APPENDIX D. 



LETTERS OF J. C. WIDSTEAI) TO DR. SHELDON JACKSON, 



Teller Keindeer Station, 



August 28, 1895. 



Sir: Mr. Hamilton has by this time made yon famihar with the 

 change that has taken place at our station. 



The schoolhouse is completed, or nearly so, and I think you would, 

 could you see it, find it very cozy. We intended to put in six windows, 

 but as we had not so many, and none came with the supplies this year, 

 only four had to do. 



We have also, with the lumber that came, put up an addition to the 

 station 48 by 17 feet westward and 40 by 24 feet northward, with room 

 for an assistant, one separate room for natives trading, three rooms for 

 herders with family, and one 16 by IG feet for the boys; besides, we 

 have in the same building boxes for fish, seal meat, and seal oil, with 

 a hallway leading all through the building to keep outsiders out. 

 Upstairs we intend to partition off separate rooms for fur and clothing 

 if lumber holds out. 



We have thought it best to have all the boys in one room, and get an 

 old woman to cook for them. By this we can save, I think, some on 

 the provisions, and control them much better than formerly, when any 

 one in the house could sit down and eat with them, as is their custom; 

 she could also wash and scrub for them. 



Back of the Eskimo's room will be the store, with one little partition 

 door to the herder's house, and one to the Eskimo's room for trading. 

 This will keep the two separate, besides save time and much trouble. 

 As it now is in the old store, traders outside the counter can lean over 

 and take anything on the shelves when not watched. 



The Lapps are all very well and j)leased, except Mathis Eira, who 

 has been a constant worry to Mr. Kjellmann and myself since his coming 

 here. He is dirty, insulting, lazy, absolutely refuses to do my bidding, 

 scolds me in the presence of the boys and other Lapps, and hangs 

 around the station for days at a time. ThcL he seems to take a spell 

 and does his duty again. But lazy he is, and will be. Now, what can 

 be done with him? He is the most expensive herder at the station, 

 and does the least. I mention these things that they can be acted upon 

 during the winter. The other Lapps are very good fellows — as trust- 

 worthy and true as Socrates in respect to duty. 



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