Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-10-13
INDIAN CHIEFS AT WASHINGTON.

ANUAhN SuAUSc "a VASusNUAWNs
4 Hiahiy Interesting Account Of n Reccptio
Given 20 u Number Of Prominent India
Chicfs at the Whitc IIousc-IIow lh
Aborigines Behaved.
A Washington correspondent, speak
ing Of the recent visit of the Sioux In
dian chiefs, Red Cloud and Spotted Tail
to the national capital, says: I wei
remember the visit in 1870 Of these yer,
self-same chiefs. A new idea struck tn,
folks in power at the time. II was de
termined to give the chiefs grand re
ception at the White House. The mem
bers Of the diplomatic corps, with the
i.a;o~ .--A .'.~'. s.-...sa'.s, ~o.o invited bx
President Grant to participate Ia ~.
festivities. They accepted and went in
full official uniform, while the ladies
were attired in evening party dress.
The cabinet officers wore swallow-tails
and white vests, while I never saw the
administrative ladies' dressed 80 exquis.
itely, Mrs. Grant, Mrs. Fish and Mrs.
Belknap, particularly. Gen. Horace
Porter and Gen. Porter were the mas
ters of ceremonies. Miss Nellie Grant
was the Queen Of Beauty, and was
dressed for the character. The East
Room was fully lighted up. The Green,
Blue, and Red Rooms were decorated
with flowers, evergreens and bouquets.
The State Dining-room was turned into
banquet hall, the refreshments, con-
sisting of all kinds of fruits, wines,
liquors, creams, coffee, tea, cold meats,
salads, etc. At seven o'clock the Diplo-
matte Corps, with their ladies, had ar
rived, as had also the Cabinet, their
spouses and daughters.
When the President and Mrs. Grant en-
tered the East Room the scene was brilliant
indeed. IT was indeed, brilliantly grand.
There was the million -and-one colors OF
the coats and breeches of the Diplomats,
with their innumerable medals and dec
orations, and the very neat and tasteful
plain evening dress of the American Of
ficials. never saw General Grant
dressed more neatly, or look more
pleased. The Marine Band, IN all the
glory of their red coats, discoursed beau
tiful music in the large auditorium, next
the East Room. Suddenly the coaches
rolled up to the porch doors, and there
emptied their living freight of painted
Indian chiefs. They waved no clubs,
and carried not the tomahawk nor the
rifle. 1t was a warm evening, and the
big chiefs came in their thickest blankets.
It is surprising that these aborginals
wear their heaviest clothes in the most
sultry weather. As they entered the
sne the anere eaDa 1eu Rsys%
more of them. After getting in order,
they were marched into the East room
Babcock and Porter leading the way
the band playing "Here We Come,
800, 900 More"
These Sioux, Ogalalies, Cheyennes,
and what not, were ranged on the side
of the East Room next the dressing de-
partment. The principal interpreter
offered his arm to Mrs. Grant, and then
passed down the line, shaking hands
with each chief. President Grant fol-
lowed, with Mrs. Fish on his arm. Then
the cabinet officers, and ladies. Then
Sir E. Thornton, the British minister
and his wife, and so on, until every lady
and gentleman in the room had shaken
the hand of every one of the dusky sons
of the forest Spotted Tail was then,
as he will be now, the principal chief.
He took notion to wear a high black
hat, and wore it during the entire even
ing. After the hand shake and some
small talk was over, the civilized portion
of the assemblage were ranged on one
side of the room, and the original own
ers of this fertile soil stood in solid
phalanx on the opposite side. The band
played-"We Are All as jolly as Bees
Can Be-" and during the rendition of
this beautiful and appropriate air, the
civilized and Christian side of the house
kept bowling to the big Indian side, while
they, wrapped in their blankets. salaamed
to the very ground. After this became
monotonous, both sides broke
rank, and general comingling and in
terchange of sentiment ensued. Laugh
ing, talking, and promenading followed
in quick succession. At ten p. NJ, the
doors leading to the Red, Blue and Green
Rooms were thrown open, and the dis
party moved slowly but sure
ly towards the State Dining-room. One
Of the features just here presented was
the refreshing and odd sight of seeing
Mrs. President Grant escort Spotted
Tail to the seat at the table and take
chair beside him, while the tall and
queenly form of Mrs. Minister Thornton
the old scamp on the other
side. Mrs. Fish, with her ever smiling
face, her lovely white curls, and her ex-
quisite toilette, chaperoned Hole-in-the-
Sky, and 80 it went on until every
chief had two or more of the ladies wait
ing upon him at the table. I saw Mrs.
Fish, during the entertainment, holding
4 plate of ice cream and strawberries,
while Fly-away-Home crammed them
lown his ugly throat, using a soup
spoon as the mediator. They ate and
frank, and drank and ate-and especially
lid they drink so much SO that all the
liquors had to be taken out of their way.
Bulls-Horns got 80 much fire-water
within him that he demanded to have
Mrs. Belknap as his squaw, while Steal
Horses insisted on dancing the
nazurka with Mrs. Boutwell, (the staid
wife Of Mr.. BoutwelD, who never danced
. dance in the whole course of her life.
Those of the chiefs who got too much
ire-water were hustled out of side door
md driven to their rooms, at the Wash
ngton Hotel. The others were escorted
10 the East Room, where another chat