Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-01-26
VOL. XXXVIII.
For the Freeman.
Indian Relics.

j. up by relic hunters and shown to stran
: gors with much pride, as proof of the in
J. terest takan in the rude life of the earl,
= dwellers on the soil We now call our own
This subject opens up an interesting
j field of study, running back through III,
!. life of the red Indian tribes to the mount
! builders, and through them to Il people tC
which the mound builders were compare
{ lively mo'lern population.
t But there is another class of Indian rel
les to which very little attention seems to
; have been given, but which touches our
modern life 1t many points.
, In early times, when white men first
took possession of this land, it not unfre-
quently happened that low down man
strayed away from civilization and took
up his abode among the savages. They
adopted the Indian mode of life, married
an Indian squaW and raised children.
These half in time married with
other low-down whites, and so inoculated
the white race with virus that has been
circulating it its veins even down to this
day.
! In not few instances a cross WAS effect
ed in the other direction. 1t many times
happened that the bright face and dark
eyes of some pretty squaw, belonging to
the family of some friendly Indians, won
the heart of a respectable white man and
he made her his wife. Their children.
again, made. not untreqnently, respectable
marriages, and thus the process of assimi-
lation went on from generation to genera
tion. But that Indian blood was there all
| the same, floating down to one descendant
after another-the physical and mental
marks of the original savage.
Some Of these marks would lie dormant
Tor two or more generations buried or
overwhelmed by the stronger blood of the
white race-and then suddenly show
themselves in such persons as were bv
nature best fitted to allow their develop-
ment.
This is the class of Indian relics that
attracts the notice of the man who studies
the physical and mental traits of the
Americans of our day. Among these the
most noticeable are certain physical marks
which were 50 characteristic of the red
man.
Men walk our streets day showing 10
every time we look in their faces the hiob
cheek bones-that unfailing sign of the
red Indian blood. Everybody body knows
who sees those prominent cheek RIDGES
that they could have but one origin. They
never came across the sea. So, too. the
long jaw, the black eye, with its quick
sideways glance, as though looking ont
Tor an enemy in ambush; never steady in
Its gaze, as though held to one point bv a |
single minded brain. The straight, black |
hair tells its own story; wirey, stiff and |
slippery, it is hair that will never be coax
ed out OF its Independent ways, nor made |
10 yield to any of the modern moditica-
tions suggested by civilized culture.
How often, too, we see Il stealthv. foxv
step IN some men us they walk-a gait the
exact counterpart of that of the ancient
savage, who wandered through these val
leys IN pursuit of game, or in hunting out
the hiding place OF a lurking enemy.
But it would be we'll for modern civiliza-
ton if these ph ySicat marks were the only
remaining evidences of that old minoling
of the blood of the white race with that of
the red
These physical marks are, however, but
the shadows which point to the existence
OF mental traits lying behind them, but
which are not so easily or quickly seen.
whenever you see any one of these trade
marks hung out, then you may look out
Tor the mental qualities which will alwavs
be found along with them. They NAV not
always-or even generally-be readily
Iound-but be sure that, like the original
red dwelltrs on this soil, they are only
lying in wait for the time when they can
do the most mischief by coming into op-
GRAFTON. Behind them you will always
find the sly, lurking, foxy cunning of the
original savage, the deep seated revenge
that Is never satiated and never dies or
tires.
With persons having such traits Won
must always be on your guard against
their treachery. 1t will matter nothing
how much you have been to them; as thew
are incapable of honor, so they never
know what gratitude is. When the ri, hit
time comes they will always betray you.
AS of old the Indians would crawl and
fawn around the early settlements of the
whites, only to find out the weakness of
their defences. and the best mode and
time of attack. SO these persons With
Indian blood in their veins will fawn and
crInge about you, play the "toady." eat
DIRT do anything, if only they can oct
inside your personal Notifications. and 50
much more swift and sure the mischief
they will try to bring upon you by their
personal treachery.
when you get one of these creatures
INTO politics. God save us! Who can tell
what mischief he will not dop Such
man IS more to be dreaded than torpedo
You can never tell when he will hp,st
on you. He will serve you, run for Won
be even a dog for you, if only he can find
chance at last to indulge his long smotb-
cred revenge by betraying you to vonr
worst enemy and then gloating over vour /
downfall.
You leave him at your door at night as r
he trusted sentinel of your Quarters. to $
wake in the morning and find him open- n
ng that same door to introduce to vor .
our deadliest enemy.
Quite often enough we see the workings
't this vile element in single instances in
New England, but much more frequently o
IN the frontier. This supplies The Yeast n
n Mexican politics. The bullats ,bo. I.