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About The Chemawa American (Chemawa, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1918)
PAGE 4 THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN A N UNRECOGNIZED FORCE (Continued from page 1) all that is best is a “ silent force,” and in the course of evolution that which was good and noble was often intangible and indefinable, but it swept forward and creature he had made. Therefore, so that he m ight be took its place as a force in shaping the destinies of safe, he hollowed out the great pyramid of ice and the world. The noblest traits of centuries of Indian snow, as a tepee, and in here he lived for thousands of womanhood are the result of an amalgamation of all snows. The Indians knew that he lived there be good and, while a “ silent force,” it has in countless cause they could see smoke curling out from the smoke instances carried her to heights rendered sublime by hole in the tepee. When the pale face came, Olelbis her own high purpose. went away. There is no longer any smoke from the I am proud to point to a noble Indian lady who has smoke hole. The white men called the tepee Mt. so capably filled a position as one of the faculty at Shasta.” Thus they idealized all the beautiful nat the Chemawa Indian School for a good many years. ural scenes, the mountains, lakes and rivers into quaint Through her own efforts, unassisted (being a widow) stories. she has raised a family of seven, has given them a But these primitive people were destined for a high good high school, business or college education, all er religion than the worship of nature and this comes of them, except the youngest who is now in college, to them like the strain of a beautiful chant wafted filling positions of trust. She has raised her family and down through the ages to our prosaic time by the com at the same time taken active interest in every activity ing of the white man who brought his religion and at the school and was never too busy but what she system of education and civilization. We see the took a personal interest in every student. In addition grandmother, the Indian mother and the Indian maid to Mrs. Brewer we have eight other Indian ladies en, of long ago in a haze of romance. They were the most creditably filling positions as members of the burden bearers and represented the strength of the faculty, and they are counted the equal of any and Indian people as well as the foundation of the home. possibly superior to many. These positions include a Civilization and education has simply strengthened trained nurse in charge of the hospital, the most com that force, and thousands of educated, refined and petent one ever at the school, two matrons, one aca capable Indian girls and women, products of our gov demic teacher, music teacher, two office clerks, su ernment and other schools, a good many of them col perintendent of baking, and assistants. lege women, are a force today that must be reck T hus we see that civilization has wrought wonder oned with and are rapidly obtaining recognition. ful changes in the primitive woman, and she is being I am personally acquainted with hundreds of Indian assimilated into our national life and is doing a defin women who today are assuming the responsibilities of ite work in the world. our higher civilization and standing side by side with W hat the final race problem in America is to be, their white sisters in performing the women’s work of human wisdom cannot foresee. T hat there will be the world, and I may say that there are thousands of an Indian strain in the future American stock is al educated Indian women that are trained homemakers ready proven. It will be found that Indian women and good wives and mothers; there are also many have contributed a very worthy share to the quality filling positions as teachers, office clerks, stenogra and worth of the future ruling race of the American phers, musicians, trained nurses and in many other continent. [The above splendid paper was read by Mrs. Harwood Hall last Friday activities of civilized life. To these I may add no morning in Salem at a session of the Oregon State Sunday School Conven small number of artists, writers and in a few instances tion and it is at our solicitation that we are permitted to publish it.—E d .] professional, which shows that with the same advan P U P IL S ’ ITEM S tages our Indian girls are capable of acquiring the The second year domestic science girls are studying distinction of any race of women. Indeed I have been amazed at the breadth of thought and natural ability the composition and care of eggs. Lawrence Tillotson, one of the seventh grade mem shown bv the Indian girl. 'T h e Indian maiden is naturally reticent and modest bers, leads the class in arithm etic. Rachel Gould, assistant in the students’ kitchen, and those who have observed her without studying who has been ill for a few days, is back on duty. her nature often find her reserved and timid. Many Gus Gartiez, who left a few weeks ago to enlist in such characters will be found beautiful, and their the army, is now stationed at Calexico, California. minds rich with knowledge and ability. I venture A letter was received from George W. Hillman stat to say that the progess made by the Indian women ing that he expected to sail for England before long. within the past decade is as great as was made by any The sixth grade pupils are all working hard study people in history’ ing for a spelling-match wThich they intend to have Like eveivthing else in the history of the world, soon.
