T II E II E S T 12 R I A N .
ri'i
The State Historical Society has had Secretary
Howard's report published in pamphlet form, and
which is being distributed among the members and
friends of the society. As the importance and use
fulness of this society is becoming to be more gen
erally understood, more interest in its welfare is
being manifested. In enumerating some of the more
important things undertaken by the society it should
be borne in mind that what has been accomplished is
the result of the voluntary efforts of but two or three
members. Besides collecting a valuable library of
over 4,000 volumes, it has gathered together the nuc
leus of a collection of curiosities that have an his
torical value. This collection has been augmented
by a valuable and interesting collection of relics
gathered from the field of Wounded Knee, pvesented
by the Omaha Bee's press correspondent. Among
the more interesting articles m'y be mentioned a well
worn blood-stained Indian belt attached to which was
several cartridges and the sheath of a scalping knife.
Also a pa'ir of Indian bracelets that Chief Rig Foot's
squaw took from her wrists and gave to the Bee's
correspondent, as a "thank offering" for a drink of
water that he gave her after she had been shot and
carried to the rear. Ai. other interesting relic is a
psalm-book found on the body of a "good Indian."
When we were examining this book three Sunday
school cards fell out, silent witnesses of an Indian's
incongruities. All of these relics are more or less
blood-stained and all have the strong and disagreeable
odor that is indisputable of the genuineness of the
articles.
Already, several normal school bills have been
introduced into the legislature and more will follow.
There is need of another training school for teachers
of the state, but this is likely to be lost sight of before
the struggle over a location has ceased. It is a pity
that such a measure depends in any way upon legis
lative trading. If the legislators would drop local
pride and do the best possible thing, they would
establish a normal department in the state university
in lieu of another school. Not a department com
posed of one professor and a page in the catalogue,
but u fully equipped normal department. The use
of the facilities already enjoyed by students of the
university would place the normal far ahead of other
schools of the kind,, and the additional expense to
the state would bo but a fraction of the cost of estab
lishing a separate school. Besides the large number
of cur students that become teachers, must go without
the special training they should have, unless they go
to a normal school. Teachers have not been slow to
recognize the advantages of such a department in
connection with the university, and much private
comment upon the matter wa$ heard during their
; . f? . "
last state meeting. If thetr opinions were given
proper consideration, the action of the legislature
would be more certain.
The recommendation made by General Miles that
the Indian bureau be transferred from the interior to
the war department is a good one. It is practically the
same reform that General Grant attempted to inaug
urate in 1873, but which was defeated, thanks to the
efforts of the politicians assisted by the theoretical and
hair-brained philanthropists. Aside from the dishon
esty and corruption of the Indian agents who arc ap
pointed for political reasons and without the least re
gard for their personal qualifications, they are in most
cases removed before they have had the experience,
even if they had the capacity, to better their ignorance.
Where the Indians are not robbed directly, they are
robbed indirectly by the criminal mismanagement of
their stores until the) are driven to starvation. While
all posibility of mismanagement could not be removed
it could at least be reduced to a minimum by placing
the Indians in charge of army officers who aie bound
by professional considerations to honest methods and
fair dealings, and who would not be subject to re
moval at every shake of the political dice.
The January number of the Revue Historiquc,
the leading historical publication of France, contains
the following complimentry notice of one of our own
professors in its summary of recent work in the Uni
ted Slates.
"Mr. George E. Howard, professor in the Univeisily of
Nebraska, has devoted a remarkable study to the history of
the local justiccstf the peace in England. One finds in it
not only the history of the justices of the pen.ee and an
analysis of their functions at the present hour, but also a
very interesting exposition of the way in which was formed
the judicial conception of the paix in opposition to thcuVa,
of all the forms of wcrgeld and composition of then'M, or
peace established by popular justice, of the king's peace, im
posed in the name ol the state, and finally of the successive
transformations of the local police in England.
The faculty has received a request from a com
mitte of superintendents and principals representing
the state teachers to open the laboratories during the
summer months. The object of this is to afford an
opportunity for the teachers to pursue the scientific
studies in regularly equipped laboratories; and under
competent instructions without interfering with their
work as teachers. There was some talk of doing this
two years ago,but the faculty did not receive sufficient
encouragement to justify themselves in trying the ex
periment. It is to be hoped that arrangements may
be made by which the teachers can be accomodated.
The Iowa Wesleyan university will send as their
represenative to the state oratorical contest a young
lady. Miss Anna Williams. Should she succeed in
'rLKiP