Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-07

tunity to gain an intimate knowledge OF
German ideals in teaching and observe
German methods in practice. In the
United States such an opportunity is
usually accorded a visitor who gives EVIL
dence Of sincerity to his desire for the
privilege, but in Prussia the privilege Is
rarely granted to any one except through
formal application to the royal minister
OF instruction.
I'm no case are teachers to take part
in the formal instruction of the institu-
ton which they visit They do not dc
the work. or even part Of the work. of q
regular teacher. This would impose toe
heavy a burden upon the visitors and
would render their relationship with the
students too didactic. The plan Is for
own language in an informal manner fol
not more than two hours each day. his
classes being small groups Of upper class
men who wish to perfect themselves in
the language OF the teacher. The stu
dents and the teacher discuss the man.
ners and customs of the teachers home
the social arrangements. the family life
the conditions Of public life. social usages
etc. Work of this nature will not inter.
fere with the teachers leisure for study
and observation, and for short trips &c
communities other than his own"
The Learned Sequoyah.
most learned Of all Indian chiefs of this
continent. was a native Of Augusta. but
SO far as / can ascertain, there 10 not a
county nor a town nor river nor a
mountain nor even a street bearing his
name. There 10 no monument in Georgia
or anywhere else to his memory. although
the Cherokee legislature granted pen
sion OF $500 year to his widow and ex-
tended 1t to his only son, who, under
E,,{v~ ~
Oklahoma. The big trees OF Call.
fornia. however. the giant redwoods, have
his name. which was given to them ir
l847 By two early botanical explorers. Herr
EdIicher and William Lobb. and no one
could ask for nobler monument
On several occasions 1t was proposed to
call Indian Territory in his honor. and
that probably would have been done. bu,
for its amalgamation with Oklahoma ir
single statehood.
Sequoyah was a haif-breed and the
son of George Gist. German peddler, and
the daughter OF Cherokee chief. He was
born in a tepee on what IL now the out
skirts Of this city. and received what edu'
cation he had at the little school attached
to a trading post which was called Fort
But he picked up more knowledge while
travelling with his father. who traded In
furs along the rivers of the southern
states. as far north as the Ohio and the
Potomac and as far west az the Missls.
sippi He learned many things from many
men and he had a gift for languages. Ir
1902 when he was about thirty-nine years
old. he commenced the laDorious work OF
reducing the Cherokee language to writ
ing Up till that time it had no written
form. and he devised eighty-five mono
syllabic characters to express the sounds
that fell from the lips of his fellow-tribes'
men. He finally compiled a dictionary
which was completed in 1926. The Cher
okee nation formally adopted it as itt
code of language. giving him a vote OF
thanks and large silver medal engraved
with his English name. George Gist.
He went west from Georgia with hii
nation at the time Of the great migration
to Indian Territory. driving an ox-cart
containing his family and all his earthly
possessions. He afterward became a
teamster on the Santa Fe trail and drove
a wagon In the freight caravan from In
dependence. Kan, to Sante Fee Whisky
killed him. He was drunkard from hit
early manhood and died under a wagon a
San Fernandino. n. NJ, in 1912. He wa.
buried where he lay by his fellow-team
sters. Several years later his body wa.
dug up and removed to Indian Territory
where 1t found permanent burial. 1t wal
identified by a medal given him by An
drew jackson. which was found hanging
about his neck. Many books. newspa pers
and other publications are issued ever!
year in the Cherokee language. which
would not be possible but for his geniu.
and labor.