Clarksville evening chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn) 1886-1890, 1888-11-28
LAND OF THE DAKoTAs.
A Baltimore Woman's Graphic Descrip-
ton of Life Among the Indians.

Baltimore WOman's Graphic DeScrtp-
tion OF Life Among the Indians.
Mrs. Abbie Thayer is visiting friends
il this city during her vacation from
government work in the land 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, clothirg
and general furnishings Of the. entire
camp. She ht3 been very successful N
her work, and her graphic descriptions of
her experience are exceedingly interest
ing.
The Indians are those known as the
Sioux, who were sent from Minnesota
years ago to then present reservations in
Dakota. They adhere'to their ancestral
customs, except SO far MS they can he in
dividually persuaded to Ego on the white
man s road. The more fortunate among
them live in wood or canvas ''teepees"
or tents an entire family occupying the
ono room, which soyveS for all purposes,
and Sleeping on the ground floor. In
fact, the word ground is also the word
for bed, as they are generally uraccus
| toned to sleep on anything else. A
chair, when they have one, is rather a
matter of ornament than use. The dress
of squaw is, to begin with, single
! calico garment. which after being put on
is never teton off, When q new garment
is recciYcd from the government it is put
ON over the old one, and so on with sub
sequent additions until the inner one
drops off, Half dozen dresses are
sometimes worn over each other in this
way, n squaw S wardrobe and wealth be-
| ing almost literally ION her back" The
dresses are loose fitting, but drawn to-
gether at the waist sby 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-
mentcd IA full dressed squaw looks like
an animated and moving junk shop, with
all her rags bones and brass about her.
Polygainy prevails and whenever a
brave" is displeased with his squaw he
throws her away" The marriage cerc-
mony is mainly that of capture. The
brave covers himself with a large
blanket, hiding all but one eye, which is
painted beyond all recognition. He Sc
lects his girl and envelops her in his
blanket. Being sure Of his audience, he
sings her 4 love song. If she submits to
this the courtship is over and he takes
heI home. He regards his mother-in-law
as his natural enemy and never deigns to
either speak to her or to look at her.
Many of the Indians, especially the
young ones, are handsome in figure and
sometimes in face. 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
that goes on around them. All kinds OF
decrptions 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 nre taught and compelled by
tile inroads Of civilization. Alcoholic
liquors in any form are not allowed on
any Of the reservations. All demands
upon the government are made through
the head teacher of the school, who
naturally becomes the queen bee of the
savage hive. The teachers are under
Superintcndents, who report to their su-
periors in the department Of the interior,
Washington. i Baltimore Sun.