The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-11

n.
.Father De smet." as be was called. among
these wild Indians and labored IN this iorbdding
part OF the Lords vineyard until they dicd. The In
dams said to cherish their memory this day.
Spotted Tail also asks that army officers remain In
charge OF his agency he says he his children
.to get enough 10 eat aud to keep fat" Tho impress
strangers receive OF Spotted Tail and the other
chiefs that they generally very s'leveheaded
OF men. and that II they could be respect
our government they would BIO glad to cultivate its
friendship aud initiate the mode OF lie of people.
But they diiatory war, that our army
very small In petty garrsons hence they
have feared Us in battle, while they nnd that
peace our faith Is punic and that our promises
written in water 1t Is more than years since We
promised to instruct them In the OF civilization,
but nothing has ever been dore, and with the excep
ton OF teaching them TO mako bread and To bake
II IN which General Crook has commenced, Il is hard
to say that anything Is about to be done.
A PRACTICAL SUGGESTION
Your correspondent doesn't pretend to any great
amount OF knowledge IN Indian affairs, and has not
valuable lessons TO the way in which It's wards
should be managed; yet tho testimony OF
everybody points strongly rpIs TO me necessity q com
this plan is that the youngsters too much
under the influence Of their parents Then why
not tako them away from that inauenccY Why
not establish IN the vicinity OF Omaha, Nebraska or
such central point. where land Is cheap and
good, government farm and workshop capable Of
accommodating 800 or 600 Indian boys and girls,
ected tho different tribes 10 be taught English
exclusively TO be instructed in suitable handicras,
as we'll as IN farming and vegetable gar.
dening, and at the end OF their course Of
This idea is very crude and almost without shape,
but II tho HERALD will only take II up. criticism VIII
soon refine and polish IL The Indian boys after
graduation, could be admitted into the ranks OF the
Indian sodicry as long as any such might be ncccs
sary and the girls could be employed teach their
young computations how 10 sew bake stew AMI roast,
or Whatever else they themselves had learned. The
idea entertained by many very well informed people
that the Indian Is stod and impassve creature,
without Joy or amusement In his liio IS erroneous and
without foundation. The fred mem when among
themselves e.. are very loyal and iond Of games and
called in English, "shinuy" Both sexes take part;
sometimes many as 800 may DO swarming over
tho hot Ks and sending The ball forward hundreds OF
feet at stroke Their dances are curious and inter-
estng ana may be regarded AS substitute Tor tue
drama, ball and concert OF civilized race4
INDIAN ADJUSTMENTS.
Tho ''Omaha dance" Is performed by from fifty to
seventy-tve persons who belong 10 regularly organ
zed companies in each nation. These performers are
arrayed most Enthusiastically and grotesqueiy, each m
divldual giving iu rem 10 his fancy IN tho matter Of
Dress no two having any decoration In common except
the headdrcsses which are Uniform. and the strings
and ropes OF bells each wraps about him. The per-
formers divest tho upper part Of the body OF nearly all
clothing, compromising for It's absence by an exrava
CANT paint. Their dresses Glow .neckedv
IN TACT, that were It not Tor the difference OF It
would be easy to imagine ones self at .siu dross'
reception in Washington or New York. The Indian
men share tho opinion held by so many amiable
young white ladies' that the less dress bet
ter prepared ar they 10 assist Ut festive meeng tho
young indian girls on the other hand, offer good
ample Tor the imitation OF their Eastern sisters, and
some OF them NJ least look just well. But TO got
back to the "Onaha dance" Tho young men are
painted from head to foot In stripes and daubs of yer.
milion purple and yellow, their faces hideous as
pigments make them, and each man determined 10
Guido his fellows in screechihg and stamp The
performers stand IN large circle, while by may
he seen a group OF women and men who aro TO act
''chorus." Three or four masters OF the least, or
major domos, mounted on pones next mako their APP.
pearancc. These are dressed with wealth OF barbarc
magnlfcence. Each wears "war bonnet" or hat,
consisting o! circle OF eagle feathers ana streamcr
OF scarlet cloth, ornamented with ieathers trailing
down TO the ground. II s about beautiful head
dress as man could DEVISE and the wcarers look as II
they !et the Importance attached TO the right TO use
Them
INDIAN DRAMA.
yclp from OF he masters OF ceremonies causes
all tho dancers 70 stand erect; another signal and all
dancers and chorus ake break into dirgelke chant
ending with shrill, strdulous war whoop, after
which rush Is made toward the OF the circle
and regular oldashioned plantation "breakdown"
rs commenced, ana kept up for at lenst five minutes
every warrior brandishing his tonahawk and ycping
like wolf This ends the arst division OF the dance
The chorlsters keep silent aud tho dancers remain
steady IN their places, while ono OF their number is
conducted within tho circle, the spectators
formed that Black Bird Will show how he stole
horses from the Pawnces; how they discovered him
the method of his flight; how the Pawnees overhaul
hm--his fight; how he tails wounded ana about to
rpop sndcf 'he ssas hn enasg
friend. The breathess spectators look on as
the pantomimc, true to life, proceeds. IL Is not easy
to represent vvidly In writing what the savage por-
trayed arstical!y In dumb show. Ho went through
the motions OF creeping IN upon the enemy's herd,
sezing one OF their animals, mounting 1t and driving
OFT number But the sound Of the war whoop tells
HIM HIS escape Is not 10 be easy. He casts hasty
| look behind only to see tho enemy hot UPON lis
track. vainy he plies the WHIP vainly he urges
ward his flying beast IL is race for Iiie but the
goal death, shall soon DC reached. The enemy have
surrounded him, he fights with desperation, but in
VAIN He falls overcome by wounds, aud swoons
away the feelings OF the excited spectators by this
tIme wrought up to tho highest pitch, aud when tho
deivercr, in tho person OF tho .Charging Cow y
makes bold rush into the midst Of the enemy and
puts them tc flight their enthusiasm finds pro-
onged hows ana ululation.
Charging Grow leads Black Bird to his place In
but poorly managed efforts in music. aided by tho
pounding OF drums and shaking OF rattes, which to
the Indian mind is melody more harmonious than the
symphonies OF Beethoven.
CHARITY.
Old women step into the ring and spread upon the
ground blankets pieces OF calico the Of
poor and innrm, who can come IN and help them.
selves. The generosity OF the Indians 10 each other
upon all occasions OF ieslvty is pleasing feature
which lights up the generally saturnino aspect OF
character ascrlbed TO them. The "Omaha dance" Is
quito long, lasting three aud even four hours 1t at
not seldom numbering thousands Iadecd, the
swarm OF youngsters In an Indian village
low degree which assaii tho pedestrian. peacoaby
passing along the village street. 1t Is some consola-
ton TO know that the Indians cat tho ugly little brucs
the dogs not tho children), ana that when any
usual event is 10 be concentrated y dozen oil
NANCY pups strangled and cast into the melting
pot
THE ssouAw DANCE
Another dance gwen during the past wcck Ia called
the ssquaw dance, - women beng allowed 10
participate. TINS is remarkable for nothing except
the beautiful dresses worn by the dancers These
long gowns reaching from tho neck to the ieet and
literally encrusted with beads From the collar TO tho
waist the beads form solid coat OF mail the sleeves,
likewise are studded with the tiny crystals, while the
SKIRT and waist are proiusey ornamentcd These
dresses very pretty IN themselves and becoming
their wearcrs One privilege the squaws have IN this
dance choose partners from the male bystandcrs
the handsomcst only are supposed TO be selected.
Your special had very narrow escape; an old squaw
pondcrcd in doubt Tor a long while, but finally walked
oil with crosseyed man Just IN from the Black Hills.
Thcthird danco given this week BY the Chey-
alone. They call IL the spoon dance IL varies
slightly from the "0maha," PRINCIPALLY in having a
more liberal allowance OF rattle ard ba drum The
dresses used were nearly all OF red cloth, which they
borrowed IRON tho Sioux
THE SEW EXPERIMENT.
It'll now proper 10 make few remarks touching
the probable chances OF war In this part of the
try during the coming summer. Oi course Crooks
administration OF Indian affairs far as II applies to
the Sioux must be looked upon rs a bold experiment
But like every other experiment. no matter now bold,
It's will demonstrate It's value II IL no more
than simple justice TO Crook to say that he
has pursued in other departments aud with