The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-31

ter on the ground floor. Noticing that one
of the totem pillars was apparently stand
ing on it's head in what seemed very un-
di0nifed and irreligious manner. we asked
the reason, but his royal highness, in blue
Jeans, SLOUGH hat and wool shirt, could not
or would not afford any explanation. Re-
membering the ancient custom of some of
the Alaskan Indians, that of Staying human
beings and putting them beneath the
building posts as a sacrifice upon
the altar of the new home, we wondered If
shs s quota Of n xot%s Ree
as in many other houses. was numerous
array of chests, boxes and trunks of Chi
nese, japanese, English and Russian manu-
facture, of all shapes, sizes, and styles,
many OF expensive woods and handsomely
inlaid or carved. We counted sixty of these
aud caught glimpses of still more in closet
arrangement at one corner. Learning up
on INQUIRY, that the chief was not in the
habit of summering with his wife and
mother at Newport and Saratoga, we we're
puzzled to know what these were for. But
the hag-like wife opening one of them to
the chief was reported heap rich, he stood
ready to sell anything in his possession
even his godsl, pulled out coin filled bag
and peeping in We, caught glimpse of
heather relics and savage Gurios side BY
and 8 handsome toilet case Of
He were to da was Il the habit Of visiting
large cities and bringing home extravagant
purchases. Our blood fairly tingled with
curiosity to peep beneath the tightly locked
what an incongruous collection of the an
Gent barbarous trophies of the Indian and
costly Injuries of the modern white man
were there slowed away. Will they crafty
the wild partakers Of some future pot
Akrn< 10
at death? We knew it would be all in vain
to ask, for the Siwash countenance in re-
sponse to most questions says quite as
plainly as did Shylock, II am not bound to
please thee with my answer"
Rows of patent medicine bottles along
the walls here and in other houses prove
that the Indians faith in his own medicine
mans rattles dances and incantatiOns are
not supreme. And here too, are the iden-
teal hideous cheap chromos of flower
vreathed crosses which offend the eye in
the backwoods homes of our white
brother in the states! At one side is a row
of colored biblical illustrations tackled up
siono With some fiarinR medicine advertise
ments, an beneath. an old Russian hair
| cloth sofa on which are lying some grinning
orotesoue animal masks used to adorn the
provs of vessels. As in the homes of lesser
pretensions. there Is here the same medley
Of cans Of oil and paint, shreds an patches
u
| half tanned and malodorous, cast-off cloth
| ing, broken dishes, toys, ETC., lying about
| the corners and edges of the room.
The wife, with face deformed from dis
ease, sits on the edge of the first rise in the
| floor, with glum and Rlowering look that
only lightens when someone makes a pur-
chase and coins are handed to her little
| boy. The grandmother squats by bed in
ono corner Of the lowest part of the room
playing with puppy. and a dignified gen.
tleman Of the party convulses the rest by
| calling to her in very grandiose
style. from one end of the room,
MADAM, will You accept o slight gratu.
typ a. he threw towards her a nickel
She understood the ring of the coin. if moi
the words. and though . chiefs mother. nc
no resentful pride was visible when more
Vas offered. But the boats whistle blows
. warning sound and with parting glance
ct the ancient, ugly, totemic pillars and the
burial places, whore rank grass and tbs
bright berried elder bush nearly hide the
huts Of the dead. surmounted by wooden