O NE summer vacation, at my home in
Dakota, Dr. Riggs told me the story
of Dartmouth College in New Hampshire,
and how it was originally founded as a school
for Indian youth. The news was timely and
good news; and yet I hesitated. I dreaded
to cut myself off from my people, and in my
heart I knew that if I went, I should not
return until I had accomplished my purpose.
It was a critical moment in my life, but the
decision could be only one way. I taught
the little day-school where my first lessons
had been learned, throughout the fall term,
and in January, 1882, I set out for the far
East, at a period when the Government was
still at considerable trouble to subdue and
settle some of my race upon reservations.

Though a man in years, I had very little
practical knowledge of the world, and in my

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