Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-11-04
CORRESPONDENCE.
Letter from Kansas.
ST. GEORGE, Kansas, Oct. l

At which place the payment 10 the Totta-
was then being made.
Our route lay over the broad, lonely
prairies of the Reservation, with little to
interest or attract attention, till you ar
rive at the Catholic Mission. This Is
little village of about two hundred inha-
bitants, mostly Indians and halt-breeds.
and is the principal town of the nation.
They have a very good catholic church
at this place, also male and female
school, the former under the superintend-
ence of Father Shultz, the latter under
the supervision of the Sisters of the
Sacred Heart. This has been one of
the most successful missions in the terri
tory and is still in prosperous cohdi-
ton. We took dinner here, at Madame
Bertrand's, which, by the way, is an excel
lent stopping place. All aboard" was
soon shouted from the driver, and we
again ratified on. At about four O'Clock
we reached Cross Creek. just as We
neared the bridge, q heavy shower of
rain burst upon US from the South, and
as we drove on to the payment ground
every thing was becoming literally
drenched. Some two thousand Indians
were scattered here and there over the
town, and such running, and hutter-
ing of ragged petticoats ] have seldom
witnessed.
/ hurried into the nearest place o.
shelter, which proved to be Mr.. Da
honey's trading station, and found mysel
in the midst of dense crowd of indians
and squaws of every age and descriP
ton. 1t was truly a motley assembly
Here was the grim looking brave, hi
savage features sireaked with war paint
the stupid looking old fellow with a RIM
in bis nose, ponderous steel jewels in hi
ears and bells on his ankles, the gra,
headed sage with his look of wisdom ant
intelligence, the silly looking chap deck
ed with beads and ribbons, with squire
skins and coon's tails tied. to his long an
nicely braided cues, and the foolish yOun
upstart, who, partially drunk, seeks t
ape white people, and who appears yer
much as persons generally do who try
ape their betters; or, what is the sam
thing, do that which they can't do.
The squaws too, / ought not TO pa:
uuuUtiUru,fUr 7vurv of ttrvr-I tod. yyr,yvta,
notice of me n several occasion
when / happened TO tread upon the
toes, by giving me knock this way an
a blow that, which l shall not readily fol
get. Then, too, l occasionally receive
very friendly squeeze from the prett
creatures, when some commotion in tt
crowd would wedge US together pref
closely. Yet Sir, Mr.. Editor l receive
a regular pressing, and if that was Il
kind of pressing practiced upon Amer
y can seamen by the British Governme
= in 1912, / must say that our people we
i very foolish to GO to war about it.
: he sure, it is not altogether agreeable
s Yet it gives one such real and CORE
u impressions of Indian character, that
l. man is very silly to make fuss abo
: it. If l were to be placed in the sar
l situation again, l would make one !
- quest however, namely, that the squa,
Z shouldn't eat onions for at least thr
p" days previous, for. though onions a
= good in their place, they are not 60
for squaws when going into company.
have sometimes thought that ach
" squaws would do well to think of tn
" too, when they invite young men to C
. upon them.
BY this time the rain was over, ST
took look around the playground. 7
, Playhouse is a small, snugly built bic
- house, with a single door and windo
=, from which window the money was pa
.e ed out to the respective Indians as tn
E. names were called. A small body of 5
diers was in attendance from the fort,
= preserve order, and guard the mon
10 chest. From the window, on either 81
ID sat long row of anxious looking in
De viduals, mostly whites, whom found
e be Indian traders making their ann
in collections. The Indians are very g
en- to pay their debts when they have mon
IL and for that reason the traders are
- ways on hand at payment. There '
he any number Of apple, candy, and gro
he ry men on the ground, besides Sc e
p regular traders with large stocks of
l's goods.
- As night approached l looked arol
ed for quiet corner where | could wa
y proceedings and take notes. This
IN found in Polk & Lasley's trading hoI
Nc where, advantageously situated betw