The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-13
Shall n W itc Man Desert II Squaw wife {,

We get many curious and interesting
questions relating TO love and marriage
but If We undertook TO answer them all we
should have LITTLE room left in THE Sun for
other matter. Therefore we must content
ourselves with taking typical case now
and then, and so treating it as TO give aid
TO n whole class of our inquiring CORE
spondcnts.
The case we shall examine to-day is an
exceptional one, it Is true. but certain prin-
ciplcs of general value may bc cxpoundcd
during its discussion. II is that OF II man
in Montana who has taken to himself an In
dian squaw rs wifc-a sort Of union which
is frequent in that distant Tcrritory-an
who is beginning to feel that he would like
To return to more civilized ways Of living
than those TO which he has 80 long accus-
toned himself:
"SfF Being constant reader n your valuable paper
take the liberty OF 0sAii- Your ai,icc subject
only great Importance Co. myself hut 90 great many
others similarly situated. am living in the Indian
country, Wh'rr have o. sided for the uasi years
During this time was constantly surrounded D, Indians
and appeared TO he the general custom with the other
white men iisins ON tho border took 10 myself In
dmuAhride-ihnt l.. oid not marry her legally hut
bought her which consider as morally binding Sow
have discovered that there l. no happlnessur man thus
situated who allows ms thoughts To above buffalo
aud renican In fact man loses an identity with the
civilized world ans coul.c % time lrcomcs To- nh pur
poses. an Indian lacking tue color Non. what want
know is can man morally sever an connections with
these l,opc mou-h he we're lawfully married To- one of
Wtr irirf Wtsr
"oip AerScY No,t.Sa Dec J. is77'
Our correspondent seems to he a conscicn-
tl.us man, thus proving that association
with the Indians has not bluntcd his per-
ccptiou7 Of duty. Perhaps # hc had spent
the ton years in civilized community. he
might be- now worse man than he IT, He
should bear this in mind. and thoughtfully
consider whether his longing for different
life may not lead him To- sclii-hly violate his
Obligations 10 his Indian wife and half-brccd
family. If il should do tins his resumption
OF the ways of civilization would bc at the
cost Of manly honor, and through the
neglect of plain duty.
Besides. his squaw wife may be n very
good hclpmcet for him. and il he should de-
scri her he might soon regret the step.
After his free life A. a hunter lac is likely to
chafc under the rStrants and conventions
Of settled communities, and TO wish himself
back again I'm the woods. There Is n great
deal TO be said in favor Of the wild and ven
turcsomc existence of the men among whom
our correspondent dwclls, and prolonged
experience Of it II pretty apt to unfit an in
diyidual for the sobcrcr routine Of towns
and Villages. Even DR.. LIVINGSTONE grew
so wonted 10 the life he led in Africa that he
did not wish to change it, many and great
as the trials Of il We're. Ills feeling is
easily understandable, and probably II our
Montana friend should return within the
borders Of civilization he would sorcly miss
his squaw and dark-complexioncd children,
and be glad TO get back to them again.
There are worse conditions Of life than those
which surround him, and, possibly our cor
respondent il fully as happy as men who
earn their living in towns, and are married
to women who are not coprer-colored.
Still, II he wishes to try the experiment Of
coming back to civilized life, he might do it,
provided he brings his squaw and babies
along. He ought not to desert them.