Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-03-13
WALT WHITMAN.
An Indian Bureau "Reminiscences by
the Gray Poet
Something In the Character OF the
Aboriginal Which Neither Poet.
Painter Nor Historian
Have Caught.

Alter Lnc Close OF ttc SeCesSSlOH war IN w, !
worked several months until MIR. Harlan
turned me out for writing "Leaves Of Grassy
in the interior department at Washington, in
the Indian bureau. Along this time there
came to see their great father an unusual
number of aboriginal visitors, delegations
for treaties, settlement of lands, etc-sone
young and midile-aged but mainly old men,
from the west, north, and occasionally from
tho south-soveral hundreds of them in parties
of from five to twenty each-the most won
derful proofs Of what nature can produce Ohio
survival of the flttest, no doubt, all the Trailer
samples dropped, sorted ont by deathl, as if
to show how tho earth and woods, the
attrition of storms and elements, and the
exigencies of life at first hand, can train and
fashion men; indeed chiefs. In heroic mass
iveness, imperturbablity, muscle, and that
last and highest beauty, consisting OF strength
tho full exploitation and fruitage
Of human identity, not from the culnlina-
ton point of Couture" and artificial cviliZa-
ton, but tallyng our race rs it were, with
giant vital, gnarled, enduring trees. or
monol:ths Of separate hardest rocks, and hu-
manity holding its own with the best Of the
said trees and rocks, and outlong them.
There were Omahas, Poncas, Winnebagoes
and many others. Let me give running
account Of what see and hear through one
of these exhibitions at the Indian bureau,
going back to tho present tense. Every
head and face Is impressive; nature rodeems
herself out OF her crudest recesses Most
have red paint on their cheeks, however, or
some other paint. f"Little Hill" makes the
opening speech, which the Interpreter trans
lates by scraps. Many wear head tires of
gaudy -colored braid, wound around thckly
some with circlets of Gag les feathers. Neck
laces of bears claws are plenty around their
necks Most OF the chiefs are wrapped in
large blankets of the brightest scarlet.
Two or three have blue, anI see one black.
"A wise man called "The FLESH now makes a
short speech, apparently asking something.
Indian Commissioner Dole answers him, and
the interpreter translates in scraps again.
All the principal chiefs have comahawks or
hatchets, some Of them very richly orna-
mented and costly Plaid shirts arc to be
observed-none too clean. Now n tall fol-
low, "nole-in-the Day." is speaking. He
has copious headdress composed Of feathers
anl narrow ribbon, under which ap-
pears countenanco paintel all over
bilious yellow. Let us note this young chief
however For all his paint, "Hole-in-the-
Day" is a handsome Indian, mild and calm,
"tHot'i III WI az DuShShll iSSSiil b.hi n gray
surtout, and soft black hat His costume
will bear full observation, and even fashion
would accept him. His apparel is worn
loose and scant enough To show his superb
physique, especially in neck, chest, and legs.
"Ihe Apollo Belvdere." was the involun-
tary exclamation Of famous European
artist when he first saw a ful!-grown young
Choctaw.1
One Of the rel visitors "A wild, lean-look
ing lnuiGr, the one in the black woolen
wrnpper-has an empty buffalo head with
the horns on, for his personal surroundings
| sec markedly Bour5onish countenance
among the chiefs. it is not worry uncommon
among them, | an toilL Most of thom
avoided resting on chairs during the hour of
their talk In the commissioners Office; they
would sit around on the hoor leaning against
something, or stand up by the walls, partially
wrapped in their blankets. Though some OF
the young fellows were, as have said, mag
nilicent end beautiful animals, | think tho
palm OF unique picturcsqucness in body,
limb, physiognomy, etc, was borne by the old
or elderly chiefs and the wise mon.
Ny here-alluded-to experience In tho Indian
bureau produced one very definite conviction,
as follows: There is something about these
aboriginal Americans, in their highest char
acteristc representations, essential traits,
and the ensemble of their physique and phys
iosnomy-sonletains very remote, very lofty,
arousing comparisons with our own civiliZei
ideals; something that our literature,
portrait-painting, etc, have never caught,
and that will almost certainly never be
transmitted to the future, even as reminis-
cence. No bioSrapher, no historian, no
artist has grasped it-perhaps could not
grasp it. 1t is so different, SO far
outside our standards OF eminent humanity.
Their feathers paint, even the empty buff
falo skull did not to say the least seem
any more ridiculous to mo than many Of
the fashions ] have seen in civilized society
! should not apply the word savage lat any
rate in the usual sense) as a leading word
in the description of those great aboris-
inal specimens, OF whom l certainly saw
many Of the best There were moments, as
looked at them OF studied them, when our
own exemplification of personality, dignity,
heroic presentation anyhow, seemed sickly,
puny, inferior.
The Interpreters. agents Of the Indian de-
partment, or other whites accompanying the
bands in positions Of responsibility, were
always interesting to me; l had many talks
with them. Occasionally l would go to the
hotels where the bands were quartered, and
spend an hour or two informally. OF course,
we could not have much conversation,
though, through the interpreters, more Of this
than might be supposed, sometimes quite ami
mated and significant had the good luck
to be invariably received and treated by all
of them in their most cordial and accepted
manner.