The Dawson journal., 1886-09-30
INDIAN CUSTOMS,
,o interesting Stories from the
'V'" Frontier.
v.,,.rn World, Chicag go.

i 4 woman of this city who has
.,rsraI times visited the frontier
- . cnest of acquaintances in the
roopjar army was speaking the
,tIer day of her experience last
snmmer. She was one OF a party
II ten, among them two or three
romen from the east, who were
visiting at one of the frontier
posts. A gallant officer, conceiv-
oil the idea Of a trip lasting sew
orol weeks which should include
tbe various Indian agencies and
army posts Of the northwest.
The women were particularly de
lighted with the idea, and the party
SET out
In speaking Of f1o, the traveller
said: IF you want to know what
real dirtiness is, you ought, with
ont doubt, to see the inside of az
Indian tepee. And until you
have, do not feel yourself capable
Of Judging in such matters" "
Their uncleanly habits. she
thought, were innate, Tor the In
dians abhor water as much as a
dog attaeked with rabbies.
At the Pine Ridge Indian Agen-
cy considered the typical one in
the country, and which is presided
over by Agent McGillicuddy, is a
mission school conducted by Mrs.
McGiIlicaddy, a woman Of supe-
rior education and refinement.
The little Indian girls live in the
second building, which is con-
dacted as are eastern saminaries
for young women. Oae day two
Of the little girls, about ten AMI
twelve years old, ran away from
the school and returnnd to the
wigwam Of their parents. McG;l-
licudly thought they ought to be
punished, and discussed with the
Squaw the alvisability of a whip
ping, but was told in substance it
would do no good; that the most
severe and effective punishment
possible to inh;ct would be au ex-
ira bath that week, which was all
mInlsterad, mach to the liscomlit-
IRE OF the children. 1t hll its
eject, h)wovar, and they were
among the most o5eI,o it thereaf-
ter. She agrees with al autaori-
ties as to the constitutional lazi-
ness OF the noble red man.
A number Of humorous incl
llent3 that happenel while on the
trip were rotated. While at one
OF the agencies, one Sunday, the
Indians gathered near the officers
quarters devoutly performing GER
tam religious duties. An officer
indaceda young woman, from one
OF the eastern cities, who was
possessed OF a remarkably heavy
head Of blonle hair, reaching to
the ground, to allow it to flow
loosely anl let the Indians ad
mre 1t. She dt once became the
c9uoer of attraction, to tho utter
neglect of the religious ceremo-
mes They gathered about her
III SWarm5, and manifested their
pleasure at the sight by jumping
ABOUT, rubbing their hands, and
SeSnculatlng wildly. They pro-
nounced it The finest scalp they
noa ever seen. The young woman
was badly frightened, and the
rest OF her stay at that place was
,naae rather unpleasant from the
TACT that the Indians manifested
SUCH an admiration for her that
one was afraid to venture out.
"ne evening, during their stay at
'ne Pine Ridge Agency, the party
attended church in the little Epis-
copal chapel. When they went
Al all was perfectly quiet, but
PrI'ice3 az had hardly begun when
'uey were startled by a terrible
g1cl,ement IA among the Indians.
" McGillicudLy endeavored to
qulet them, but was unable to do
o. lhe cause of the eommotion
~"S 'hat news had been received
rrr",Oounclns M, the death Of White
1""nder' very popular chief on
W, gmo OF the other reservations.
nc despair of the Indians Seem
n"s y" 80 intense, and their grief so
1"0ohtrollable, that the question