St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-09-22
PAINTING THE APAcHE9.


fs~ny savaess WAo strsssay 0ADsss =
Being Painted b on.
Tho Apache Indian has decided ob'
lection to posing rs IN artists model.
He does not understand the process,
and thinks IL to be some sort Of ''medi-
cine" work. the moro avoided the
better.
A young gentleman Of this city. a
artist BY profession. went to Mount
Vernon to see what he could see. He
was delighted to find that the Indian
prisoners there present subjects rich
in barbaric contrasts of form and color;
they pose in q savage kind Of way. and
altogether make pictures which an
artist would bc glad to reproduce on
canvas. But they strongly object to
sitting for the portraits; in fact. when
ever the artist came near their tents
they quickly and silently disappeared
There might be dozens Of them in
sight. but at once they would vanish.
going into their tents or fleeing to the
bushes for cover. For . couple OF
days the hunters for subjects were
always baf1ed in this way. The
Indians did not, however. have 50
great an objection TO being photo.
graphed, and the artist secured pict'
ures Of all their chief men.
He tells Of one curious incident In
connection with his attempt to secure .
painting Of some Of the savagcs:
Coming across . very striking
group of Indians. seated in q tent play.
ing cards, got out my colors and pro.
ceeded to paint the picture. There
they were squatted on the ground in.
side the tent the naring doorway held
back by . long pole. their brilliant red
and blue blankets on their shoulders or
on the ground, their faces all coppery
and swarthy-thcy were just what ]
had been trying to find for my canvass.
We'll. as soon a. I got to work they
got up and left the tent This was .
decided hint. so I picked up my things
and moved also. When they saw I
was gone they returned and resumed
their game. / returned also and re-
sumed my work. Seeing that did not
intend to be done out Of my picture. one
Of the men got up and fastened .
blanket over the entrance. Then they
continued their card-playing.
II had .ot finished working in the
tent and the green foliage which sur.
rounded it. so l kept my place, while
q number Of Indians gathered around
and watched my operations. When ]
completed all l wanted Of the tent, and
concluded I did not care to finish it up
with blanket over its doorway. the
idea struck me that could sketch in
the Indians from my recollection OF
how they were posed inside the tent.
so went to work and outlined the
group. I was startled by loud ex.
clamations. .Ughr .Hir VIOLA walla!
'Ughugh- and SO on. the Indians being
very greatly surprised that / could
paint the people ! could not see. Some
Of those who had been looking oves
my shoulder speeded into tho tent =
tell the card-players that II was no uss
to try to keep that paleface-nOt-afraid,
of-the-dye-sticks out. as he could very
plainly see right through . blanket
Then one Of the players crept from
the back Of the tent, and.
making . wide circuit, came around
behind me 70 satisfy himself that this
report was true. He uttered . loud
'Hy-yeh' and went OF to report. With |,
this the card-players all crawled from |
under the tent and took to the woods
They were determined ! should not !
paint them. !. having sufficient Of
outline work. closed proceedings and |
returned to my lodginsx"-Io6iIs !!
Register.