SOURCE: “Ramona, Its Successes and Failures,” in Helen Hunt Jackson and Her Indian Reform Legacy, University of Texas Press, 1990, pp. 76-94.

In the following essay, Mathes explains that while the author intended to use Ramona as a means to awaken pubic interest in the condition of Native Americans, the work has enjoyed far greater success as a love story.

By November 1883, with the report and her Independent articles completed, Jackson could reflect upon a job well done. She and Kinney had saved several tracts of land and had removed what they believed to be an immoral teacher. In addition, much to Jackson's pleasure, Lawson had resigned as agent. Her critical exchange of letters to government officials may well have been one of the reasons for his leaving government service.

Lawson's replacement, J. G. McCallum, took office on October 1, 1883. Unfortunately, not only was he inefficient but time would prove...