Chief Seattle's Grandnephew to Give Fourth of July Oration in the City Named for His Family

The features for the Fourth of July will attract more attention and more genuine interest than the oration delivered by Matthew P. Seattle, grandnephew of Chief Seattle, the most powerful friend the Puget Sound country ever had. He is a son of John Seattle, a venerable member of the Duwamish tribe, who is still alive and lives on the Puyallup reservation.

It was the intention of young Seattle to respond to an invitation from the people of Chicago through Mayor George B. Swift to speak in that city on the nation's greatest holiday, but the thought that he would like to make his maiden effort in the city which bears his family name led him to change his mind, and thus it is that the people of this city will have the opportunity of listening to perhaps the most full-blooded young Indian in the Northwest.

The old phrase 'straight as an arrow' may be fittingly applied to this young man, over whose head eighteen years have passed. He is not tall, however, but men tally and otherwise he makes up for the defect, if it may be so termed. After conversing with him it is hard to think he is so young, for his manner, language and actions indicate a mature mind.

Matthew P. Seattle has a wealth of coal-black hair that parts cleanly at the side of his head. His forehead shows intellectual strength, and overtops eyes that are black and brimful of fire. His cheek bones are prominent, but not to the extent noticeable among some of the race of the Sound country. Were it not for the fact that his color, eyes and hair betray the Indian blood, it would be impossible to detect it otherwise. He seems to have lost the characteristics of the original tongue, and speaks the purest English.

At the present time young Seattle is a student in the classical course at the Tacoma high school and would be graduated in another year. He has changed his mind, however, and will enter the state university this fall.

This most interesting and rare type of the higher class Indian was born on the Puyallup reservation in a regular Indian house made of bark and matting. The center pole of this novel dwelling was an old spruce tree, and the poles that held the covering of bark and matting radiated outward, giving a diameter on the ground of from ten to twelve feet. The storms of time have removed the last vestige of this abode of royalty, but the old tree, somewhat disfigured, still rears its head to the ever recurring wet and dry seasons. Here also was born young Seattle's older brother, dead now about four years, and his sister, called 'Tenas,' a promising little girl. The Puget Sound Indians are a great people for wandering about from place to place, putting up their queer looking tents, if such they may be called, at a moment's notice, only to take them down as quickly and move on in their wonderfully made canoes.

Young Seattle's father was no exception to the rule, and for several years he frequently made trips all over the Sound, always accompanied by his little son Matthew.

When Matthew was 4 years old his mother, who was a member of the Yakima tribe, died. The family, however, got along in the quiet, easy way so characteristic of the Indian. In 1883, when Matthew was 6 years old, he was placed in the government school at the Puyallup reservation. From the very beginning he took a great interest in his studies and made remarkable progress. When he was learning the alphabet he was in the habit of taking his primer home and in company with 'Tenas' would sit down on the ground and study as if his life depended on acquiring the English language in a moment. He would pronounce the letters to his little sister, and she would call them back to him. In this way he combined the two experiences of being taught and teaching.

'Tenas' was even brighter than her brother, and, although a mere child, she knew all the letters of the alphabet and could read a little when she suddenly died. It is a feature worth mentioning that Miss Seattle took no stock in the 'great medicine man,' so there was no pow-wow to the purpose of driving away evil spirits.

In 1891 young Seattle finished his first course at the reservation school, which included training in all the common branches. He was not satisfied, however, and took a postgraduate course, which included algebra, English literature, bookkeeping and rhetoric. An opportunity presented itself in 1892 for him to go to the Tacoma high school, and without hesitation he accepted it. He entered the classical course, and would have been graduated next year if he had not decided to enter the state university.

At Tacoma high school young Seattle became intimately acquainted with a man named Chris Bradley. They became greatly interested in literary work, in which debates were had on questions of the day. Young Seattle did very well and from that became greatly interested in oratory. In company with his bosom friend, Bradley, he would go up into the tower of the school building and practice oratory to his heart's content.

With genuine Western progressive spirit, much in contrast with the inclination of the native race, he conceived the idea of a lecture tour. He began active work in his lectures, choosing the subjects 'The Northwest Country,' 'Life and Habits of the Indians,' 'Legends of the Indians,' and 'The Indian Wife.' In the midst of this work it occurred that Seattle speak at the Fourth of July. Seattle thought the matter over, and came to the conclusion that he would like the task, even if it did appear like a large undertaking.

The following is his letter to Mayor Swift:

'Honorable Mayor of Chicago—

Dear Sir: I desire to know whether you would like a Western orator for the Fourth of July. I am a young man, a nephew of the youthful old chief of the Suquamish, who will be in Chicago on that day. I am making a tour at present in company with myself, and I would like to have the distinguished privilege of addressing your assembly. Desiring your consideration and an early reply, I am, yours respectfully, Matthew P. Seattle.'

Mayor Swift seems pleased with the proposition submitted to him. The committee has received a letter from Chicago stating that the young man would be welcome to serve. The young man's communication was also received by Governor McGraw of Tacoma, Governor McMullen of Seattle, Mayor Townsend, H. M. James of Tacoma schools, and the Secretary of State.

When he came to the conclusion that he would rather make his maiden effort in the city where the people could best appreciate his talents, he decided to remain in Seattle. He intends to start for the state university in a few weeks to begin his studies.