Gilpin observer., 1908-09-24
TEACH IN FAR NORTH
MOTHER AND DAUGHTER ONLY
WHITE RESIDENTS.
They Tutor In Old Russian Settlement
at Afognak. Alaska-Are Well
Treated by Natives Of Unique
Little Island.

MTS. ". w. fiuElIlOuu anu neT
daughter are teaching in what is per-
laps the most interesting school under
the stars and stripes. They are the
teachers appointed by the government
to conduct the native school at Afog
max, Alaska.
Afognak, Alaska, is but little known
10 the people of the United States,
yet 1t was the third town started by
the Russians in the early part of the
last century on the Pacific. 1t would
have little reason to demand even the
attention of the government to-day
We're it not for the fact that one of
the best Indian schools conducted in
the territory of Alaska is maintained
there. Afognak is on an island of the
same name in southwestern Alaska.
Mrs. C. w. Hammond and her
daughter are registered at the Diller
hotel. They have the task of teaching
the 81 pupils who are enrolled at the
Afognak school, and it is not likely
that in all the possessions of the
United States is there such variety
OF color or intelligence among the ma
tives who are being educated. On one
thing the natives, from the Aleuts to
| the Russian octoroons, are a unit.
Every one is the most devout of Greek
Catholics on Sunday. On other days
they are simply natives.
1t was last year that Mrs. Hammond.
who formerly lived at San Juan island,
in Washington state, was appointed
teacher at Afognak. When she ar
riy thar oh = f,1,
had been established 20 years. 1t was
rearranged to conform to modern
ideas, and in few weeks Mrs. Ham
mond will, with her daughter, begin
the fall term.
Il enjoy the work." said Mrs. Ham
mend, for | find great study in the
natives. 1t would surprise people to
know that of the 81 pupils in the
school there is hardly one who does
not take naturally to drawing. Why,
II is astonishing to find that little tots
who are just able to toddle to the
schoolhouse when furnished with n
rencil and paper begin drawing. l
have fostered and encouraged this
trait and there are several of the old
er children who are really clever.
Music, however, is the one thing
that wins them. from the old, gray
haired men and women to the little
boys and girls. They love music.
They can sing far better than an equal
number of country children in the
states. They have their favorite in
struments, too, mandolins and ac
cordions.
do they have monographs? Why.
there is not a popular air that has
been sung in the United States in the
last ten years that is not common in
Afognak within three months after the
record is made. l am taking trunk
full OF records up with me. And among
the records | had demand for some
real classical music.
so. far as the studies so. l cannot
say that the natives are anxious to
learn English in its higher branches.
There are some who are quite well
advanced, but there are also many
who attend school only by compulsion,
although they are very proud of what
education they possess after reaching
maturity.
"Afognak shows that the white
blood must predominate. There are
two villages. One is the real native
Aleuts town; the other the half-castes.
| have noticed that any native who
has n drop of white blood in his or her
veins looks down on the full blooded
native"
There are no white men stationed at
| Afognak. A few prospectors and hun
ters call there occasionally, so Mrs.
Hammond and her daughter are alone
among the natives. They say they
get along splendidly with them.