8
THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN
THE SEMINOKES.
The boys and girls of America do not
now read as did the boys and girls of
fifty years ago of the Seminole Indians,
one of the most romantic of the aborigi
nal tribes. Time was when every
schoolboy and schoolgirl in the country
knew their story, was familiar with
their struggle for independence and
cherished the name of Osceola as that
of a hero. Events crowded so thickly
upon the nation from the early sixties
onward that the Seminoles, driven to
southern Florida and lost in the cypress
swamps of the Everglades, were well
nigh forgotten. They might have been
wholly so were it not for the news brought
back by the occasional adventurer into
those wilds, and for the work done in
their behalf by writers, of whom Mrs,
Minnie Moore-Wilson is a worthy type.
Her book, "The Seminoles of Flori
da," was first published sixteen years
ago. It has just been republished, it is
pleasant to learn, in response to an in
sistent popular demand. Very likely
the invasion of the cypress forests by
the white lumberman and his followers
has resulted in uncovering to increasing
numbers the retreat of this interesting
tribe. Indeed, what the author pleads
for most is that this lost foothold of the
Seminole, driven to the extremity of
the Florida peninsula by his white
brother in what has come to be known
in the history of the American Indian
as "the Century of Dishonor," shall be
left in his peaceful possession.
Whether the nation can be moved by
one woman or one book to do. long-deferred
justice to the Seminole, is a ques
tion, but there is no question about the
righteousness of the cause in which she
is enlisted, nor with regard to the great
er responsibility Which rests upon the
government now by reason of the strong,
er light that she has thrown upon the
Seminole cause. Ex.
EXCELSIOR CLUB.
The Excelsior club held its meeting
in the usual place; roll was called; few
n-embers being absent. Five more new
member were added to our club. As
the Reliance Literary Society came over
to spent an evening with us, we devoted
the rest of the evening to a debate;
"Resolved, That Industrial schools are
more beneficial than the public schools."
The negative won. It was then thrown
open to the buee, and many got up
and spoke on the subject. The visiting
society gave us a few encouraging words
and also Mrs. Campbell. We then heard
from ourcriti Motion was made and
seconded and we adjourned.
ORCHESTRAL CONCERT.
On Monday evening the orchestra
played a very creditable and plensing
progarm in the chapel. Following is
the program rendered:
On the Mesa Grande ... Maurice
Cupid's Glance Waltz Eno
Satellite ..... Asmus
Cloud Chief Philie
Autumn Breezes - - - King
La Paloma - - - - Yradier
Maid of Madrid Waltz - . Hildreth
Anita Allen
Move Up John&on - - Laureudeau
America's candy bill is said to be $500,
000,000 a year, which is $50,000,000 more
than the cost of all the schools Perhaps a
good many of boys and girls of the land
would vote to have still less of the latter
and more of the former, if they had a
chance. Ex.