Arizona weekly enterprise., 1881-12-24
INDIAN WIVES.

How the AbOrigine Maidens Wed White Men-The Price of a Good Wife.
 lFrom the st. Louis Globe Democrat
 Among the Northwestern tribes of h. dians innocence is as marked among the girls as their color. The impression that the red maiden does not entertain high standard of morality is an error, for she is taught as other girls are, and grows up with well-developed ideas of the re- responsibilities of life anda firm resolution to discharge them. Educated in the faith that she was ordained to work, she trains herself to undergo hard labor, and at 16 years of age is sturdy and strong, brave against fatigue, and a perfect housewife.
 She may not possess New England notions of cleanliness, but she takes not q little pride in her personal appearance, and In the arrangement of her lodge she displays some crude ideas of taste and a certain amount of neatness. If she mar " a white man she makes him Q good wife as long as she lives with him. His home is her sole comfort and his comfort her ambition. She thinks of him and for him, and makes it her study to please him and make him respect and love her. She recognizes in him one of a superior race, and by her dignity and devotion endears herself to him and struggles to make him happy.
 At the agencies of the upper frontier thousands of men are employed, and it is not an exaggeration to say that the majority of them have Indian wives and live happily. They are not sought after by the maidens, for the Indians girls custom is to remain quiet until the mar riage contract is made and the arrlage portion paid over. The husband must have the dowry, with which he must in vest his projected mother-in-law before the ceremony takes place. The process is a little out of the usual run, and de- scription may be of interest.
 The aspiring bridegroom must be well known in the tribe before he can hopet to win a wife. Her people want to thor oughly understand him and know if he can support not only her but also her relatives in the event of pinch. He must be kid-hearted man, with a tenn per warranted to keep in any domestic climate, and he must have good lodge and at le ast have dozen horses. If he be, and have all these, he can a-wooing go. Selecting the lady, he makes appli- cation to her mother and at a council the price is fixed upon.
 If the girl be especially pretty hel mother will demand gun, two horses and a lot of provisions, blankets and cloth. A gun is valued at $50, horse at $20, and he must furnish material tc bring the amount up to from $100 tc $50. Then he tries to beat the dame down, and if he succeeds he knows there is some reason for letting the girl go; il not, he understands that he is making a good choice. The courtship is left en. tirely to the mother
 She communicates tue intelligence tc the bride-elect, who dutifully sets upor preparing the lodge for the nuptials Relatives and friends congregate, forn circle, pound a drum and have a feast at the conclusion of which the man an, girl stand up A blanket is thrown ove their heads, under which they exchang, VOWS of fidelity, after which the mothe blesses them, and the ceremony is com plete. But it fares badly with a mai who plentifully stocks his weddin; lodge.
 His wife will give away everything h gives her, and stores intended to last month will disappear in an hour. He, he be called cautious, will give her barrel enough to eat until he teaches economy lesson which once thoroughly learne she never forgets. For some time afta the wedding the newly-made relative haunt the happy lodge, demanding tha they be feasted and cared for. Woe unt him who accedes in the slightest. A fir refusal well persevared in Is all that wi save him life of misery.
 According to prairie law tis disreput' ble in q white man to abandon his dusk wife until she has grown too old to wor for him. Then he may send her bac to her tribe if he SO elect The obligi s tior upon the wife is different. She ma not desert her husband for anothC White man, but she may leave him fC nn Indian who wants to marry her, pr ..-sided she have no children. If squa desires to abandon her husband, u Indian of her choice must pay back u price originally pad to her mothe " He may abate no iot or little, and it in such payment that the divorce is pc 4 fected. She then becomes a sing woman, free to marry, but she cam & live in the vicinity inhabited by h # former husband.