The Menomonees have shown a wonderful spirit of thrift and enterprise the past year, putting 200 or more acres of new land under cultivation. Permission having been granted by the Department, it is proposed to hold a fair the last week in September, with a list of prizes for the best and second best productions of their crops, stock of all kinds, and manufactured articles by the women. Two hundred dollars in silver coin is to be given. This is creating a spirited impetus to good work, and lively times are expected on Fair-day. The schools of this tribe have, we regret to say, taken a step backwards. In 1876, through the advice of Inspector Watkins, the day-schools were consolidated into a Manual Labor and Boarding School at Keshena, which far exceeded our most sanguine expectations in numbers and interest. The breaking out of the scarlet fever, in the fall term of 1877, compelled us to close the school, with but four or five weeks’ teaching. It was renewed on the 6th of January, but, owing to the non reply to letters, and the omission of instructions from the bureau, only eight weeks’ schooling has been had since January 1st. At the present time we are waiting permission to employ a matron (as necessary to the success of the school as a teacher). This delay is to be greatly regretted, as fifty children could be easily gathered (the limit of our poor accommodations), while the day-school has an average of less than ten. Crime and drunkenness is greatly on the decrease; not a case of any magnitude of the former, and but a very few cases of the latter, coming to my notice for the past year. This is a very hopeful sign with this tribe, many of whom are wishing to become citizens. With the exception of scarlet fever, in a very mild form, among the Menomonees, the sanitary condition has been excellent with these people. As you are aware, the religion of this tribe is about equally divided between the Pagan and Catholic, the former adhering closely to their rites and ceremonies, as for worship and the burial of their dead; and, when standing by, as they render their thanks to the Great Spirit for “our homes,” “our friends,” “our food,” asking His protection “from storms,” “from disease,” and, “when taken into the happy hunting-ground,” to be “found in favor,” etc., one cannot but feel that “He” who “is no respecter of persons” accepts their thanks and hears their petitions, although accompanied with the shaking of gourds and the pounding upon an Indian drum, instead of the grand _Te Deum_ from the organs of our city churches.