New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-13
WASHINGTON SKETCHES.
TUE INDIANS AT THE WHITE HOUSE.


TIONS.
Washington, ID. c., June 11.--History does
repeat itself in scenes, If not in circumstances The
Grand State Reception the Sioux at the White House,
on Monday night, recalled 10 my mind the royal recep-
ton accorded Columbus and his misnamed Indians al
Barcelona, in the Spring Of li93 To be sure our ferd
nand and Isabella appeared In regal State-Were III
fact ally distinguished from their fashionable VINO
guests by the simplicity OF their dress and the hosptape
Kindness of their manner And here, hold was dds
take. For reasons Of policy they should assume an ""
fu majesty IL they 1t not. when savage minus "u
Democratic reporters are TO be impressed.
temporary throne should, l THINK, nave p',"
erected n the FIR end of the East Room If the White
Uoue carpentcr had found ignorant OF the proper
construction OF such monarchch INSTITUTION, MI o. o
Cox who has inst been over 10 spain, couiu nave III
,r,ccd him There should have been gorgeous gilded
chairs for tie Great Father and Mother ana saer ones
for the young Chief Jesse and the Princess Nellie koya
Costumes could have been borrowed from the National
Theater-velvet spanged robes, scepter, and ball for
the nonce they cond have donned the Respondent
OF the Macbcths. TIE Members of the Cabinet ana all
the high Foder officials should have appeared IN hhe
military uniiorlls-of course they all have them-and
there should have been horald and trumpeters, ana
pretty pages please the aboriginal ladies' and I'D snort
any amount russ and feathers. am conndeht the
feet would have been most striking ana saul
tary and We should have had show some
thing like The p0mp and parade OF the OLD
Corrt of CASTLE Thst display must have done the bus-
ness for the Hisauioaus who beheld it, for who ever
heard of those I cuarnatiyes making war against the
hoy spanish supremacy after that? To be sure, our
Indians come - delegates, not captyes. presume
too they iiTr N IrY i'm nature and appearance, from
those ami blrbans they are less air1y clad, even
Bear Skin bel : much drolcd and they are shrewder and
more warke iufu whom not spanish brutality and
hcotry could cus1ve stin less is Gen. Smith, or Mr.
Vincent Coyer like the dark and melancholy Admiral,
whose "uamc a. was Colombo, and who came from OLD
Gcuoa;" that sublime WcudiCant, who wandered from
court 70 cou.f, begging pancc, that he might give
back "a world. Yet these gentlemen presented their
dusy friends i; mcthng Of the pride of proprietor
shipu aud rattescared Red Cloud, and our faithful
Spotted Tail, hitherto WARRIOR chiefly renowned Tor
slencug Biz 3,Itl but who has, he boasts made up in
horsc-stcaluc what he has lacked in scalpfting
beside being az great . catUecOn1sCatOr as Rob Roy
NacGregor.
This reception was rs you have SEEM ful-dress
son. and quite srr risin gy brilliant The dead season"
was galvanized for single night ntOa startlingly life
like appearance. Tic warriors painted and pumed
with the most artistic Mlcousnoss Rcd Clouds head
gear being particularly appalling They had on all their
savage r,gana, their beads and their bells their tnsel
and Shells their rings and crosses and badges. They
sportcd tLor best pipes vampm and buffalo robes, and
poor, unsu pecug children of nature-wOre as crown
ing adorumeuts, ht silver MEDALS bearing the head of
their late Great Father" Andre Johnson The toilette
of the sGuaws had hy no been neglected. They
had fresh vernilon down the parting Of their hair;
their jetty locks freshly plated; their ears were
freshly shecd, the ornaments tied in with buckskin
thongs Ther knives were freshly secured, and they
wore their "sulday- so-tomeetin" moccasins. They
sat apart by themselves knowing their proper sphere
speaking after the manner Of me), or in Difference TO
our unenlightene1 prriulices the woman question.
Though could not, OF COURSE respect the good
humOred, harml"s Hooking creatures, We do those
nober animals the valiant chiefs, who have made the
air Of the frontier ring with their and ring with
their war-whoops, WHO have compelled our greatest
warriors 10 before their prowes, and back
out Of their reservations. still they were not without
their curious admirers and took home that night many
little tokens of friendly aters ST. Mrs Grant made them
very happy by the ft Of some shining trinkets, and the
President himself bestowed upOn each fine bouquet
with his paterua hand, saying as he did so g must
at all events be attentive 20 TIE ladies'"
The lovely wife OF tn riish Minister quite in
despair at not having thought TO bring fitting emi-
nine ofrings ard mat the cildike Sioux women
manifested longing d'rariou FOR the pearl trimmings
Of her dress, borrowed peufe from gallant attache,
and remOrseessy IL spoiled her sash Of its pretty pen
dans which she bestowed impIrtally the group be-
fore her The elderly luaw who seemed sort Of ducn-
na received her share with cool cOndescentiOn-the
younger gggel in their lazy, good-Daured way,
but showed no more light ,han at the Navy-Ya they
had shown in the acqus ton Of handful Of brass filings.
Ihad expected them lifted 10 the seventh heaven
Of savage beattude Dr. graceful act Of courty lib
crafty and by the lie to beauty Of the baubies them
selves and was har lrrsed 10 hear distinguished
but unphianthropic Congressman o. whom related the
Incident growl something criptura and "sarcasti
cal" about casting pearls" etc.
Amused aud grathoI by the scenethc lofty and bril-
nant apartments the -orcous upholstery, the pictures,
and marbles fOT once " tie House art was admired by
the beauty and elegance and SaUOir fGire of the gay
ladies-these ngeHuors quaw were not Ike their lords,
too proud to show t' feelings Indeed they manifested
their emotions ard w,lo in the most natural and I'M
conventional manner. H. for instance, gentle Thunder
(HhO ought hv Ter name, 10 be Red Clouds wte)
desired TO attract yOrr att o1 as you stood by her. she
would give you-ucr hands being full of trnkcts and
dOwers-a sgni1 Little kick This naive and spright-
ly action though h-iJy yet stealthily and mod
estly performed uUd6 OF her heavy red skirt and
other docorous draTiu-s But could Christian civiza-
ton and art get hold of Thunder Skin, and emancpate
her from the triuGre.s Of savage prOpriety, she
might yet come lt kick like Schneider, and
vault ike Ccr,C o midst Of brief, bright clouds of
airy drapcry ia .Le ,e ~ queens omperors and all the
great world ari ..d is Whole interesting group in
specting with Of ~lamC-i6ced establishment,
tain Stunning" evening lrcSs, very hong and very low
Watched their eye o.O~ng the shining Of silk
rising such dcba.tH. ground, and flowing away into
such foreign tcrOl end thought that that gay young
lady must have scut. them ike fair serpent, Just
emerging from its g3,teus skin. All, me how these
poor creatures need eln.aiIs. noticed that of all the
respendont dame, tc 5Iws seemed most feryenty 10
admire Madame C0acaz,, the wife Of the Russian Minis
ter And there seems nt something almost semi-baT
barrie about s Giy her splendid, regal figure ;
her fair proud face ,ht, but cold blue eyes; her
wealth Of tlrnr hair 'el bizarre icwelry her unique
and gtcrE attire. winch would naturally dazzle and
delight these wild Of the plains. She is like a
sutsna from Circa-ia 'te princess of ancient Gaul
She is magniG emit 49, De- toire, but she will roar you
gently" in charming broken J.. glish.
We fOllOwcl 4d friends INTO the supper room, and
stood back re@pc, fully inst the wall, while they ban