The Alaska daily empire., 1915-02-02

METLAitAHTLA TEACHER
 TELLS EXPERIENCES BY ZILFA PHILhIPs
 in Tacoma Ledger &
 The novel experiences of Miss Bea- lrica Bair. daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. l. Beir of old steilacoom end 2 graduate of tho stadium high cohool aud the Bellinghom normal who ie now teacher in the government school at Metlakahua, an Island off Che Alaskan coast few niles from Ketchikan are being very enierlaining- ly .old by Miss Blair herself in letters . to members of her family and friends
 The government school at Metlahaht io, which is attended by 200 children, all Natives isa now one and is stln in the process ot construction. It Is on this lillle island that Father Dun can, the celebrated English mls- sionnrN for so many years has carried on his wonderful work for the Natives, who look to him and rever him as father"
 Describing the new scenes on her ar rival and her vivid Impressions of them Miss Blair wrote:
 The Larbor Of Metlakahtla is dotted with long, narrow islands that are but scantily ahrubbod ono inland has few tall trees that grow much Ike tho masts oi ships. hence the island is called Father Duncan'8 sunboat.
 As you cross to come to Motlakaht- Ia you arc backed by high hills Ike mountains and face the open Pacific, After you get away from the islands there is an open place that is very rough in bad weather. The scenery is very rugged and rough and Che treos are lively and green"
 romsstones in Front Yards.
 lp observing some of the strange customs oi the Natives, Miss Bair wrote:
 'I nouced Q tombstone in front yard and was properly shocked at the idea of burying tho dead there, but learned that the dead arc buried back on the hillside and the stones are placed in front of their homes. We think it great idea, because it saves having plaeards on the doors. as we can tell the name of the family by the stones In the front yards The hous. es are somewhat unkept. because the Natives arc away all summer Grass es and bushes are high in the yards and close to the walks.
 'The walks are wide about 6 feet ] should judge, but there are no roads at all. There isn't a horse or machine of any kind, nor COW, or anything that needs road. so sidewalks run everywhere. They are several feet above tho ground in places, owing to the dampness.
 Open School With Prayer
 We open school each day with pray erf and each tiny tot gets to his or her feet and In most serious and rever ent manner bows its head and closes its eyes. Then seriously they sit They laugh and are quite nosy at times. Every word say is repeated after me. which is quite annoying but they are trying to make their mouths go exactly like mine, and as much as mine too. Their enunciation is mu- sical and strange.
 @Thep say apple as it it were 'ah pull The wee little ones-some are 2 or { years oid-can't understand me so the older ones buzz away in the most parental way to them and hop about talking and trying to make them understand my words and actions. l throw things about and then say throw. throw throw. and they ah try it. and hope they know it, then 10 chances to one. ] have to go all over 1t again and again. Tho wee tots had apple presented in every conceiv- able form last week and l think they would know chat word fl they met it in Timbuotoo on an elephants back.
 q taught Sit also last week. We would sit and stand, sit and stand, We had 1t ou the boards etc, and fl- nally J asked D small girl to read for me these words. I sit, She looked up and as quick as could be, said (and did) T sit down. She surely is cute and dear
 Native Language Difficult.
 My flock has increased to more. than 50 and you ought to hear tho racket they make. They iabber like magpies all day long hoot and bang about and they seem to forgive me for existing. It is hard to learn a new language. as l have discovered since l took my first lession in Tsimpsean. It is the limit There arc so many .ce and .chk and 'shehk sounds. Il sometimes doubt if Il ever learn tol speak the language. but ] surely en- joy learning about it and catching a
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