The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1859-11-03
Tracing a Pedigree.

Some men are D0aStIul OF tnelr anceS-
try, while others are entirely devoid Of all
pride of birth, and have no more respect
for the genealogical table of their fore
fathers than they have for Poor Rich
ards Almanac. The late John Ran
dolph, of Roanoke, used to assert his be-
lief that he was descended from the cele-
brated Indian Princess, Pocahontas, but
it is not known that he ever established
his claim to that distinction.
Many years ago there lived in near
State young gentleman who took it into
his head that, like John Randolph, he
was Of Indian descent, though, unlike
John, he did not know exactly the tribe
to which his forefathers belonged. The
idea was aperfect monomania with him,
notwithstanding the efforts of his friends
to convince him of the folly Of his preten-
sions, to say nothing Of the sbsurdity
Of them, even if they could be estab-
lished. The favorite notion, however,
could not be eradicated from his mind,
and he promised his friends that he would
one day convince them that he was right
in his claims.
Having heard that deputation of In
dians were at Washington, on visit to
their great Father, the President, he
promptly repaired to that city, and ar
ranging with the gentleman who had
them in charge, his friends in the city
were surprised to receive an invitation to
accompany him on visit to the Red Men,
before whom he proposed to verify his
favorite pretensions. The party met as
requested, and found the Indians sitting
on the floor, smoking their pipes and
manifesting but little appreciation Of the
honor Of the visit 3.
Having arranged his friends at re-
spectful distance from the aged chief,
who still regarded the visitors with stolid
Indifference, the young man stepped bold
ly from the center, and presuming that it
would require some show of energy to
arouse the chiefs from their apparent ap-
athy, he placed his hand on his breast,
and said with great fearlessness:
"Me-Indan-Long time ago!"
The Chief, who was not skilled in talk
ing English, took his pipe from his
mouth, but evinced no emotion whatever.
The speaker then thinking that more
violent gesture and louder tone would be
necessary, struck his hand upon his
breast with much force, and said in a
louder tone:
"Yes-me-Indian-long time agol
Without moving-a muscle of his face,
the old Chief slowly arose from his sitting
posture, and turned his eagle eye on the
speaker His friends say that the Chief
evidently understood, or at least appeared
to understand, the meaning of the speech
addressed to him, and they gazed intently
on the solemn proceeding. The young
man bore the searching glance of the In
dian without emotion. all felt that the
"time had come"
Moving sufficiently close to the speaker,
the Chief raised his hand, and carefully
taking lock of the young mans hair
between his finger and thumb, gently
rubbed it between them for moment All
stood breathless. Quietly Withdrawing
his hand, the Chief uttered the slight pc
culiar Indian grunt, and said "Nig."
This altogether unexpected denouement
ended the interview, and the discounted
descendant Of the 'Tommyhawks retired
with his friends, the latter roaring with
laughter, and the former filed with o
most sovereign contempt for his degen-
crate Indian relations.