The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1908-04-10

"Old woman's work is what General
sherman called the education Of the
Indian At the tina that Captain Pratt,
u. 5. a. was detailed to remain on
duty AZ Hampton Institute and assist
General Armstrong. who had become
interested in the Indian problem
throush the admission to Hampton OF
seventeen younz Indian students, the
first VINO had ever Voluntarily entered
a white school. Old woman's work it
was termed by the bluff commander
OF the army. but as q result Of that
early work on the part Of Captain
Pratt. now Brigaiiar General Pratt,
Carlisle was founded and has grown
into the greatest factor in the solving
Of the Indian problem Mainly through
Carlisle. indeed. the problem has been
solved. the seed sown there during the
past thirty years resulting in such con-
ditions as are found among the Indians
of OklahOna and the Territory. where
the abOrigine in industry education
and thrift is on q par with his white
neighbor.
General Pratt is visiting in Honolulu
md his story OF the work of Carlisle,
of which he was a great part, Is an
interesting one. From the inception
when it met with the opposition of
General Sherman. until the present
time. when its opponents are very
many and its work minimized and mis-
re-rssented BY officials high in the
government. the progress Of Carlisle
has been hamperei; but it has grown
steadily in spite OF obstacles and ranks
today as one Of the great educational
ceutars OF the United States
The choice Of Carlisle for the school
was due mainly u the acton OF Gen
eraI Sherman in Withdrawing the army
cavalry school from there as a rebuke
To the ministers OF the town, who petit
toned the War Department 10 have
tbs SUNDAY parades STOPPED because
they attracted 50 many people. who
came 70 listen to the band Thus the
barracks were lonely and deserted when
the idea occurred TO Captain Pratt 70
utilize the building for the school, an
3 appropriation for which he was trying
10 set through Congress General Sher-
man was rather dubious concerning the
town OF Carlisle for anything and 10
f0rstau any complaints from there it
was arranged that the citizens should
- required 10 petition for the use OF
the barracks in that way. Thus the
school went 70 Carlisle which Is famous
n0T mainly because the shoOI Is there.
Then the work OF inducing the In
dams 70 surrender their children for
three years was commenced, the first
effort being made al the Rosebud
agency in Dakota Here, at first the
Indians refused 70 have anything u
d. with the scheme. stating tha- al I
white men ara liars and refusing TO
believe that the betterrnent Of the In
dian children was intended The Of !
icer argued at great length with the I
Indians. finally Winning over Spotted 1
Tai. Two Strike. White Thunder and 4
Mix the Leading chiefs After that II 1
vas easy.
u
al q whom retained their Indian COS
--Ues- the party was the center Of
attention, crowds turning out to see
hem a. every station along the line.
Is PZ-tv arrived al Carlisle IN Nov
=T0er 1873. only 10 find that OF all the
'uuDliss that had been requisitioned.
iothes, books, and other necessarfes.
n only thing that had reached the
cHo9l vas church organ. This was
lot needed for tae first few fav auv-
vay, - barber had been called in to
Ut the long hair II the children and
here was wailing over the oueratfon
very day and far into the nights.
OF his trying experiences in those
ays- General Pratt has little To say.
dTells- however. On the steady
rogress made By the Indians. Of the
nick way in which they learned to
pax English. of the readiness with
-hich they took up their manual train
Y work Of the Organiza ton Of the
rzt band and the way fn which the
Oys took u football The success of
h Carlisle football squad. particular
r f. z source Of pride 70 the old
5ldler
General Pratt resentz very vigorously
be Wild West shows. the Indian VII
sgss At the expeditions and the other
ttempts u give the impression that
1s Indian II today is the unc0uth saw
q u z generation ago. Just as the
iaTsiian Promotion Committee resent
Z flooding u the country with pic
Irss q hula dancers and grass huts
J typical Of Hawaii Of today.