n hand and
to some extent precede school education"--an insight comprising much of
the truth taught to-day by the more eminent leaders of industrial
education, and one which the recent Indian legislation, during the
fifty-seventh Congress, has recognized. Mr. Meeker believed that the
Indian could be advanced into the peaceful arts of civilized life, and
this aim he held with conspicuous courage and fidelity.

With a desire to carry out these theories, Mr. Meeker applied for and
received, under President Hayes, the post of commissioner to the Utes on
White River in Colorado, his appointment being, as before stated, of a
somewhat confidential nature, and charged with more important
responsibilities than are usually included in this office. Mr. Meeker
entered on the duties of this position with much that same high and
noble purpose that inspired General Armstrong in his work at Hampton.

General Hall of Colorado, who is said to be the most authoritative
historian of that state, thus wrote of Mr. Meeker's entrance on the
agency at White River.

"In the spring of 1878 Mr. Meeker, founder of Union Colony and the
now beautiful city of Greeley, at his own solicitation was
appointed resident agent, succeeding several who had attempted to
carry this benevolent enterprise into effect, but without material
success. He was a venerable philanthropist, eminently representing
the humanitarian school of the Atlantic seaboard, under the example
of Horace Greeley, whom he revered above all the public men of his
time.

"Thoroughly imbued with the purpose of educating, refining, and
Christianizing the wild rovers of the mountains, and longing for an
opportunity to put his cherished theories into practice, confident
of his ability to bring about a complete transformation of their
lives and character, he entered upon the work with deep enthusiasm.
His ideals were splendid, eminently worthy of the man and the
cause; but, unhappily, he had to deal with savages, of whose
natures he was profoundly ignorant. He took with him his wife and
youngest daughter, Josephine, and also a number of mechanics from
Union Colony to aid in the great work of regeneration and
redemption."

The Honorable Alva Adams of Pueblo, Colorado, ex-Governor of the state,
writing of Nathan Cook Meeker, said:--

"Meeker was a patriot, and no soldier upon the field of batt