This week's INDIAN HELPER (Sept 24, 1891)begins with the outlandish claim that the returned "Outing" farm boys have been introduced to real farming techniques for the first time. Did the MOTBS not know the advances in farming made by the Pueblos, the Six Nation peoples, or all the tribes represented at the Carlisle Indian School by 1891?
Then, after the insulting misrepresentations of uncivilized Indian farmers, we are treated to an irrelevent fable reprinted from the *Reformatory Record* about a boy born with a silver spoon in his mouth who ends up in prison, his poor mother poverty-stricken and friendless. What message the MOTBS is sending via this senseless drivel is beyond me although I suspect it is a replay of the recurring "Lazy Indian" theme often found in these propaganda rags.
The answer to this week's engima is a surprise. I confess, I peeked ahead because I couldn't get the 3-letter word for a sailor's worst fear.
New premiums this season! For multiple subscriptions to the HELPER, readers might be treated to some special photos, including one of a baby in the cradleboard. Also new this time, the book Stiya is offered for 40 subscriptions. The MOTBS' book, Stiya, continues to find its way into the presses touted as the proper handbook for girls returning to their dangerous traditional worlds.
It seems the new heading of volume 7 is not popular, as evidenced by the short life of the photo collage found there. It only lasted for about five issues.
Everybody's roller skating this week! What fun! And, the Weekly meetings resume, to ward off the evils of speaking "Indian" and smoking tobacco.
Apples were coming in, in September '91 and they are in season here now. I've been tasting some delicious Adams County Honey Crisps all week, just as those boys who had come in from their Outing complalined about missing out on.
Some of the school boys who we know went on to become Carlisle success stories entered the public school in Carlisle. Charlie Daganett, Dennison Wheelock, Martin Archiquette and Josiah Powless - all big men on campus.
Nellie and Rosa already being primed for their future roles as teachers and administrators. who would guess they would both have ended up in California and ultimately, married to the same man?
I'm trying to catch up and hope to post the 9/25/91 issue in the next couple of days. Also have a few from July and all of August to catch up on. More to come....
Barbara
9/25/2004
9/13/2004
A Taste of This Week's INDIAN HELPER
I just posted the July 17, 1891 issue of the INDIAN HELPER. Some excerpts and themes that intrigued me:
Stacy Matlack (Pawnee student) weighed in on cowboys and Indians out in Indian Territory trading Bibles for guns.
In an article describing the process of making bows and arrows, the writer decided that in order to disable Indians' weapons of precisioned destruction, all ash trees in the country, would have to be chopped down.
Hawking the book, Stiya, written by the school's own Man-on-the-band-stand, a critic boldly asserts that the book presents a realistic life of a Pueblo village. From the article:
A bit of 1890's intellectual imperialism not lost on those of us appalled at the present state of foreign affairs.
We learn "Julia Dorris is living for the summer at Ridley Park, Pa. That she enjoys her country home is evidenced by the following. She says: 'This is a lovely place. Today I baked bread and I wish you were here to see my bread, for it was very nice indeed. I suppose the folks thought that a little wild Indian girl could not bake bread.'"
Some important history about the Oneida musician: "Dennison Wheelock has been appointed band-master for our school. This is a responsible place and we are sure that Dennison has the musical knowledge as well as poise of character to fill it creditably."
And those in need of a bit of R & R, are "rusticating at Mrs. Howe's in Hunter's Run in the mountains." A lovely spot, to be sure, and a stone's throw from where I sit, transcribing the news.
Stacy Matlack (Pawnee student) weighed in on cowboys and Indians out in Indian Territory trading Bibles for guns.
In an article describing the process of making bows and arrows, the writer decided that in order to disable Indians' weapons of precisioned destruction, all ash trees in the country, would have to be chopped down.
Hawking the book, Stiya, written by the school's own Man-on-the-band-stand, a critic boldly asserts that the book presents a realistic life of a Pueblo village. From the article:
"This story deserves a wide reading not only for its considerable literary merit but much more for the good its author evidently meant to accomplish by arousing our sympathy for the Indian and our interest in the cause of his enlightenment."
A bit of 1890's intellectual imperialism not lost on those of us appalled at the present state of foreign affairs.
We learn "Julia Dorris is living for the summer at Ridley Park, Pa. That she enjoys her country home is evidenced by the following. She says: 'This is a lovely place. Today I baked bread and I wish you were here to see my bread, for it was very nice indeed. I suppose the folks thought that a little wild Indian girl could not bake bread.'"
Some important history about the Oneida musician: "Dennison Wheelock has been appointed band-master for our school. This is a responsible place and we are sure that Dennison has the musical knowledge as well as poise of character to fill it creditably."
And those in need of a bit of R & R, are "rusticating at Mrs. Howe's in Hunter's Run in the mountains." A lovely spot, to be sure, and a stone's throw from where I sit, transcribing the news.
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