The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-08-27
INDIAN CUSTOMS.
A Woman's Experience In tho Haunta .
h Noble Red Man.

80 AA@A
A woman of this city who has severa
times visited the frontier as a guest of
acquaintance in the regular army was
speaking the other day of her expert
ences last summer. She was one of a
party of ten, among them two or three
women from the East, who were visiting
at n of the frontier posts. A gallant
officer conceived the idea of a trip last
ing several weeks, which should include
the various Indian agencies and army
posts of the Northwest. The women
were particularly delighted with the idea
and the party set out.
In speaking of Lo, the traveller said
eff you want TO know what real dirti-
ness is, you ought, without doubt, to see
the inside of an Indian tepee. And un-
til you have do not consider yourself ca
pable of judging in such matters"
These ~uncleanly habits. she thought,
were innate, for the Indians abhor wa
ter as much as a dog attacked with
rabies.
At the Pine Ridge Indian Agency,
considered the typical one in the coun-
try, and which is presided over by
Agent McGillicuddy, is amission school
conducted by Mrs. McGillicuddy, a
woman of superior education and re-
finement. The little Indian girls live
in the school building, which is con-
Quoted as are Eastern seminarieS for
young women. One day two Of the
little girls. about ten and twelve years
old, ran away from the school and re-
turned to the wigwam of their parents,
who at ono brought them back. Mrs.
McGillicuddy thought they ought to be
punished. and discussed with the squaw
the ACCESSIBILITY of a whipping, but was
told in substance it would do no good;
that the most severe and effective
punishment possible to inflict would be
an extra bath that week, which was adj
ministered, much to the discontinue of
the children. 1t had its effect, however,
and they were among the most obedient
thereafter. She agrees with all authori-
ties as to the constitutional laziness of
the noble red man.
A number of humorous incidents that
happened while on the trip were related.
While at one of the agencies, one Sum
day, the Indians were gathered near
the officers quarters devoutly perform
ing certain religious duties. An officer
induced a young woman from one of
the Eastern cities, who was possessed
of a remarkably heavy head of blonde
hair, reaching to the ground, to allow
it to flow loosely and let the Indians ad-
mire it. She at once became the center
of attraction, to the utter neglect of the
religious ceremonies. They gathered
about her in swarms, and manifested
their pleasure at the sight by jumping
about, rubbing their hands and gesticu-
lating wildly. They pronounced it the
finest scalp they had ever seen. The
young oma was badly frightened.
and the rest of her stay at that place
was made rather unpleasant from the
fact that the Indians manifested such
an admiration for her that she was
afraid to venture out. One evening
during their stay at the Pine Ridge
Agency the party attended church in
the little Episcopal chapel. When they
went in all was perfectly quiet, but
services had hardly begun when they
were startled by a terrible excitement
among the Indians. DIR. McGillicudy
endeavored to quiet them, but was
unable to do so. The cause Of
the commotion was that news had beer
received announcing the death Of White
Thunder. a very popular Chief on one
of the other reservations. The despair
of the Indians seemed so intense anC
their grief so uncomfortable that the
question was asked: ''Why do they wal
and moan so loudlyp" 1t was explained
that when a brave dies he who does thu
most and loudest mourning receive.
from the widow the choicest pieces o
personal property left by the deceased
All of the property is thus given away
by a graduating scale" based upor
the display of anguish made by grief
stricken friends.
The traveller related an incident com
ling under her observation which tend:
to dissipate the idea that the savage cal
not be civilized. 1t is the story of poo
EnOch Arden in terra Gotta tint, will
slight variations.
There was n young buck, of indus
trious aud frugal hibits, who, unlike hi
more trifling brothers. had adopte,
many of the white mans ideas, and b
steady work at teaming acquired a com
Portable cabin (instead of o wigwam)
which he furnished in some taste, live,
quietly with his squaw, and enjoyed tn
confidence of the white man. He wen,
out on one of his regular trips, but di,
; not return at the expected time
| Search was made for him, but afte
, the lapse of a week or SO he was de
clared lost. The other braves at one
began to mourn for him. This is sal
to have been the best, or perhaps tn
worst, exhibition of bowling ever heard
1t was exciting for the double incentiv
of securing the personal effects of tn
dead Indian and receiving the smiles @
. the rich young squaw, who was pos
sessed of unusual personal charms a
we'll as wealth.
; Not unlike her white sisters in simila
positions, this bereaved widow displays
considerable TACT and executive ability
By her coy manners she had induce
4 n fine young brave to outlast tn
O others in the contest. His grief ha
been so intense that she rewarded hiI
/ with nearly all of the personal propert
, left by her lamented husband. and as
happy elimination gave him her fat
= greasy hand in marriage. The honey
moon had only fairly begun when 18th
supposed deceased" who had ar
parently died intestate, put in an az
: pearance, after an unusual and extende
drunk. Right here is where Enoc
, Arden was outgeneraled. Instead
going away and leaving the youn
1 couple to spoon, this resurrected India
y asserted his rights. retook his good:
: chattels, tenements, and hereditament
|, including the gentle Annie, instructe
the copp%er-colored Philip to git" an
he got"
D The simple, child like vanity of tt
Indian is well illustrated by the follow
ing: At one post. "Young-Man-Afrai'
of-His-Horses'' came into the little phi,
tograph gallery, or tent. to have h
picture taken. When the tin-type WI