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Show REPORT OF THE CONMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 101 severalty, who are putting up houses and surronnding themselves with some of the appliances of civilization, and who are more or less in the vicinity of white settlements; so that the field matrons can come in at the transition period and save from failure and Ftopeless discourage-ment the Indian woman who begins to see that there is a better way but does not know how to reach it. There are many sucl~p laces from which come urgent requests for field niatrons, and I hope that an in-crease of appropriation for next year will enable me to heed such calls. The duties of a field matron and the work that is expected of her are set forth in detail in instructions issued to Indian agents by this oftice on the 6th of July Imt, as follows: The position of field matron has been created in order that Indian women may be influenced in their home life and duties, and may have done for them ill their sphere whet farmers and mechanics are supposed to do for Indian men in their sphere. The duties of a field matron, therefore, are to isi it Indian women in their homes and to give themcounsel, anoouragemcnt, and help in the following lines: 1. Care of a house, keeping it olean aud in order, ventilated, properlgwarmcd (not overheated), and suitably filrnished. 2. Clea.nliness and hygienic conditions generally, inoloding disposition of all refuse. 3. Preparation and serving of food and regolarity in meals. 4. Sewing, including outting, making, md mending garments. 5. Laandry work. G. Adorning the home, both inside rmd ont, with piotureq curtains, home-made rugs, flowers, grass plots end trees, oonstruction and repair of walks, fences, and drains. In this oonnection there will be opportunity for the matron to give to the male members of the family kindly admonitions as to the "ohores" and heavier kinds of work about the house whioh in oivilized communitiia is geuerallg done by mmen. I . Keeping and care of domestic animals, such aa cows, poultry, ~ n sdwi ne; ohre and use of milk, making of butter, cheese, and onrda and keeping of bees. 8. Care of the sick. 9. Care of little children, and iutroduoing emong them the games snd sports of white children. 10. Proper ohservanoe of the Sabbath; organisation of societies for promoting liter&ry,religious, moral, andsocial improvement, such 8.3 "Lend s Hand" clubs, cirolea of "King's Danghtera," or Sons," Y. M. C. A,, Christian Endeavor, and tem- Doranee soeicties, eto. Of runrae, it i.i io~practicableto ennmeratc n l l the dire<t iona in whir113 bald mat. rou oan land her aid in ameliorating the cnnditiun of lrldii~lt~ U I U I ) U . Her own tact, I skill. and interest will aueeest manifold wavs of instruotine them in civilized horns I ~ -~ liic, arimularing their intelligence, ronsiog atttbirian, anal oultivariug rptittrmeot. Yonnggirls, particnlarlp rlwse who have leir \vl~uul, rhonld nntl iu her a iriaod and adviser, and her influenee shonld he to them a safeguard against the sore teGp. tations whioh blraset them. She should impress upon families the importance of education and urge upon them to put and keep their children in school. Besides faithfiilly visiting Indian homes, the matron should have stated days or parts of days each week when Indian women may coma to her home for counsel or for'instruotion in sewing or other domastio arts which aan advantageously he taught to several persons at one time. The time actually devoted to the above outlined work by the field matron should be not less than eight hours per day of five days in the week, and half e day on Saturday. I |
