The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1882-11-23
AUTUMN THOUGHTS.

In the Rocky Mountains now the eternal
whiteness Is stealing down toward the foothills,
and the brown mantle of October hangs softly
Oh the swelling divide, while along the streams
cottonwood aud willow are turned to gold and
TIE deep green Of the solemn pines lies farther
back against the soft blue of the autumn sky
The sigh of the approaching storm is heard at
eventide, and the hostile Indian comes into the
reservation to get some arnica for his chilblain,
and to heal up the old feeling of intolerance on
the part of the paleface.
He leaves the glorious picture of mountain
and glen, the wide sweep of magnificent nature
where thousand gorgeous dyes are spread
over the remains of the dead summer and fold
ing his tepee, lie steals into the home of the
white man, that he may be once more at peace
with the world.
The hectic of the dying year saddens and de-
presses him, for is I not an emblem to him of
the death of his racef Is il not to him an assur-
ance that in the golden ultimately, the red man
will be sought for on the face Of the earth, and
he Will not be able To represent. He will not lie
there, either IN person or by proxy. Here
and there may he fonnd the little silent mounds,
with some glass beads and teeth in them, but
the silent warrior with the Roman nose will not
be there.
The Indian agent will have a large, conserva-
tive cemetery on his hands, and the brave war
rior will Ice marching single file through the
corridors of the hence.
At this moment, he does not look romantic
Clothed in a coffee sack and q little brief au-
thOrity, he wonld not make a good vignrtte
for five dollar bill. His wife, too, looks care
worn, and the old glad light is not in her eye.
Her gunny sack dOlman is not what il once was,
and her beautifully arched foot has spread out
over the reservation more than it used to. Her
step has lost its old elasticity, and SO have her
suspenders.
Autumn brings to her nothing bnt regret for
the past and hOpefulness for the future. The
cold and cruel winter will bring her nothing bnt
bitter memories and condemned Government
grub The solemn hush of nature and the COR
geOus cOlOring of the forest do not awake a
thrill in her wild heart. She not for the
dead summer the mellow mist of the grand
old mountains.
She doesn't care two cents. She knows that
no sealskin sacque will come TO her on the
Christmas tree, and the glad welcome of the
placid and select oyster is not for her.
10 it surprising, then, that to this decaying
belle Of an old family the sparkle of hope is I'M
known! Can we wonder as contemplate
her history, that TO her the soldier pantaoons Of
last year and the bullwhacker's straw hat of 's6
are Obnoxiousi
She is like her sex, and her joy is fractured by
the knowledge that her moccasins are down at
the heel, and her stockings existing in the
realms of fancy. We should not look with scorn
upon Mrs. Rise-u William Riley, for hope 10
dead in her breast, and the wigwam is desolate
in the sage-brush.
Daughter of great nation, not mad
at You. You are not to be blamed because the
Republican party has busted your crust. We
do not hate You because you eat your steak rare
and wear your own hair. 1t is your own right
to do So if you wish. Brace up, therefore, and
take tumble, as it were, and try to he cheerful.
We will not massacre you, if you will not mas
sacre us. All We want is peace, and you can
wear what you like, only wear something. if
You please, when you come into our society. We
do not ask yUu TO conform strictly to our false
and peculiar costumes, but wear something to
protect yon from the chilling blasts of winter,
and yOn will win onr respect. You needn't
mingle in oar society much if you do not choose
to. but wrap yourself up in most any kind of
clothing that will silence the tongue of Islander,
aud try to quit drinking. Iou woud get along
first rate, ii you would only let liquor alone.
Do not try Ia drown your sorruws in the flow
ing bowl. It's expensive. and unsatisfactory.
Take our advice, and swear off. We have tried
IT, and we know what We are talking about.
Ion have glorious future before you, if you
will cease To drink the vintage of the paleface.
and monkey with petty larceny. Look at Poca-
hOntas aud Mrs. Tecumseh. They didn't drink.
They were women of no more ability than yOu
have, bnt they were high-toned, and they got
there, Eli. Now they are known to history
along with CORVALLIS aud Tom Paine. You
can do the same, if you choose to. Do not be
content to lead yellow dog around by a string
and get inebTiated. but rise up ont of the alkali
dust, and resolve that you will shun the demon
of drink.
You ought To he ashamed of yourself.
Bill. SYE