The Newtown bee., 1900-03-09
LOCAL AFFAIRS.
Mrs e. L. johnson

VISITS A GOVERNMENT SCHOOL FOX IN
DIANs IN SOUTHERN CALIFoRNIA.--Ex-
TRACTS FROM 4 RECENT LETTER HOME.
on Saturday. February II, we were
driven to Perris to visit government
school for Indians. The cavalcade con-
sistin9 of one four horse carriage and
two two horse carriages containing n
people made up orr party. The mora
| ing was lovely, very much like O. May
morning at home, the air warm vet not too
warm for comfort, though we soon shed
all extra garments. A. Mrs Camp and
daughter from Winsted. Conn, were of
| the party. They are related to DR. Camp
OF Canaan and we rather think we are
cousins. The drive for several miles
was through canyons and by the side OF
mountains. Wild flowers are quite
abundant and gathered quite variety,
having taken my Fl over press that L came
near leaving home In Newtown, but
finally took at the last minute. We came
in sight Of patch of California peoples
few miles out Of the city and we al'ght-
ed TO gather some, and then walked quite
distance getting other wild flowers. The
road was ascending and found myself
getting warm, 80 got in while most OF the
others were in advance of me. MY seat
was in front with the driver who was a
A61IOW au0 aAA46EA 3G
mensely. when the summit was reached
he stopped his horses to let them rest,
and let the others get ahead little fur
Their. He seemed q sicRly kind of man
and one Of the horses was quite nervous
and little friskv. Several times | had
had "N-n-n-no" or "Y-y-y-yes" for
an answer, but while standing there re-
marked that he did not look very strong,
to which he assented, and I asked IL he
was strong enough to manage the horess
when he informed me '"Taint s-s-st-st-
strength. its s-s' s-science." congratulate
ed myself on having scientific driver,
and enjoyed the drive.
The first canyon into which we de-
scended after leaving Redlands il st
Fimetao then we climbed again to still
higher summit and descend into the Al
essadro valley and then we have an al
most level road to PERKS, with beautiful
views of the mountains on every side,
beautiful in the ever changing lights and
shadows upon them. Now and then we
saw school house and wondered where
the children lived, for the valley S1
through there seemed so sparsely settled.
We reached PERKS about half after eleven
and received very hearty welcome. The
buildings are nice substantial buildings
and the place for education of the Indians
is very like that at Hampton, though on
smaller scale. There are about 200
students, a few more boys than girls.
Their dinner was ready and we were
invited into the students diningroom to
see them march in and get seated at the
table. Having been at Hampton it was
not so new to me as to some of the rest,
but it was none the less interesting to me
than at Hampton. We were then given
a dining 70 ON whe~ g we spread cur food,
nf xEh HI oh OJn had ahnn1oOnn
sure you the dinner. tasted good after the
long drive. After dinner we we're In
vited to pleasant spot to hear the school
band discou rse fine music. Those well
qualified to Judge said It was a very fine
Oand. The government furnished part
of the money for the instruments and the
boys themselves earned the rest. We
were then invited to another part of the
grounds to see the military drill of both
boys and girls. It was prettier than any
ballroom scene ever saw. We went to
their sewing room, to the dcrm tories and
everywhere we chose. Everything
was in the best of order. After the
military drill we were invited into the
school room to listen to q debate, a short
drama the boys had learned, then to
room In primary school to hear them
sing, then to the music room to hear the
girls mandolin clubs. They certainly
played wonderfully we'll. We started
home about quarter to four aud arrived
home at little before seven, and l think
was as fresh as any Of the rest of the
young people,"
Yesterday and the day beff re and to
day have been very hot, l have had on a
thin dress and we have been sitting out
of doors on the east side Of the house.
am sorry l must give up the thought
Of your coming to this beautiful land.
1t is not Heaven, 1t ia not even Paradise,
but it iE a lovely spot and there are love-
~ people here. wish you could meet
some of them,