The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1885-10-15
Indian CuSfosifteA

Afew leisure moments of "a representa-
I've OF the Day were improved this
forenoon in looking over the array of
Indian articles of warfare, toilet, lux
ary and general utility, exhibited for
sale in the show windows of q popular
business house of St. Paul. There
were war-clubs, tomahawks, bows and
arrows, necklaces of elk's teeth and
bears claws, stone pipes and moccasins
3f every description, SO arranged as to
attract the attention of the relic hunter.
Where do you get those things?"
Inquired the Day representative.
"Well," said the merchant, 1--WE got
them from Indians. trappers, post
traders and sometimes from amateur
travellers and adventures who have
started out on small means, and after
reaching St. Paul, On their way home
trom the West, dnd it necessary to sell
their relics, in order, sometimes, to OBJ
lain meal Il is astonishing how
many people go West thinking they
vii make q speculation In procuring
Indian toys and selling them in ST.
Paul These people usually find it
hard to sell their specimens at any
orice.
'.Post traders and trappers often
some to St Paul expecting to realize
handsome profits, but they are gener-
ally disappointed / remember trap
per who came to my store four or FIVE
years ago trying to sell mo q rare spec-
imen Of Indian workmanship. He
stated shat it was made by one of an
extinct tribe, and the only relic left as
tn ~f fhn II nj
terward that he had tried to sell 1t to
several dealers both in ST. Paul and
Minneapolis, but had failed. He had
started out asking the exorbitant sum
Of $500 for the specimen, but bad
Knocked of at each successive store
nntil the price asked was only $40. I
looked at the man moment and lis
tened to his story, about the rarity of
the specimen, etc, and then said to
him: My friend, that's a very pretty
story you're telling; but you see !
shan't be able to make any one swallow
it. and the fact Is I'll have hard work
10 get 10 cents for the trinket.'
"'Well, hang it, said he, give me q
orink of whisky and take the cussed
thing. This is the only house In the
Nor that haven't tried to sell it
to, and I'm broke and dry as apowder-
horn. Take 1t along, stranger, and
gimme G drink. quick and call the deal
squar.' gave the man a good flask of
Shisky and cigar. and be wandered
of apparently happy"
"'Well, how much did You get for
the toyP'
"Oh, happened to be in luck" said
he, with twinkle in his eye; ''an En-
glish lord came along, and I told him the
story had learned from the trapper,
ard think I got about $3.50 for tho
specimen"
..Do you sell many Of these goodsa"
eyes. a good many; but nearly as
many to Americans as do to Euro
peans. OF course, Eastern people buy
them; but we have to be very moderate
In our prices in order to sell to this
class. We can get fancy prices for the
goods from Europeans, and particular
II from English and Scotch people.
During the summer season our sales
upon these goods to Europeans amount
uo to thousands of dollars, while to the
Americans they scarcely reach into the
hundreds
."are these goods genuine-that Is,
rnsGe py Indians for their own use?"
..W.ii. ro: .ot ell Of them. A largo
eeYz,ss :. sas.is ~ the Indians express
l. = san to white people. Such goods
wu"l,i rc.o. .,.swor the purposes OF sn
Ls,:i.a."
Here .he merchant showed the differ
caca between practical war club and
aa-. sac. practical tomahawk and
a sacticol one. ''Ihe Indians, half
s,:..<.. ..:S Some CT the frontier whites
lszss saeuy OF these toys expressly to
s-l," SAID lie doctor. but then, you
a-e IS not necessary to mention that fact
t: ssrasners. The cheats bring about
&c zig prico cs the genuine articles" !"
ii payi yiC1