, 1888-06-21
LAND or THE DAKoTAa
a Baltimore womAn's Graphic Descrip-
tion of Life Among tho Indians.

M SEAPIAo
tion of Life Among the Indians.
Mrs. Abbie Thayer Is visiting friends
in this city during her vacation from
government work in the Gland of the
Dakotas." She is head teacher in one of
the government Indian schools in the
Rosebud agency. Miles away from any
white settlement, she has the charge of a
camp of 100 Indians her protecting
police being savages also. Her duty is to
look after the education, food, clothing
and general furnishings of the entire
camp. She has been very successful in
her work, and her graphic descriptions of
her experiences are exceedingly interest
ing.
The Indians are those known as the
'.Sioux," who were sent from Minnesota
years ago to their present reservations in
Dakota They adhere TO their ancestral
customs, except SC far as they can be in
dividually persuaded to ''go on the white
mans road" The more fortunate among
them live in wood OF canvas ''teepees'
or tents, an entire family occupying the
one room, which serves for all purposes,
and sleeping on the ground floor. In
fact, the word ground Is also the word
for bed, as they are generally unaccus-
NCNACo 2" o-S1P III al I'LL CLOG n
chair. when they have one, is rather a
matter of a thar use. The dress
of a squaw is, to begin with, q single
calico garment, which after being put ON
is never taken off. When a new garment
is received from the government 1t is put
on over the old one, and 80 on with sub
sequent additions until the inner one
drops off. BALI a dozen dresses are
eOnnatimpa wnrn nvar aarh pfhar IN fbfa
way, a squaw's wardrobe and wealth be-
ing almost literally ION her back" The
dresses are loose fitting. but drawn to-
gether at the waist by a fancy girdle.
They have no trunks.
The ears OF both sexes are fairly rid
died with holes as large as a pencil, from
which hang many ornaments made of
brass and bones. Both sexes wear the
hair long, plated and heavily orna-
mented-a full dressed squaw looks like
an animated and moving junk shop, with
all her rags bones and brass about her.
Polygamy prevails and whenever n
brave is displeased with his squaw he
throws her away" The marriage cere-
mony is mainly that of capture" The
brave covers himself with a large
blanket, hiding all but one eye, which is
BhhhOcN DS1Ohu an ltCJBLlIiOH. ne BE-
lects his girl and envelops her in his
blanket Being sure of his audience, he
sings her a love song. If she submits to
this the courtship is over and he takes
her home. He regards his mother-in-law
as his natural enemy and never deigns to
either speak to her OIL to look at her.
Many of the Indians, especially the
young ones, are handsome in figure and
sometimes in lace. Their complexion is
about that of an Italian, hair and eyes
uniformly black, teeth sound and white
even among the aged.
In school the children are bright in
their studies and close observers of all
nat goes on around them. All kinds of
receptions are considered legitimate, and
the better the lie the smarter the author.
Among themselves all the work Is done
by the women. the men doing nothing
until they are taught and compelled by
the inroads of civ iization. Alcoholic
liquors in any form are not allowed on
any of the reservations. All demands
upon the government are made through
he head teacher of the school, who
naturally becomes the queen bee of the
savage hive, The teachers are under
superintendents, who report to their su-
periors in the department of the interior,
Washington. baltimore Sun