The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-02-25

and education acquired In the east is
powerless to rescue them.
remembered the pathetic story of
the Indian maiden who at school had
been the brilliant one Of her class and
had, by her grace and beauty of per-
| sonality and character, endeared her
| self to her teachers. When the inevit-
| able time came that she must leave,
she begged piteously to not be sent back
to the tribe. But i'm vain. for the
scheme Of Indian education by this wise
and beneflcent government of ours isthat
| the younger ones returning to the res
ervation may. by magical process Of
their new ideas and culture, transform
the shftless wards of the nation, who
have grown gray in battle and crime
and desperate resistance to the en-
croachment of their white brethren,
into peaceful, hard-working individu-
ais So the little maid was sent back
to her fathers tepee.
He was pretty decent sort Of an old
chief and loved his daughter, but her
position as girl who had imbibed the
habits of civilization was impossible.
once she found her way to the mission
the others looked upon her with suspic-
ion and hatred and she was wretched,
and the stolidity of her race was broken
az with tears and sobs she threw her
self at the teachers feet, begging to
stay in that safe retreat. But sorrow-
fully, gently and firmly she was driven
back to the old life, so repugnant to
her awakened senses of refinement.
Months afterward the teacher visited
the reservation and Witnessed one of
the periodical dances 50 degrading to
the participants and ominous to the
peace of the vicinity. The widest figure
in the Orgie was n young squaw, clad
only in a blanket. who repeatedly ran
to the side of the bullock just killed
and tore out pieces of the smoking flesh
with her teeth. The teacher and her
party were ineXpressibly shocked at
the savage exhibition, but imagine her
feelings as suddenly when the woman
came nearer, she recognized the face
of the favorite pupil, despite the
tangled locks and the fury-reddened
eyes. Soon afterward ii was learned
that she had married a young chief
the worst and most dissolute in the
tribe. So much for the kind and fos-
tering care. the loving philanthropy OF
our aims to elevate the Indian.
| Looking at those earnest-faccd lads
the other night. with their neat blue
uniforms ana their finely shaped heads
l couldn't but wonder what their future
will he. They are utterly untitled for
life among their people and there is nc
place elsewhere for them when theil
school davs are done. What are al
the aspirations Of mankind, the am.
hitlon to he something in the big world
to stand alongside other young men OF
education, when one is n North Ameri.
can Indian with a lodge on the prairie
for a background and a heritage o
blood of persecution, of endless con
llict with civilization for a birthright?'
AS Mr.. Dooley says: The only hope
for the Indyun is to put his house on
rollers and kape a team hitched to it an
whin he sees a white to start for the
settin' sun. He's roon'd whin he has
a cellar. If he knew anything about
balloons he'd have Chanst. The last
'av him he'll be living in a divin bel
somewhere out in the Pacific ocean
, Mr.. Wheelock, the leader Of the band
is brilliant young fellow with a igur,
of an athlete, as indeed he is. for HI
is the captain of the foot ball team
which has attracted much attention
, He is to take this band Of sixty to tn,
. Paris exposition next year to shOv
what the American Indian can become
And then, what next? Saucy Bess.