Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-11

the New York city auxiliary had spent
about $500 since it's inception. Mrs Cole
among the Navaios. and now a government
employe. told of the work done at the Re
becca Collins Hospital, Jewett, N. NJ Mrs.
David s. Stetson of Pennsylvania was not
present and the report of that state was
read bv Mrs. Wister.
Mrs. Ellis. wife of former Representative
Ellis Of New Orleans. told Of the work
done bv the Louisiana association. She
also extended an invitation on the part of
the New Orleans auxiliary for the national
association to hold its next convention in
the crescent city. vote Of thanks was
rendered Mrs Ellis and the New Orleans
auxiliary for the invitation.
Mrs. w. r. Brooks read an interesting
paper on Our Mission Transfers." and DIR.
Sheldon Jackson gave a talk on Alaska
as Field Mission after which the conven-
ton took a recess for luncheon.
Last Evenings Session.
At last evenings session addresses were
made by Indian Commissioner W. A.
Jones. District Commissioner Mcfarland
and others.
Mrs. F. N. Doubleday. In her address on
"Our Industrial Work" in part, said:
There is no good Indian but a working
Indian, but how to make every Indian work
and how to find the opportunity and the
man or woman to fill it, are problems which
may well engage the attention Of every
thoughtful friend the Indian has,
The speaker urged the great Importance
of encouraging the native handicrafts as an
aid to the Indians in achieving their self
support, and stated that over $4,000 worth
of Indian native wares are sold annually
in the city Of New York alone
''It Is OF especial Importance" she said,
that the articles made by the Indians be
adapted to modern uses, and the Indians
are now being taught to do this with the
result that the sales are increasing enor-
mouSly.
The speaker paid tribute to Miss Estelle
Reel the superintendent of Indian Schools,
''for the characteristic energy and practical
good sense" in having the native Industries
taught in the government schools. She also
eulogized Commissioner Jones, Secretary
Hitchcock and President Roosevelt for their
conscientious and earnest efforts to see that
everything possible Is done to improve the
condition of the Indians and to protect their
interests.
The Indian Agent.
Commissioner Jones said:
There q number Of evils connected
with the Indian service which seriously re-
tard the progress of the solution Of the In
dian question: not the least Of which is the
appointment of agents solely for political
reasons. The Indian service, above all
others ought not to be made to serve partt-
san ends, but the men who enter the serv-
ice should possess those qualifications of
successful prosecution of the work.
I'm brief. fitness should be the test for
entry into the service. The method in vogue
is right the opposite from this. Politics
are first and fitness last. If considered at all.
Things will remain as they are. If they
do not grow worse. until there Is radical
change and more permancy In the service.
and consequently a more uniform method
of dealing with the Indians There Is but
one way to bring this about-that is, to
take advantage Of the law which authorizes
the commissioner of Indian affairs, with
the approval Of the Secretary of the In
terror, to devolve the duties Of an Indian
intendent Of the indian training school.
located at such agency, whenever, In his
judgment. such superintendent can prop
erly perform the duties Of such agency"
An Interesting Exhibit.
An interesting collection of Industrial,
classroom and native work from the Indian
schools Of the United States Is on exhibition
at the Church of the Covenant during the
sessions of the association. The display
consists Of regular school-room papers.
drawings. paintings, fancy articles OF all
kinds, plain sewing, darning and patching,
and work in wood, iron and leather. The
exhibit, which Is prepared by very young
children, is greatly admired. the industrial
part especially showing the practical train
Ing the Indian youth is receiving In the
government schools. Every section Of the
country Is represented.
Haskell Institute, Kansas. exhibits be-
sides its literary work, exquisite lace and
embroidery made by the deft fingers Of the
Indian girls.
Phoenix School, Arizona sends fine lace
work and we'll executed drawings; Santa
Fe, N NJ, shows a case Of iron implements
made by the pupils, besides classroom
specimens. Two articles In the exhibit that
are exciting much admiration are a beau
tiful onyx table made by the pupils Of the
Phoenix School and an inlaid table from
the Santa Fee School. Albuquerque School,
New Mexico, has furnished two Navajo
blankets. for which these Indians are ia
nous, and Mescalero School, in the same
territory, sends baskets.
Colorados two large schools, Fort Lewis
and Grand Junction, have interesting COL
lections, the ironwork of the former includ-
ing several hundred pieces made by boys
who had been in the shop but few months,
and the proficiency they exhibit LIS remark
able. A large iron gate made by these
pupils Is ornamented with brass taken
from old lamps.
The largest agricultural Indian school in
the United States, the Chilocco School of
Oklahoma, demonstrates the practical char
acter of its training by an exhibit OF indus
trial articles relating to the farm and
household. the work Of the girls In patch
Ing, plain sewing and fancy work being
especially interesting.
In accordance with the course of study
recently issued the native arts are now
taught in the various schools. Oneida
School, Wisconsin,; Leech Lake School, MIN
nesota, and Fort Hall School, Idaho, have
sent in collections of beadwork. consisting
of pouches, belts, hatbands napkin rings
and moccasins, of neat workmanship and
exquisite designs.
Exquisite embroidery and lace work made
by the pupils of ST. Mary's, Odanah, To- 4
nah and Lac du Flambeau schools Wis
consin is one OF the most Interesting fea-
lures of the entire exhibit, as Is also the
Industrial work prepared by the pupils of
Fort Shaw. Montana.
This collection Is one OF the finest exhibits
of Indian school work ever shown, and
demonstrates the practical efforts the gov /.
eminent Is making In preparing the Indian
youth for self-support.
A cordial invitation to call and view the
exhibit has besu extended 70 the public.