334 ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 



Recommendations. — It would seem to be a favorable opportunity to 

 indicate to the pro[)er Ilussiau officiaLs tl)at the existing state of affairs 

 is offensive to our Government; that there must be a radical improve- 

 ment, and that, so far as the church can, it will be expected to assist 

 in bringing it about. 



If possible, some arrangement looking to an improvement should be 

 made, which should take into account the following points: 



(1) There should be no more removal of money from tlie islands save 

 witli the consent of the United States Government, and through the 

 revenue department. 



(2) There should be a distinct understanding that blood relationship 

 as a bar to matrimony should not extend beyond the tirst or second 

 degree. 



(3) Foster and church relationships should not be considered an im- 

 l^ediment to marriage. 



(4) That a woman may marry as many times as she becomes a widow. 



(5) Tliat a civil marriage ceremony, performed by the resident Gov- 

 ernment agent, be provided for. 



(G) That the church service be conducted in English, or that at least 

 one service each Sunday be in English. 



(7) That hereafter only English-speaking priests be permitted upon 

 the islands. 



SCHOOLS. 



An illustration of what can he do7ie. — That it is not impossible to 

 establish schools that will be entirely successful not only in teaching 

 these people to speak, to read, and to write the English language, but 

 to train them in more upright and useful methods of domestic life, 

 is shown by the history of the Lee school at ITnalaska, presided over 

 by Mr. and Mrs. Tuck. At this .school have been gathered children 

 from all parts of the Aleutian chain and some from the islands of St. 

 Paul and St. George, whose intellectual advancement seemed to be 

 hopeless. Before two years had passed these children were able to 

 make themselves well understood in English, while their improvement 

 in manner and character was simply astonishing. This I know from per- 

 sonal observation. The success of the Lee school is due to the personal 

 equation of the individuals presiding over it and to the fact that the 

 cluldren are removed from tljeir native home inlluences. 



Wliile it is recognized that the education of the natives should not 

 be of a character likely to result merely in discontent with their lot, still 

 much can be done in the way of i)ractical manual training, in teaching- 

 cooking, the i>roper care of their houses, and the preservation of their 

 health without fear of its being overtaken by the hrst-named danger. 



Everyone familiar with the Pribilof Islands knows that the career of 

 the English st-hool there has been a total failure. 



Recommendations.— T\\Q settlement of this vexed school question 

 should be vigorously taken up by the Government. Ii is believed by 

 me that the" characteristics of these ishmders, due in considerable 

 measure to their insular life, will be advantageously moditied if some 

 arrangement can be made by which they can secure the benehts of such 

 a school as that of Unalaska. If the girls of the islands can be placed 

 tliere between the ages of 9 or 10 and 15 or 10, and the boys from In 

 to 13, we would very soon have growing up a body of English speaking 

 young natives who, with awakened minds, increased skill, and a more 

 wholesome idea of life and its responsibilities, would make a far better 

 and more useful class than now exist upon the islands. 



