Its translators turn all scientific works into English, so that Americans can have the benefit of them in their own language.
Miss Thora Steineger, a Norwegian lady, has charge of the classification of all animals received by the Smithsonian. Women's work in the scientific departments is gradually increasing, as colleges, like Vassar, Wellesley, Smith, and Bryn Mawr give more and more attention to science.
Here one can see the birds of all lands, animals of every clime, vegetation from every latitude. The idols of heathendom glare at passers-by; the quaint costumes of the Asiatics, the Eskimos of the extreme North, and the inhabitants of the islands of the sea are worn by wax figures so lifelike that one almost fears to make any comment in their presence.
The fruits of much of the learning of the world are under this roof, and every youth in our land should see its classic stores.
XXII
BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
This bureau is located in a beautiful white marble building between Seventh and Eighth streets, facing the Patent Office. These two buildings are among the very best specimens of architecture in the capital.
Hon. Francis E. Leupp, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, receives a salary of $5,000; the Assistant Commissioner receives $3,000. They have about one hundred assistants in Washington, consisting of clerks, bookkeepers, stenographers, superintendents, architects, draftsmen, etc. Of persons connected with Indian affairs, on the field, including Indian agents, storekeepers, teachers, farmers, and artisans, fully 10,000 are paid government money. There are in the United States, exclusive of Alaska, 269,388 Indians under the government care. Of these, 184,881 are not included in the five great tribes. Over 98,000 of these Indians wear the dress of civilization, and over 46,000 can read and write. Of communicant church-members there are 30,935—not a very large proportion after two hundred years of instruction.
There are 59 agencies, and about 20,000 Indians outside of the agencies. The reservations are, generally speaking, the lands which white men considered they would never want, being the most barren, forlorn, hopeless spots in the state or territory in which they are located. Bad as they are, many of them are now coveted by the white man, who, under the plea of breaking up Indian tribal relations, will within a few years buy or appropriate the last acre.
There are now no nomadic tribes; the hunting-grounds are all taken, and the Indian must work, receive government rations, or die. The Indians receive over $200,000 in money, some by contract receive rations through removal, and all are assisted with agricultural implements, seeds, and breeding animals.