Weekly Chemawa American., October 23, 1903, Page 2, Image 2

2
THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN.
and study, and may became the chos
en of a new dispensation of culture
and civilization Some of them now
obscure may be the heirs of all we
possess, and wield the ever-increasing
resources of the world for good or evil
somewhat as we now influence their
early plastic stages
tin ifieso' Problem
We agree with the editor of the In
dian Herald that much of the trouble
in Indian schools arises in the Mess.
The disposition and temperament of
people are very much effected by the
kind of food they have and the way it
is prepared and served to them. The
trouble with the Mess is,' many of the
employees want to live too cheaply.
They do not want to spend anything
for board but would rather growl and
go hungry than pay $3 per week for
the joys and comforts of a nicely
appointed and liberally laden table.
In our opinion the superintendents
are largely to blame for poor fare ser
vice at the Mess. Triers is no ques
tion but that he is held responsible
for the proper conduct of the Mess and
he should insist on it being run along
liberal yet not extravagant lines.
It may be urged by some that the
salaries of the emyloyees will not ad
mit of $3 a week board. Now did
you ever get decent board anywhere
for less than three dollars per week?
Very few employees in the service get
less than $480 per annum salary.
Even cooks and laundresses get this,
who before worked twice as hard for
half of the salary. The average
teacher in public schools does not get
$480 per year and she thinks nothing
of paying $4 per week for board. The
plea that employees cannot afford the
expense of running a good Mess is all
subterfuge. In our opinion the Indian
Office should require every super
intendent in the service to see that
the Mess, bills for the year do not
average less than $3 nor more than
$4 per week. The trouble is, employ
ees are under fed. A starved dour
will growl. So will a hungry, poorly
fed person grumble and complain.
A club of $3 to $5,according to tin
size of the Mess, should be assessed
and each new employee on entcrim:
should be required to pay this fee,
and the old employee leaving should
receive back a reasonable share of
this fee, proportionate to the time in
the Mess. With this money inex
pensive dishes and table-ware should
be purchased, also a cow and son;'
pigs and poultry. A boy or son,
employee should be paid to feed ai; i
milk the cow and look after tl.
pigs and poultry. This will ad!
greatly to the comforts of the Me
and will repay twenty fold for t!
money expended. The (lininiH ":.:
service in many of the school Mo
is horable. We have had our sliar
of it and know. A cheap cook is jm- r
economy. A first class cook slic:'!
be employed and a good liberal salary
paid. There should also he a n:
neat girl to wait on the tables. 0:.
or more of the school girls can ;
taken for this work and paid a rca-
able amount for their scrvi
This girl should be taught to wait
the table and serve' people pnj :.';.
and this training will prove f:
valuable to the5 pupils detailed :'
this work.