The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1888-08-09

PAINTING THE APAChES.
Tawny Savages Who Strongly Object -
Being Painted In Oil.


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
in barbaric contrasts Of form and color;
they pose in 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 We're
always baffled in this way. The
Indians did not, however, have 50
great an objection to being photo.
graphed, and the artist secured pict-
urcs 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 tlaring doorway held
back by long pole, their brilliant rec
and blue blankets on their shoulders 0,
on the ground, their faces all copperI
and swarthy-they We're just what
had been trying to find for my canvass
well. as soon as | got to work thes
got up and left the tent. This was {
decided hint, so picked up my thing.
and moved also. When they saw
was gone they returned and resumed
their game. | returned also and re
sumed my work. Seeing that | did no
intend to be done out ofmy picture, one
of the men got up and fastened {
blanket over the entrance. Then they
continued their card-playing.
II 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 arounC
| and watched my operations. When
completed all | wanted of the tent anC
concluded did not care to finish it W
with a blanket over its doorway, th'
idea struck me that | could sketch il
the Indians from ing recollection o
| how they were posed inside the tent
| SO went TO work ana outlined v..,
group. l was startled by loud ex
clamations. Ugh" Hi VIOLA walla
'Ughugh" and so on, the Indians being
very greatly surprised that | coull
paint the people | could not see. Some
of those who had been looking oyel
my shoulder speeded into the tent Il
tell the card-players that it was no us.
to try to keep that paleface-not-afraid
of-the-dye-sticks out, as he could verl
plainly see right through blanket
Then one of the players crcpt from
underneath the back of the tent. and
making a wide circuit. came arOunC
behind me to satisfy himself that thi,
report was true. He uttered a lout
'Hy-ych' and went off to report. Witt
this the card-plavers all crawled from
under the tent and took to the woods
They We're determined | .hould no
paint them. !, having sufficient o
outline work, closed proceedings anC
returned to my lodgings. ."--n05tIe
Register.
Q