Douglas Island news., 1909-09-29
A School Boy of the North

There are many people who believe that the money spent by the U. 5. gov ernment in the attempt to educate the native races of Alaska is practically wasted; that the natives would be better off if left to themselves and their own way of living.
 MT. John Kilbuck, who has charge of the school for natives on Douglas Island, was for many years in the far North and taught the government schools at both Point Barrow and Vain. wright. He recently received letter 1 from one of his former pupils at Vain wright, an Eskimo lad about fourteen years of age. Tbis lad has had the ad- vantage of less than three terms of school, aud yet his hand writing, spell ing, capitalization and punctuation will compare favorab ply with that of the average white boy who has had much superior advantages.
 The only peculiarity about this letter is the composition, which shows that the writer still thinks in his native lan- guage, yet it is not difficult to get his meaning An extract from the letter may prove interesting:
 WAINWRIGHT, ALASKA, July 2, 1909.
 My DEAR TEAcHER:-I got your letter at Icy Cape when 1 was whaling down there. pm lazy now because I've been shot by Nehkaktoah at Icy Cape. The i old squaws flew toward us and he took shot gun waiting for them, while l slept. When the old squaws flew far. he sat down in the aft of the canoe and ] was sleeping in the middle of canoe, and his shot gun shot and shot me under my socket joint. l walked up very fast and the blood runs fast. 1 couldn't breathe for it hurts me much. He took me on my hand and pray or yelled to God. In his prayer, he said @God, I made sin for shooting Frank, make me happy"
 When he shot me he took his knife and threw it away from him. When saw the tears of him, running down his cheeks, said, "Don't be sorry, but try to rememb Der God" Four fingers or five can be in the hole, where the shots are, but now one finger can go in. Some shots are inside the hole. MT. Sinclair used to wash it every day, but now he don't. Every body down at Icy Cape were sorry. would like the picture of yourself I will tell you about my par ents. My mother almost cry when she heard me that l am shot, and Maggie and Fannie. James went down to Icy ! Cape in one night, and came in day to Wainwright. When Mabel heard me she cried in few minutes. When I arrived to Wainwright Levi was ex- hausted and then Mabel came with the tears on her cheeks, she said, Brother, l will not sing Nehkaktoah's songs." J. E. Sinclair wrote to pr. Marsh what he had does with my wound. Dr. Marsh answered him that he is doing well. 1 am writing myself. 1 understood the words, how easy they are to talk with , the white men.
 I'll tell you who have daughters and sons. Mary Ann has daughter with out having husband and Stevens wife has a daughter, also Akatok. My mother has a son, banned Taft, Agrik- kaurak and Bessie has daughter and Akadigek's wife has daughter. 1 hope you help Adam not to be sad for me. l'lease give or send me small Testa- ment so can carry it if l go some where. want to teach the people. My Testament is too big for me to carry. I want the Testament with pictures in. When Dr. Marsh was here his house burned up. It began to burn by the lamp. Please write me if you can. Good bye teacher.
 Your friend,
 FRANK SEELAMEw.