The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1854-12-30
LETTER FROM IOWA.

Fathers RaymhauN and ,JogucS. French ,JcS
nit Missionaries. arrived at the Saut SaInte
Marie. They found there large Chipre-
wa village, whose people informed them that
they were at war with the Sioux, who then
inhabited the shores of Lake Superior. That
frna has been rc-pc:uatcd to this day. Net
tier Tie cxcrtionS Of the Fathers, as detailed
in their celebrated Z" Relations, nor the
strength Of the Government has suf'ircd TO
remove it. Treaty stipulations made between
the tribes at the earnest soliritation Of COM
misSionc.S. have been broken as soon as made
More than once lave parties Of Indians been
murdered on their return from Tie council
ground. bv those who there sworc everlasting
friendship. lie who becomes closely acquaiht-
ed with Indian character. viii be likely to
lose many romantic notions mllbcd III early
life. \ wild naked savage in close contact,
differs materially from the one got uI IN clos
ct retirement while vcrusing the pages OF
Cooper ard Irving An Indian never be-
GENES FOOD citizen. There are very few
exceptions to N.A lie has no ambition to
excel in ANYTHING useful. The excitement
of war or The chase will alone arouse him to
action At other times he is moody, restless.
and Disconnected. Learning is not worth the
effort to Obtain it, and labor is only fit for
towards and old women. Like other Wild
arna> he is almost untamablc. and when
tanned is worse than before, for he is then not
o,lv tame, but licct. lstle>s. filthy thicvi>h.
and when opportunity occurs, bca>:lv intern
pcratr.
Although :hco!osi,ns agree that our state
hv nature is he worst conceivable. Vet tn.
proposition will hal!l. a.lly to Indian char
,cter. # we -; from he savage and ciyiz-
ed specimens found on on: horlcr>. Neither
is there that mate bravery in their clara ter
which las been - much Landed They ncvcr
meet an cEcnl: in the open field. nor any
where else, unlcs> Ike odds are vastly IN their
favor. Arcordin. 20 Indian ct'icS the war
rinr Uho mir,.Ianiiv exposes his person i'll
action i, fool. and if ne Killed! he dies the
tools death To hang on ;hc cnc.n,'S ira X
to iurk around his cnram;nrnt, AMI finally
lure him into ambush. in >!.or. to inliict the
greatest iniulv with die least risk; these arr.
the crcwnn. excrl.cncic> in IN Indians est
mate Of bravery. Nor are the >ralI,s Of de
i"l<c,c-s women ana children beneath :hc
dignity of chicitain. Will" he >purn> with
contempt TIE peaceful ayoratiou> OF literature.
a.ri .u,ture anl trade. These are suitable
cn!ro,mcnt> for >Iuaws and hall breeds. "a
warriors place is only in council or in the
field The efforts OF missionaries. and the
thousands annually expended lv Government
in support Of Indian syhoo.S, have been at
:c:lcd hv vcry >caniv results. Eight miles
from whore ! now write. are extensive build
in.s erected and kept in operation .y Gov
eminent. for cdr: ra'in- the Wiun,sayo"@. For
number Of wears it was under the direction
of the Rev. Mr. Lowry. 1t was found impos-
.ih,c to secure an attendance unless l'v allow
inr each scholar ration day if present. and
wi.hho!in. i. when absent. am reliably
inormcd tia. OF the whole number educated
there, not a solitary specimen can he found
,ii>.in.ui>l.hc ~ any c>'lmahlc quality from
TIE widest savage in the tribe. The Ind;a,
is no, initiative Ike the nero. At least li>
imitation extends Oh, V to the wees, while h,
ignore, thc virtues o. ci, liked litc lie III! .hi
rise ii he would. Church. society. and GOV
crnmyI.t, all invite him Lv turns. The Ail
can, >uu,ncl 10y all, and Struggling ac.in>'
their united pressure. has risen III many IN
stances 20 proud POSITION, E"t only IN th'
arts but in The learned professions; while
tic Indian keeps his early "ha,rcd OF mis-
>iomar..> and cold water
The Indian is good !oa>tcr lie speak
OF his tube as BEN" more numerous than tn.
stars in the heavens: tha; they have SIAN
more enemies than there are leaves in H.,
forest. and taken mere prisoners than there
are sands on the Sca->horc He speaks of hi
own I,rnwc>s in a similar manner The tricl
Of sciiIcprccia:ion he leaves for those VIII,
love llattcry better. The torti,ulc of an In
dian has never been questioned. Let hin
a. 4 II,
him from which there is no escape, and hi
proud spirit will sustain him TO the en-! II
triumph. He rcproachrs his enemies will
cowar,!ice; he HaI rates the cruclicS he ha>
inflicted ON their kindred: he hurlS back
curse for curse under torturcs inflicted with
all the malice OF savage ingenuity, and meets
his fate with P defiant death song quiycrin.
on his lips. ".>ir iw al osira"
An amusing incident of Indian character
happened during a recent journey to Mime
sofa. \ portion of our small party on arriv-
inr at Fort Gaines had been detailed to pro
cure supplies, leaving IA French hait-brcc,l
and myself to construct a Z" dug ont for the
purpose of ascending the Crow Wing river
We pitched our tent few miles from the
fort and We're for some days uninterrupted
The huge pine we had fcled began to assume
the appearance of watcr-cratt. At length
we MISSED some things from the tent They
were taken while we were at work, as on,
camp although near was hid by the tall trees
1t was finally agreed that Antoine should
hide under pile of blankets, after armine
himself with a long withc, while | shouI,!
work as usual on the boat and 'v converSinc
with an imaginary person, and Keeping dou