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Show women; and in no capacity will iteount for more than when it pertains 4x1 home life. It is only four years ago that Congress made its first provision for carrying on field matron work, and as the appropriations beginning with $3,000 have not yet exceeded 85,000 per annum, it would not be reasonable at this time to look for widespread and remarkable results. One field matron among 3,000 Indians, for instance, will not revolntion-ize them in one or two years. Nevertheless, valuable and noteworthy results are already manifest. In a small hand of afew hundred Indians who previously had sturdily resisted all civilizing influences, especially schools, the field matron has gathered the children into school and obtained a strong hold for good up011 every family. At a,nother point sewing schools, weekly clubs, and simple Sabbath services have brought to the young men and women self respect, something hopeful and widening in their narrow lives of poverty, dirt, and degradation, until they have dared to be, "progressive." Elsewhere an agent reports of the field matron: '(The, benefits of her work are evident in m a ~ ~wyay s. Some of the most desperate characters of the tribe who have come under her influence have developed into steady, hard-working men." Very naturally he asks for several more such matrons. On two remote reservations the field matrons find their training &s physicians of inoalculable value in relieving suffering and enlightening ignorance of the ordinary laws of health. Everywhere this field matron work modifies ontvvard forms and touches the mainsprings of life and aharacter, and slowly develops a finer womanhood, childhood, and manhood. It is a subtle force which enlightens, strengthens, removes prejudices, and breaks down barriers. It is e powerful ally of the sohools, and from that point of view alone calls for extension. In July-last an estimate was submitted to Congress asking that the field matron appropriation be increased from $6,000 to $19,680; but this request was not granted. ALLOTMENTS AND PATENTS. The progress made in allotment work since the last annual report is as follows: ON RESERVATIONS. Patents issued last year have been delivered to the following Indians: Sisseton and Wahpeton Sionx in North Dakota amd South Dakota. ................ .... ................................ 1,339 Meaawakanton Sionx on Devils Lake Resemation in North Dakota ................................................... 773 Tonknwas in Oklnhohoms, ..................................... 73 |
