Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-08-29
The Trouble With Indians.

The Trouble With Indians.
There is much interest manifested
among white people, Just at this time,
in regard to the habits Of the Indians,
the wards of the government, in view
of the TACT that the ApacheS are scalp
ing everybody in sight down III New
Mexico. They are an interesting race,
these Indians are when they become
tame, but in wild state they are ter
rOrS. 1t Is the duty of white people tu
teach the Indians many things which
they do moi know. For instance, read
the following account of IN interview
with Col. llgcS. an Indian tighter, in
regard TO the way Indians do their
courting:
Indians make love in peculiar
way. A buck when his affections are
centercd upon girl, VIII try to catch
her away from camp. He will throw
his blanket over her ana slip under
meath with her. If she rejects his suit
there will lie trouble underneath the
blanket, and she will escape from him.
But if she accepts him they will sit for
hours without saying word or en-
gaglng in any affectionate demonstra-
tiOns. Indians, YOU know, don't kiss.
They manifest affection by a kind of
slapping of each other on the breast
and moaning.
1t would seem that with all the In
dian commissioners we have had to
teach Indians the ways of civilization,
that some attention ought 10 have
been paid 20 instructing them in the
United States star spangled orthodox
way of courting. As long as Indians
are allowed to lassoo the girl, they
think they love, by throwing a blank
ct over their heads, and holding the
precious things in that way, Indians
are bound to be hostile and full of
hight. In such case, if the Indian
wins the girl, he will want 10 fight, if
! he has to sit for hours under an old
blanket with her, doing nothing but
pounding her on the stomach; and It
she rejects him he will want to 90 of
and scalp somebody. II the Indians
could be instructed in the art of kiss
ing and courting IN the right way,
they would not want to fight. These
fighters who are killing people, and
disemboweling them, and Draining lit
tie children, could he tanned easily by
love, the way white people love. Let
buck Indian come off of the war
path and get IN love with 4 girl, and
90 to ork to win her the way white
folks do, and there would be no room
in his mind for thoughts of murder
and revenge. If he sat up eight OF
nine nights week with his girl he
wouldn't have strength enough to get
on war path without somebody
"boosted" him Oh. If he saw wal
path and got on it by mistake. he
would turn OF al the first forks OF the
road and hurry back to the wigwam
of his girl, and one look of love from
her eyes would knock all the fight out
of hlm. Slapping woman on the
stomach is no way TO express love,
and the Indian commission and agents
ought to explain il to these untutOrcd
children of the forest. And how is IL,
with all the commissioners, agents,
missionaries, suffers aud soldiers
that have been sent among
the Indians, that they have ncvc:
learned the poor things 10 KISS
1t does not look reasonable that such
ignorance prevails among the children
of the forest. after all we have done
for them, though Colonel Ilgcs may be
right The kiss of an Indian maiden
if properly directed and reasonably
well performed, would draw tight
ing, scalpiug ludian of of Il war path
as a mustard plaster would draw pain
Let us teach the Indians so that in
stead of tiein@ Il girl up in bag anc
slapping her, they will touch her gent
, ly, put their arms around her, hug her
hold her in their laps, stroke her han
and kiss her, and display their atiec
ton like human beings instead OF lik'
bears aud wolves, and when onc'
. they have learned 10 love dccently
thew will be safe to turn loose anon:
, settlers. When the young lndial
learns to go to The wigwam OF the CIR
. he loves, sit around and talk about TIN
t crops and things till the old folks g
5 to bed, and then put IN the time un
3 til morning hugging and kissing th
. girl, and talking over plans for tn
! future, and he goes to his wigwam
5 little before daylight with his hear
: playing the snare drum on his ribs
: and crawls under buffalo robe t
5 sleep all day and dream of her, an'
r he feels as though night would ncve
4 come again SO he can go back to hcI
Q with an excuse to the old folks that b
g wants to borrow a gun or dog q
, something-wben the young lndial
J. gets it that bad, you can turn hit
: loose among lien with long hair an
o he won't scalp them. He will hav
become man instead of wild beast
. and he will begin to realize that othe
s men have hearts full OF love for thos
@ who are dear to them, and lie wouldn
3 harm the hair of the head OF sing
!, one of Gods creatures. Let the ne
9 administration 60 TO work to show IL
s diaus how to love each other withot
b corralling and sitting under blank'
t davs at q time without speaking
,, Kissing, aud they can be civilize'
: But as long as love, to them, Is
r knock down and drag out affair, the
j. are bound to fight, just for fun
d PecE'S sun.
- ns~..o hout fba EipSf LADY,