needed to-reacn the 300 limit and
men urge~the Indian office for that ex-
tension which the needs of the case de-
mand. Every progressive citizen of
Fe and of the territory of New
MEXICO who stops to think over the
matter, can readily see what a large
factor in the development of this terri
tory the educational institutions are.
Those who have east their lot with
New Mexico, confident of her future
nave an additional cause for thankful
ness that there is at the head of This
a mar clear eyed enough to see
he possibilities Of growth on this line
clear headed and energetic enough
o secure that growth. If he is given
he support that he merits, both at
and in Washington, there is no
'eason why the Santa Fe Indian Indus.
rial school may not in the near future
approach in dignity, influence, equip
nent and achievement it's great ~proto-
ype, the famous Indian training school
t Carlisle. F,