The semi-weekly miner., 1883-05-19
TOMMY T1aERrA1L.
The Meeting Between the Presi-
dent and the Semfnole's
Prince.

The Meeting Between the Presi-
dent and the Seminole's
Prince.
A Vast Amount Of Dignity and a
Small Amount of Clothes.
New York Sun.
The President met Tommy Tiger
tail at a little peninsula that juts
into the Kissimmes river, in the
very heart of Florida. It was an un-
expected incident. and in some re-
spects the most interesting one of the
Florida excursion that the president
has been enjoying for two weeks.
Tommy is full-blooded prince of
the Seminole tribe, and if his name
and costume raisea smile his bear
ing did not. He bad as much dig
nity as Uncas did when he cut q
piece of flesh from MiantOnOmOh's
shoulder and ate it with the remark
that it was the sweetest meat he ever
ate. Ancient historians say that
Uncas never seemed SO dignified as
ut that moment. So when Tommy
TIgertail rugged himself up in his
court costume, with his squaw and
her sister and the papooses of both as
meant to be impressive. Yet
TOmmy's costume was singular
complication of everything and
nothing. Above his tights he look
ed like the sign of a Baxter street
secondhand clothing shop; below,
nothing. A gay-colored shawl was
bound in folds tightly around his
head. He seemed top-heavy with it.
or as though he was carrying red
tub on bis scalp. Next there was a
shirt, with a polished front, and an
| alligator tooth in the stud hole. Over
this blue vest, buttoned slightly
over the broad chest, and cut low
enough for one to sre the chest swell
with expansive breathing. A stand
up collar that cut into his ears held
bis head like a stock, and a gay
colored handkerchief fluttered in the
breeze from his neck. A brass watch
chain dangled from the vest pocket,
bayonet scabbard, bound his cloth
ing about his waist. But there was
nothing else. The squaws wore
loose-ftting calico gowns, and the
papooses were swathed in shawls.
When the little dugout IN which
the president was padded to the
kingdom of Tommy Tigertail drew
up PROV front on the shore, Secretary
Chandler thought there had been a
mistake, and the president had ar
rived before Tommy had finished
dressing. Tommy stood under the
palmetto trees ready to receive the
great fatherintO the former kingdom
of the Seminoles. The president
met Tommy half way. Each hand
was extended at the same moment.
Tommy cast his eyes at the presi-
dents fishing boots, and then slowly
lifted them, taking in every article of
clothing that the president wore, and
finally fixing his eyes squarely upon
the presidents.
II am glad to see you," said the
president.
"Me glad too," said Tommy.
"You have fine country.'
ugh! heap a good"
"You catch fish?'
"Heap-a."
II have caught fish,"
"Ugh!"
Here the president saw that
Tommy was eying the cigar that was
in the presidential mouth, and, TAX
ing one from his case, asked Tommy
if he liked to smoke.
"Ugh! Heap-a," and the Semi
mole chief snatched the cigar.
Then he reached up, seized the
presidents cigar from his mouth,
and, grabbing it in his big and
rather dingy fist, lighted his own
cigar with it, and then handed it
back. The president had seen those
grimy fingers shut over the end of
his own cigar, and it was question
whether he should return it to his
mouth; but Tommy evidently de-
sired to smoke the pipe of peace, and
the president gratified him, though
at great sacrifice. Aside from this
movement and Handwriting,
Tommy had thus far stood like a
craven image. He was a splendid
specimen of manhood, and the presi-
dent asked him how old he was. He
could not understand. Interpreter
w. T.. Chandler's services were call
ed upon.
"How many suns-you-how old,
ugh! Thirty"
A smile played on the features of
Mr.. Chandler at his success.
''This is the secretary of the navy"
said the president.
"Humph!"
"He is king of all the great fathers
Ships"
''Humph!''
HE has all the ships with big
guns"
"Humph!"
The introduction was a failure.
Tommy did not even look at. Mr..
Chandler. though the secretary was
scraping and bowling. Mr.. Chandler
was disappointed. Suddenly a
bright thought left its track on his
face. He plunged into his pocket
and brought out six-bladed pen
knife. It's plate bore the name of w.
E. Chandler.
"You take, I give" said the Secre-
tary, and Tommy snapped at it like
q UtSS dO u SCdTlcU luis. ne Opoueu
all the blades, and then stuck it into
his pocket.
1t was suggested that the health of
Tommy be drunk, and bottles of
beer AID cups were brought from the
dugout. Tommy's eyes glistened,
but Otherwise he made no manifesto
ton Of delight. A cup was offered
but Tommy seized a bottle and swal-
lowed the contents almost without a
gulp like good fisherman.
Heap-a-good," said Tommy, and
instantly he resumed his statuesque
attitude.
Here the president turned to the
queen of the SeminOles. She was as
homely squaw as Tommy was
handsome a buck. She never lifted
her eyes from the ground, hut when
the president chucked the papoose
under the chin and gave him a silver |
dollar the squaw looked cautiously
up at her lord and master. Around |
the heck of the squaw was a neck
lace, string of a hundred or more
ten-cent pieces. The Hon. w. F.. |