The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-12-09

DIS
two O'Clock in the afternoon.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The first business in order at the after
noon meeting was the report of the
obituary committee, given by Mrs. Green
of New York. which expressed deepest re-
greet at the loss of two valued members of
the executive board, and several other
mem bers of the various branches.
Mrs. Quiaton then very fittingly iutro-
duced the young Indian woman, Miss
Dawson, who had been graduated from
Hampton and who is at present teacher
in North Dakota.
Miss Dawson has been field marion
and spoke most charmingly OF the differ
ence in the present situation OF her people
before and after their attempts at ciivliza-
ton. Miss Dawson said that now ner
people were in transition period in this
respect, where the Gospel of Soap is SILL
necessary. At present. there is really
much evidence of improvement, and great
interest for their new homes, One OF the
most trying questions to meet, said Miss
IaWSOut Mdb DuO ldQLA0tJ NOLh AZ 40 ~
difficult to carry the water, aud very
often the necessary implements were
lacking. The cooking Glasses, too, have
been satisfactory, and the women very
quickly learn to lay the table and serve
the meals as they are taught. Miss Daw
lived in three room log cabin, and
while one of her companions taught the
cooking classes, she took care OF the
vigorous little Indian babies. The sewing
classes, too, have been very successful
for, as rule, the Indian women are ex-
cellent sewsrs, but have little idea how
to cut and fit their garments Then they
had sewing machine given them, using
which was a very popular amusement
Mothers meetings have been very helpful
in trying to tell them about caring for
the sick, and especially in not oyer-feed
ing the children, perhaps giving them
coffee and biscuit in the middle of the
night to hush them to sleep again. The
desire for better homes is certainly grow
ing, and there were several new ones
building when she left home. Miss Daw-
son said it was comparatively easy to
teach them sewing and cooking, but very
difficult to teach them economy and care
for what they have. The young teacher
had a word to say as to the exper fence OF
the returned students. and she felt that
there should be something done to pro-
vide more adequate shelter for these
young people, it being very difficult for
them to return to their old miserable
homes. Furthermore, Miss Dawson said
that eighty seven per cent of these young
people do good work among their own
people; and she denied that SO many of
them went back to the blanket as is often
said. In closing, Miss Dawson said very
sweetly, that she and many others of her
people were trying to prove that there
were other good Indians than s'dead
Indians"
Miss Marie E. Ives of New Haven, gave
full and interesting report of the Young
Peoples department., which has been
printed in a neat little pamphlet and
circulated among those Interested in the
work. Miss Ives report shows not little
ssk ill and energy in the management OF
this department, and the principal effort
has been directed towards the assistance
of Mrs. Minnie G. Barrows. teacher at
Bishop, Inyo Co.. California, among the
Piutes. Mrs. Barrows WAS teaching in
an old barn and doing an excellent work
with about fifty day pupils and sixty-five
in Sunday school. She was informed by
the government officials that she could no
longer have the use of the barn. This
seemed just the chance for the young
people. and correspondence was COM
menced with MRS Barrows in regard to
it. AS result, through Mrs. Barrows's
efforts, and those Of the officers and MEM
bers of the association, a sufficient
amount was raised and pledged to justify
her to buy small M, e. Episcopal
church, which had bean outgrown by its
parish. The arrangements for this pur-
chase have not been made entirely, but
Mrs. Barrows writes very cheeringly of
the relief that has already come to her in
uhesvery thought of Independence, after all
the trouble, uncertainty AMI expense over
their present quarters.
A full report of the receipts and ex-
penditures are also published in this ac-
count of the young peorle's department.
Miss Ives is evidently very enthusiastic
over this work, and read an interesting
letter she had received from an old Indian
chief.
The report of the home building COM
mittee was very interesting, quoting from
many letters of the Indians who We're
paying; or anxious to pay. the loans
which had been given them for their
houses. AT present there is nine hundred
dollars in the treasury, with an annual
return Of six hundred dollars from the
Indians.
Miss Frances Sparhawk gave most
encouraging report of the library work
among the Indian schools, which told of
great interest among the Joung people in
regard to reading matter. Many extracts
of letters from different superintendent,
asking for more papers and magazines
and simple stories, were read. 1t was also