On Friday, the 24th, began the yearly examinations of the Santee Normal Training School. Teachers and scholars were alive to the duties placed upon them, and the end of the seventeenth year found all active as ever. The recitations extended throughout Friday, Monday and Tuesday, and visitors from the Agency and surrounding towns were made welcome. The school-rooms, thrown open together, were well filled during most of the sessions. Especially interesting was the map-drawing and accompanying recitation by the older geography students. The recitation showed that an Indian may have as clear and correct an idea of the formation of this earth and its divisions into hemispheres, countries, etc., as any white boy. The maps were accurately and admirably drawn. The language lessons were novel, and showed good work on the part of the teachers. Stories were read to the students which they were asked to re-write in as good English as possible. The following from a boy brought into the school last fall, is a good illustration of the way in which they think and speak in English: “We get all our silk from a little creature called worm. The little creature is green color. She lay number of eggs and then died, and they have never seen their children and father.” Music is by no means drudgery to the Indians. Passionately fond of it, they practice with patience, and the results have been more than satisfactory. Considering the lack of all discipline in their natures, the examinations this year, both in vocal and instrumental music, have been remarkable. Those thousands in the East who heard, last winter, the singing of the Santee quintette, can easily believe that this is true. Gymnastics have been practiced as a means of teaching accuracy and quickness of thought. The precision acquired by the students shows that it has been a good discipline, and would do credit to any school. The recitations in mathematics were good. The work in algebra deserves special mention. One thing is very evident in studying the school work here; that is, that while in everything requiring simple memory the Indian is fully equal to the white boy, perhaps more than equal, his reasoning faculties are much behind, on account of the lack of such faculties in the generations of his ancestors; so mathematical work requires patient plodding, month after month, for each step gained. There is very great need of such discipline among this people, and it is one of the most difficult things in this work of education and Christianization. Twenty minutes were given on Monday to the workings of a model normal class in botany. It was most unique, carried on wholly by the advanced students. They showed clearly the most approved manner and methods not only of teaching, but also of learning. The whole was skillfully and understandingly done.