General Armstrong's Lecture.

An appreciative audience assembled in the lecture room of the Jefferson Physical Laboratory last evening, to hear General Armstrong's lecture on the "Education of the Indian." The lecturer was warmly greeted, and he plainly showed, by every intonation of his voice, how deep is his interest in the welfare of the red man.

General Armstrong explained that by educating the Indian, he meant not only educating his mind, but his hand and heart as well; everything, in fact, that would enable him to compete with his white neighbor, in the struggle for existence. The trouble had been that the government had never understood the Indian. They had provided him with food and clothing, thereby enabling him to live in idleness, and it is no wonder that now he is unable to support himself. Instead of giving him rations, he should have been given land and farming implements and obliged to earn his own living. In spite of these great disadvantages the Indians are slowly improving, and General Armstrong believes that the western railroads have been the most important factor in civilizing the wilder tribes, for these railroads naturally bring civilization with them. The lecturer also gave words of praise to the missionaries for the work they have done and are doing. The Indian, contrary to general opinion, is deeply religious, and all that is necessary is to exchange his present faith for a deeper and purer one. General Armstrong also said that the Indian is slow to acquire a knowledge of English, but can readily solve mathematical problems if the conditions are not too complicated. In conclusion the lecturer said that there is no fear that those Indians, who have been carefully educated in the east, will, on returning to their tribes, fall back to their original level.