The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-11-09
A "REMINISCENCES,

A "REMINISCENCES.
THERE was an interesting though
unimportant scene in the life of Abra-
ham Lincoln, of which was an eve
witness, 1t was on the occasion of
the visit of about twenty Indian chiefs
to the Executive Mansion, delegated
by their respective tribes to treat per-
S0nally with the Great Father in the
adjustment of their affairs. They
were habited in their attire of feathers
and paint, and each one was impressed
with the greatness. of the occasion,
the most eventful, probably, of their
lives. Their interpreter placed them
in the form Of a crescent in the
spacious East room, on the floor, as
they would have been i'll at ease on
chairs. Thus they sat on the carpet
in decorous silence and waited the az
rival of the Chief Magistrate.
A number of people had been in
vited to be present at the interview.
among whom We're officers civil and
military and foreign diplOmateS, aC-
companied by their wives in fashion,
able toilet. Several of the latter,
whose feet had not long left the
asphalt of the Boulevards of Paris,
looked on the copper-cOlOred men
two or three using eye-glasses-with
peculiar interest; the objects of it,
however sat under the close observa-
ton with calm dignity, as calm as if
they had been in the habit of sitting
amidst the gaudy splendors of an East
room, and of being looked upon, every
day. ny distinguish o'4-~-,,"'' anu ii'ii.i-
some women; the absence of any
manifestation of surprise being a
characteristic of Indian nature.
At length Abraham Lincoln came
into the room and stood before the
dusky crescent, while a group of we'll
known men gathered behind him, to
hear what was about to take place,
space being made by ushers about the
chiefs, the President and the imme-
date group behind him. The inter
prefer occupied place near Lincoln,
to turn the aboriginal language into
English as it fell from the lip. The
ceremony began by personal presen-
tation of each chief to the Great
Father, each one going up to the pow
erful white chief and shaking hands
not extending the hand after the eau
casian manner, but holding it high and
dropping it softly into the Presidential
palm. The names were furnished as
they came forward by the Interpreter
White Bear, Big Wolf, Red Fox, and
so op.
The face of Lincoln was plainly seer
by most of the people present, for il
was higher than that of any other
When be came into the room it was, as
usual, pale and tinged with sadness
which was its principal characteristic
in repose. He folded his hands before
him, and stood rather awkwardly as ht
waited for the interview to begin
After making his compliments ant
shaking hands, each Indian returned
| to his seat on the carpet il
the crescent of his brethren
| When all had performed thu
ceremony, each one in turn made hi
speech to the President, standing VI
for the purpose, and sitting dow
when done, in parliamentary fashion
probably through instructions from
the interpreter. The first one WIFI
essayed to talk grew nervous, and in
hurried way asked for chair in tn
spirit of wrecked mariner who seek
for plank. When it was Furnished
him, he took his seat and resumed tn
entangled thread of his discourse. A
this trifling incident took place, smil
passed over the faces of the spectators
and was reflected in that of Lincoln
This smile, indeed, deepened into al
audible laugh in the rear; but wheI
the ear of the President caught it hi
face Immediately Strengthened int
seriousness and sympathy with tn
disconnected Indian. He did not a
once begin, and the interpreter said:
"Mr. President, White Bear ask
for time to collect his thoughts"
The President bowed, and anothe
smile went round at the plight of tn
perturbed Indian, but did not appea
in the face of Lincoln.
Soon, White Bear rose to his fee
went at it again, and after fashio
got through with what he wanted t
say, at which there was a murmur {
applause.
The burden of their speeches W;
the same. They had all come such
long distance, and so quickly, that The
felt as if they were birds. To see IL
Great Father had been the wish
their lives. They were poor, and r
quired help. They had always +
, spected their treaties, and were Il
friends of the white man. Tit
wanted to be prosperous and rich lii
their white brother. Big Wolf, pa
ticularly, enlarged on this theme. Z
said that he would like to have hors
: and carriages, sausages such as he a
\ in the hotel in Washington, and a I'll
wigwam-"like this" added he, as
Y designated the highly ornaments
anartmant In which he stood. At thj