Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-03-08

only less fertile acres of Texas lies
wild and beautiful region known
as the Indian Territory. The I'M
aginary lines which divide it from
the neighboring states have been
strengthened by national law into
strong walls, which, if not actually
impossible. have vet proved sub
stantial barriers. Even the inhab-
itants of the contiguous states have
little personal knowledge of the
people or the land beyond a strong
hatred of the one, born an undue
lust for the other. The eastern
part of this territory is inhabi ted
hy what are called the Five civil
lied tribes the CheroLees,
Creeks, Seminoles Choctaws and
Chickasaws. Each of them lives
life absolutely separate from the
rest, with its own pecuiiarities, its
own institutions, and its own na-
tional characteristics, for each
let it not be forgotten-each is a
nation. But certain things are
true ofihem all. Common circum-
stances and common needs have
wrought upon common traits OF
race and character to produce like
results. The government of each
nation is republican, with fire.
quently recurring electiops SSglss
latures, executives, and systems
Of judiciary. Each nation sup
ports common schools and high
schools, provides charitable in
stitutions, and fosters churches
Whether Choctaw or Cherokee,
these Indians carry on large busi-
ness interests, and live intelligent
and valuable lives.
The traveller who leaves st.
Louis at night wakes to find HIM
self in the prairie country, strewn
thick with villages of the peculiaf,
unthrifty, huddled appearance Of
southwestern hamlets. He has
scarcely breakfasted before, on q
sudden, he discovers the prairie
roll away before him unvexed with
hut or herd, and mile affeF me
the railway strides on through the
luxuriant acres, past the fertile
bottoms. The mysterious silence
and space explain themselves.
This is Indian land, and the Cher
okee people have as yet found no
better use for this northern GUN
try than to. keep an unoccupied
strip between themselves and
their white heighbOrs. whsn at
last town. appears, ii is still a
southern. town, but it is a brick
and mortar city, with shops and
newspapers and a busy life of Its
own. his considerable tax on
cFedulity to discover that this<own
sf vinstffe eaiso. Indian, auf zito-
der IL Sass. that lis h7kines:
I 1pTivats-sneefe--E ~ t-r-
regions, and affect TIE pnslc af
fairs Of two nations, novine-some
times the desrnies of an alien and
mightier race than their own.
, Its men and women have theil
life in books and thoughtand mu-
sic; brave-men marry fair women,
and children play about III reets,
whose future holds happilSss and
prosperity.
This Is the most iercial
town of this natioa |Dt its
most representative me Mt.
"Have you seen T7hls.2" i:
the instant question asked of hin
who processes a knowledge Of the
Indian Territory, and not without
I
reason. Located in the interior oi
the country, among themouitains,
the approach by the aAzday ride
among the wooded hillsSe5Axe-she
grassy uplands, and through thI
forest glades threaded everywhers
with rushing creeks, serves tC
heighten the effect.x*s Tahlequah
first discovers itself afar of, across
one of the most beautiful Of these
prospects, in a large and some.
what imposing brick Building,
standing out alone upon a swell
ing height. Unneighbored, and
yet requiring a considerable popu-
lation to fill it, it seems something
of a mystery; and when the wind
ing road comes facet to ,1lee with
its simplicity and its -
no less mysterioss, alh 1
different wav. since it is
college for Indian-sssan1
men. Three miles fufil5er ride,
still in the open country. though
no longer through an altogether
uncultivated region, brings the
traveller suddenly into the long
main street OF a large town Here
sits in serene and self-eeEssred iso
lation the capital of a nation, con-
tanning in itself every element of
/ zu.h a capif.l sxeauf thoaa r,aefro