Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-01-06
studIss Among the sionx

Dakota Cor. Evansville Journal
They have a keen sense Of the ridica-
lous, particularly the women, and some.
what OF humor. | think it was "Ran.
ming Antelope" who said that " when be
first heard of it, he was much surprised
that the white men killed their Savior.
but nov he knew them better be lad
changed his mind" / reeollect once,
when a friend and myself we're standing
rather too near the circle. where they
were having q squsw dance, two hays
whose heads we're silvered by we'll nigh a
century threw their skinny arms around
our necks, and drawing us into the
circle, compelled Us TO join in their gy-
r%ations, much to the hilsrity OF the rest,
But Of ell objects of study, the women
are the greatest, from the pretty, good
natured young girls Of seventeen, to the
toothless old bags who, iu this very
tribe, have been known TO come on the
battle field after the fight to kill the
wounded. Much righteous Indignation
has been expressed by American writer's
with regard to the servile labor which is
required OF the women among the Indian
tribes, and this criticism is but to be ex-
pected from q people whose habit Of
pampering their women exhibits itself in
the absurd etiquette which requires
that q gentleman must offer to carry a
parcel for a lady, if it be but an ounce
weight, and is now resulting In the cry
o. woman's rights But these Indian
girls are the hsppiest set | have ever
seen, and it the old women are bent from
being hewers of wood and carriers Of
watet, the men do their part in hunting
and fighting.
The girls are at once both modest and
bold. They will stand aud gaze in at
your window for a quarter of an hour at
a time, but having once veniured to hint
to one q them that her ways were most
winning, the poor child was so overcome
that she ran away, hid her face in her
robe and refused to be comforted.
The name of love. making among
them is strange. When afflicted with
Cupid's dart, the young men 90 about
wearing their blankets in such q manner
as to cover up all OF the head except the
eyes, and having espied the object of
their affection, they slip up behind her,
quickly throw the blanket over her head
also, and holding her tightly around the
waist, compel her to listen to the soft
accents of love-, Ia case of a popular
belle they will sometimes range them.
selves in . line at the door of her wig
wan, and when she comes out, pass her
from n TO the other as each in turn
disburses his surchsrged heart They
have been known to keep a girl this way
all day long.
Their simplicity is something wonder
ful, and many q maiden has rua away ia
the greatest confusion upon q ield-glasa
being leveled at her, thinking that il rem.
dered her clothing diaphanous.
Lastly, the language of the Indian is
well known to be picturesque, and no
one can appreciate the grace Of their
orstOry without having seen il, and even
in ordinary conversation their gestures
are p%rofuse. It is the very poverty Of
their language which makes it sound
poetic; thus, for 'the ship sails" having
neither the word ship" nor sails" they
say, the wind makes the boat run on tho
water thus bringing in two Of the natu-
raj elements in that one sentence. II ia
noticeable that when we sometimes ex-
press z BY 80 many summers, they
always say winterS, and when we say 30
many days since" they say so many
nights or sleeps"