Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-06-05
RED CLOUD AGAIN.
He Comes 60 washing ton to sec the
Grent Father-What He Wants
and what He is Doing.
II. WH1TMORE,
Publisher and Proprietor.

and what He is Doing.
Correspondence of the Courier Journal.l
Atpresent Washington is honored by
the presence of the following high dig
nitaries: Red Cloud, Red Dog, Blue
Horse, Red Leaf, Blue Wound, and
other high-sounding and euphonious
names. There are also some squaws
accompanying the Indian chiefs with
names quite as elegant and suggestive.
These savages are here as a high joint
or low joint commission to settle the
point of where they may be settled in
an undisturbed manner. What with the
encroachment of railroads and the white
mans contempt of any right they ever
had to hunting grounds, there seems
danger of their finally being driven
from the face of the earth. When l
look at them in their hideous war paint,
dirty blankets and note their savage ap-
pearance generally, think it an awful
license which is accorded to the poet
who can see anything in them to admire
or even pity. wonder, and / can't help
IL, if they have souls to be saved, and it,
really, there is Saviour for them.
have read Overland" and also the ac-
counts that every now and then reach
us OF the brutal atrocities OF the
Indians, and it seems to me they are
not fit beings to be allowed to pollute the
earth. Two years ago, Red Cloud, Spot
ted Tail and many other warriors were
here to see their Great Father.
They came by the Great Fathers in
vitation, and one of the means that was
taken to impress these barbarians was
to invite them to grand entertainment
at the White House. 1t was a warm,
beautiful evening in May, and the pre-
sentation was to take place in the East
room. The whole house was blaze Of
light, the windows we're thrown open,
and the evening air was fragrant with
the perfume of flowers. The President
stood at the head of the room with his
wife by his side; his braves, in the shape
of cabinet officers, secretaries and gem
erals, surrounded him. All the diplo-
matte corps, with their ladies, we're
present. The company numbered about
three hundred distinguished people.
All were in full evening dress. So were
the Indians, for they were more painted
and befeathered than any persons pres
ent. Spotted Tail had a head-dress
of eagle feathers that was fastened on
the front of his head, passed over to the
back, and fell in long trail upon the
floor; each feather denoted scalp taken
by him in battle. OF these trophies he
seemed as proud as the belle who makes
a display of his victims. There was but
little difference in the appearance of
the men and women, for both wore
the single garment, blanket. The OPP
pressiye heat from the gas made them
perspire, and the fragance from the
flowers was scarcely sufficient to over
power other odors. The line of persons
who assisted the President and Mrs.
Grant to receive on that occasion ex-
tended more than half the length Of the
large East drawing.room. The Secre-
tary of the Interior presented the In
dians TO their Great Father, and he,
with the interpreter, passed down the
line. the Indians shaking hands with
every one and saying Howl l must
confess that / felt afraid to accept or
refuse their proHered hands, for they
were too hideous to be human. Ii they
we're affected or surprised by the Hash
ing lights or white skins of the bare
necked ladies, they did not betray any
emotion. | drew little apart and
looked With perhaps more wonder and
upon the singular spectacle
than those childreR of the forest did.
Yes, here had met the eiits of Europe
and the bon ton of barbarism. The |
Of culture and refinement,
the extreme of ignorance, debasement;
the most primitive style of dress, and
the latest Partisan toilets. Red Clouds |
dignity that night was somewhat wound
ed when he found that it was expected |
Of him TO get in an omnibus with others
to call upon the Great Father. He
wanted to stand upon etiquette, and re-
ceive the first call. There was consid-
erable difficulty in forcing hiR TO com
ply.