The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-01-02
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOingS at the Ma
ti0nal Capital

ing feature, and their talks with the Secre-
tary Of the Interior and other officials were
decidedly interesting
One thing that attracted special attention
was the argument OF Chief John Grass in favor
of putting a stop 20 the practice OF sending In
dian youths 10 the schools at Carlisle Barracks,
Pa. and the Normal School, at Hampton, Va,
and. instead, establishing schools of the Same
character on the several Indian Reservations
he urging that in most cases those youths so
educated and taught the trades of civilized
life. almost invariably sickened and died soon
after returning TO their reservations.
in this line OF argument he was followed by
almost every prominent speaker in the dele
cation, and was at a loss to account for the
statements. eXccp, on the general principle OF
Indian cussedness. and his fondness for being
in opposition 10 any established custom, espec-
tally relating 10 civilization.
Just before the Sioux Commissioners made
their final report TO President Harrison, hap
pened 20 meet ex-G0v. Charles Foster, of Ohio,
President of the Commission, and Gen. George
Crook, member OF the Commission. who was
accompanied by his Aid-de-Camp, Maj. Cyrus
s Roberts
1 asked these gentlemen about the points TO
which j have referred, and Gen. Crook, who
knows the Indian well as anyone that ever
lived in this country, gave has ideas about as
follows:
"When these young Indians are brought East
TO the suaruast. or lis neightorhood they be-
come accimsied during the years they arc re-
tanned az Dee schools, and are utterly unable TO
stand the severity OF the climate in their own
country when they return home. Besides, they
have hccnme accustomed TO sleeping under
roofs, in Weil-warmcd houses and returning to
the tepee liie, are subject To bronchial and
other diseases of the respiratory system, just
the same n an Eastern man would be who tried
to start cat with a scouting column OF cavalry
on the Plains or in the mountains
Tho white man would either have remedies
at hand that would check the trouble at the
start o. else hc would seek physician and get
the proper treatment 10 ward of serious re-
suits. TIE Indian yeungster even il be knew
enough ri such things 10 take the same course,
would be- controlled by his tribal relatives, and
the chaTialau Medicine Nan would be called
upon 10 perform has mummery, but even that
would be usually postponed until the victim
had has disease 50 deeply seated that skilled
physician would be powerlcss to save him.
" Chief JOHN Grass is very lOng-hcaded In
dian, and secs IN the results the effect Of the
translation o. the young boys Of his Nation 10
the East and the subsequent return 10 savage
life II these youth were taught at schools on
The reservations conducted Ia the same man
ner a. thc Eastern schools, there would be no
arrangement Of Their constitutions, and their
education would be fully as complete
:" IL b very well 10 teach them trades. but Of
what good = 10 them nnlcss they elect 10 settle
down within The bordeT-lines OF civilization,
where there is a demand Tor the work of such
trades. At each reservation there is a black
smith, harness maker a Eaddler. a couple or
three carpenters. and sometimes tinw0rker.
That Woa.d give work 10 half a dozen who
have learned trades; but what are all the rest
who have trades 10 dor They are idle: yet
they have learned 10 be restless in idleness,
and 50 NOPE about as utterly alone among their
kindred as though they were iE the heart of
England. They are despised. sneered at by
their fellows. aud leered sc If they have learned
% prefer American clothes The result j. ia
many casgs, that they give way under such
Treatment. and abandoning the clothing Of civ
liizaiion, resume the paint aud breechclout,
and become the most ultra OF blanket In
dians.
had heard a great deal Of one young man.
the SOD o. q noted chief who had been several
years al Carlisle. and had even astonished tie
officials and teachers there by his intelligent
ability 70 s5s0Tb all that WAS taught him; he
was actually an educated Indian. When we
were On tiie reservation last Summer looked
out Tor hisn, but could find no one that an
swered tie description given me OF him. At
last. on inquiry, he Was pointed out. he was
ia breecacIout and feathers. aud his naked
body was more thickly daabed with gaudy
colors ilah any other young chief ia attend
ance az be council meetings. ] tried 10 talk
20 him. but he pretended be could not under
stand me, and would Only use the Daeotah
Language, through an interpreter. The treat
ment % i'is fellows had driven him TO become
the blanketest Of all the b.anketI Indians Of his
nation"
Yes" broke in Maj Roberts, "and the
sp!endla young rascal is the very best dancer in
LIS tribe
Chief Grass" confined Gen. Crook. ais a
man whose Intellect. II be had been a white
man, would have made him man Of great
emineisfe ~ any community or country. de
Is great lulian."
/ asked Il he was as great as Spotted Tail
was. wren the General replied quickly and
earnestly:
q" No No Indian was ever AZ great In every
way a. Spotted Tail was lie was statesman.
aud be was warrior with the strategic intui-
ton Of . great soldier. ] was exceedingly re-
beEed Ehen be decided 10 abandon the war
path Tor Iface. he WIS far greater than Te-
cunlseh, % Black Hawk, or any Indian known
in history
GES. YAK yIIET AS POET.
Gen. Stewart Van Fliet, o. the Army. has
more ion than anyone know Of; more. even.
than lis old clsssmate and chuln. Gen. Sber.
man iCr ne isn Z dragged all over the country
70 meet ile demands Of the old veterans at their
several Reunions. as the latter Is.
II there Is any fun floating around he gets
has iBi4 share 81 Il f: aud If there Is none. he
just make a. HIS latest ebuilition took place
al the ciHb few days ago, and / am told the
story ia tais Way.
pariy 81 veterans were chatting about old
times - general, and the talk turned uron the
number q newspaper men nov and IN times
pasi, ~ Washington work. who were Union
soldiers during the war, and when the late
bDiy CopeiaBd's name was brought IN
there was Hood Of anecd0te about his wittv
pranks ard sayings.
Among other things one Of the party quoted
rIalc8.Oos verse Of doggerel dat I" BllIv y
was the author Of and used 10 hum in a ouaiat
way that cougBlsed las hearers. The yerse
runs;
know boarding house.
hDt far aHay.
Where tiIey have ham and eggs
Three times a day.
Oh. hOW the b8afaers yell
n ben ilcy beiF the diauer-bell.
yiij bow those eggs do smell
Day after dag.
When tic party bad finished laughing, Gen.
Van Allet said be didn't see anything @,artisu.
larry witty about that, for anybody could write
gucb Iges; bee could do il himself
kau-' said one Of the party, yoa couldn't
write sCTse like that 10 save your life. You
couldn't even write twO lines In rhymeU
~ bet you bottle that ] can"
D1' yes yOHH 70 Of and get someone 10
write verse Tor YOU"
no, sir; Iil do il right here, now" and lac
sat down at a table with pencil aud paper %
wTestic wiih the muse
Alter some time, during which be was aided
IA las labor by the IBerciiess chatting of the
Others. he turned round aud said:
Here Il IS You Will have 70 pay for that