The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1901-12-28

is required of them, Indian youth o.
both sexes learn as rapidly as aver
age white children" In the school are
whites and Indians, and among theSe
| latter are children of tribes once hos
| tile to each other: yet. thanks to the
beneficent influence of the Catholic re-
| ligion and its sweet laws, all exist to-
gether in perfect harmony and fellow
ship. A praiseworthy spirit of emula-
ton in the studies and a love of vir-
tue and excellence prevail throughout
the establishment. This happy spirit
is fostered by the premiums held out
to them and the frequent entertain
ments gotten up for their parents and
friends, before whom their natural
love impels them to appear to the best
advantage. And not the least stimulus
thereunto is the public reading of the
results of their standing as to conduct
and application at the end of each
month. AS it is not gratifying to hui
man nature to be Inundated before the
whole school every month, by hearing
of a low average. it makes the pupils
work. To make it the more fruitful
a certain degree of importance is at
tached to the ceremony. and the rev.
erend director of the mission himself
presents printed testimonial cards to
those who have attained the required
degree of proficiency. The government
of superiors is characterized by spirit
of love, and their wards are made to
feel that they are heart and soul for
their welfare The discipline is gentle.
but firm, and never allowed to slack
for any reason whatsoever, and all,
both Indians and whites, are treated
on the same level.
The results of these methods of
;r1-ir b..
a childish enthusiasm, coupled
with a deep-set confidence and
attachment for the teachers are it's
natural outcome. Every day, at the
sound of the bell. the children assem-
BILE in the church to say their night
and morning prayers. Thus, habits of
piety take such deep root in their
young hearts as will strengthen and
confirm the teachings given them with
so much care and labor The church
is the general rendezvous where all
meet. There, whites and Indians. par
ents and children, kneel around the
same altar united by the same faith
and guided by the same aspirations.
The proximity of the church to the
schools has another precious advant-
age. in that it gives to parents an OPP
portunity of seeing their children ev-
cry Sunday. AS is we'll known, the
entire tribe is Catholic. In order the
better to sanctify the Sunday they
leave their farms on Saturday after
noon and come. some of them twenty
miles or so. to their houses in the vii
lage just in front of the church. And
here they spend the Sunday During
the entertainments which they wit
ness at the schools on great occasions,
several traits reveal themselves. a
general feeling is to be noticed en-
graved on their energetic features and
whole department. AS these children
are theirs, theirs also is the school,
theirs are the teachers. With the ia
Tiers they are quite at homeland they
are quite right. Their dealings with
them betoken the best understanding
and confidence, and it is no wonder,
then, that with such happy relations
between the governing and the gov
erned the Occur d 'Alene Indians should
advance so rapidly in the ways and
means of civilization. Of this pretty
fair estimate might be formed from an
account of the last visit of their be-
loved bishop. Rt. Rev. A. j. GlorieuX.