St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-08-04
PAINTING THE APAcHEs.
Eswny gsvsges Who Strongly Object to
Being Painted In OIL.


Eswny ssvages who Strongly Object to
Being Painted In OIL.
The Apache Indian has decided OBJ
lection to posing as an artists model.
He does not understand the process,
and thinks it to be some sort of "medi-
cine" work, the more avoided the
better.
A young gentleman of this city, an
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
i'm barbaric contrasts of form and color;
they pose in a savage kind of way, and
altogether make pictures which an
artist would be 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 a couple of
days the hunters for subjects were
always baffied in this way. The
Indians did not, however, have so
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 a
painting of some of the savages:
Coming across very striking
group Of Indians, seated in 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 faring 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-they were just what I
had been trying to find for my canvass.
"Well, as soon as got to work they
got up and left the tent. This was q
decided hint, SO picked up my things
and moved also. When they saw
was gone they returned and resumed
their game. I returned also and re-
sumed my work. Seeing that I did not
Intend to be done out of my picture, one
OF the men got up and fastened a
blanket over the entrance. Then they
continued their card-playing.
81 had not finished working in the
tent and the green foliage which sur
rounded it. SO kept my place, while
a number of Indians gathered around
and watched my operations. When I
completed all wanted of the tent, and
concluded did not care to finish it up
with a blanket over it's doorway, the
idea struck me that could sketch in
the Indians from my recollection of
how they were posed inside the tent,
80 went to work and outlined the
group. / was startled by loud ex-
CARNATIONS, sUghr 'Hi!' VIOLA wallar
<Ughugh!aand so ON, the Indians being
very greatly surprised that could
paint the people could not see. Some
of those who had been looking over
my shoulder speeded into the tent to
tell the card-players that it was no use
to try to keep that paleface-not-afraid-
of-the-dye-sticks out, as he could very
plainly see right through a blanket.
Then one of the players crept from
underneath the back OF the tent, and,
msking wide circuit, came around
b"!aind me to satisfy himself that this
! ,ort was true. He uttered loud
.y-yeh' and went off to report. With
this the card players all crawled from
under the tent and took to the woods.
They were determined I should not
paint them. I, having sufficient OF
outline work, closed proceedings and
returned to my lodgings. Mobile
Register.