Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-12-12
NO. so.
savages at Their Toilet.

in Indian Territory, thp SSrites from
Muskogee:
Wandering about the Ind an Fair this
evening, came across the Plain Indians
in the act of making their toilets. 1t was
a queer spectacle. The first camp visited
was the Usage. Those gigantic warriors,
who, by the way. realize ones ideal OF the
typical Indian more than any tribe repres-
ented. if we may except the Cheyennes
and Arrapahoes, had evidently Just begun
thu If work Seated about in various at
tltudes, and utterly Indifferent to the gaze
of the curious spectators surrounding
them, they proceeded to decorate their
tawny persons in the highest style of bar
barrie art.
Painting their faces in the prevailing
fashion Of the tribe was the first thing
done, and took precedence of putting on
their leggings. AS consequence of this
reversed order Of things. the herculean
Usage brave stalked about before high
heaven, clad only in a calico shirt of an
abbreviated pattern, and perfectly nude as
to the remainder Of his body, In civilized
society such pattern of undyess would
undoubtedly create some CONSERVATION;
but in the Indian Territory it seemed to
be matter of course, and excited no par
ticular comment, save as to the proper
tions and inward and outward bend of the
braves legs. And it is, perhaps, only JUS
tice to say that the great majority of these
members were exceedingly straight and
well-proportioned, bow-legged or deform-
ed Indian being an infrequent spectacle.
The Osages began their toilet with a
plentiful ablution, after which two red
stones were rubbed together, producing
thin paint, which was beaten in both
hands and smeared thickly on the entire
face. The face of an Indian covers good
deal Of space. He is large to begin with,
and, in addition. has fashion of shaving
the entire head, save narrow ridge COM
mencing on the forehead, running back
over the crown, and terminating in long
queue behind. On this ridge the hair is
cut short, until it resembles cocks comb,
standing erect and brjstly. No streaks or
burning suns are added to the red, the
countenance presenting only generally
inflamed appearance. The next process
was to grease the hair with copious appli-
cations of bcef's tallew, after which the
leggins, the beads and trinkets, and last
ly the red blanket, were donned.
In the Cheyenne and Arrapahoe camps
tbe same order of things prevailed. The
former were particularly attentive to the
niceties Of the toilet, and devoted fully an
hour to the decoration of their persons
Their delegations are composed mostly of
young men, which, perhaps, accounts for
such attention and detail. Nothing can
exceed the vanity of a young Indian. Take
him from the age of seventeen to twenty
FIVE. and the world may be challenged to
produce his equal. He spends unlimited
time in the decoration of his person; he
piles ornaments on every available spot.
With the younger women it is quite differ
ent. They are the beasts of burden, and
entertain very humble opinion of them
selves, intensified by the fact that any
buck she may meet is privileged to beat
and abuse ner. The order of civilization
is reversed, and the brother Of the family
wears all the good clothes.
The Cheyenne and Arrapahoes also be-
gan their toilets with the painting of the
face. Instead of general application Of one
color. however, different hues were used
+ho ho nh
and green or blue on the chin and neck.
These colors were changed according to
individual taste, there being apparently
no gen eral fashion. Next came the ar
ranging of the hair, worn in two long
queues at either side. the dangling ends
usually covered with furs or particolored
ribbons, and in some instances bound
round with shining coils of brass wire.
The scalp lock, a single bunch of circular
form picked out from the centre of the
back part of the head, was simply braided
and allowed to hang straight over the
shoulders. Next came the DOMINIC of Or
naments in the shape Of necklaces medals,
strings of wampum, and heavy pendants
nearly the size of breastplates, made of
long colored beads of glass and metal, said
to be very valuable.
The Osages use the bears claw necklace
in lieu of them, with perhaps more bar
raric but less artistic effect, Lastly comes
the leggins of fine cloth or dyed skins and
variegated colors, reaching half way above
the knee, and the universal blanket Dur
ing the progress of the toilet, frequent re-
course was had to the looking-glass with
one of which every brave seemed to be
supplied. No vain woman could take
more satisfaction in viewing her own feat
ures, in the effects of contrasting colors,
than did these untutored children of the
forest and plain. AS picturesque cos
tune an Indian garb cannot be excelled.
and it Is. when closely adhered to, a very
inexpensive one.
asked Delaware, yesterday, why he
did not dress in the white mans garb, and
his reply, satisfactorily answered ones
tiOn often asked, He said: 81 cannot af-
ford it; we Indians are poor-just begin
ming to acquire property, and have but lit
tie money. 60 to the traders and buy
an ordinary suit of clothes; pay. say $40,
and the clothes I get do not last me longer
than my own. On the other hand, to fol-
low the costume of my tribe, purchase a
blanket, a colored handkerchief for my
head, two yards of hickory shifting or drill
ling for leggins, a calico shirt. a bit of
strouds for clout-all for 81 or S., It Is
cheaper and just as good" But there is
another reason which the Delaware did
not give. The Indian olings tenaclously
to his costume, and Ia exceedingly sensi-
tive to ridieule. He puts on white mans