St. Landry democrat., 1891-01-31
Indian BOYS and Indian Characters.

Of all the Indian tribes with which l
have come in contact, the Comanches are
the best horsemen. They seem to be able
to cling to the side of horse like ty,
and hurl arrows under their horses necKs
at an enemy on the opposite side a
Comancbe can run his horse at full speed
and readily pick up anything from the
ground, such as hat, bow. or an arrow.
They are likewise fine ma1ksmen, and can
shoot sn arrow with unerring accuracy.
As soon as the boys are OLD enough 10
spring bow they begin to practice. and
it is astonishing how readily they familiar
ize themselves with its use. Once | saw
number of boys shooting at dimes ten
PAGES off, and do not remember that
single one missed his aim. They enjoyed
the sport Very much, for each one hitting
q dime was permitted to keep it. 1t was
real fun for the boys, but expensive to
those who furnished the targets
They learn to ride their ponies almost
as soon as they can walk, and hence it is
that they become such expert horsemen.
It ives not until late years that they had to
attend school, and before that their entire
time was taken up in preparations to 1t
themselves 10 be great and efficient war
liors. Thsir natural instincts, supple
melted by certain degree of intelligent
observation, give TO them certain powers
not possessed by white men. This is illus
,rated by story told of an old Indian. On
his le turn home, one day, he discovered
that some one had stolen his venison.
which had been hung up to dry, and he
set out in pursuit of the thief, whom ne
tracked through the woods. Meeting some
persons, he asked if they had seen q little
old white man with : shot gun, accom-
panied by small dog with a short tail.
ON being answered in the affirmative. and
upon being assure by the Indian that the
man thus described had stolen his venison,
they asked him how he ives able to de.
scribod so accui ately man he had never
seen. The Indian replied: ''The thief
know is little man by his having ade
pile of stones to stand upon. in oder ~
reach The venison from the height hung
it stanc ing on the ground; that he is an
old man know by his short steps, which
have traced over the dead leaves in the
woods; and that he is white man, | know
by his turning his toes out when he walks,
which an Indian never does. His gun
know to be short by the mark the muzzle
made in rubbing The bark of the tree on
which it leaned; that his dog is small l
kuO" ny HIS JFJChS, 6AO kUdb AC A&S o
short tail, discovered by the mark it
made In the dust where he was sitting at
the time his master was taking down the
meat"
Children are entirely under the control
of their mothers, and it is a remarkable
fact that they are never whipped for mis-
conduct The punishment usually resorted
to for any little misbehavior is covering
ho nf tho o,,ilru NTH #
black paint, and, until the pai.t Is re-
moved by the mother such an one is not
allowed TO enter the wigwam or have any
thing to eat. When boy learns the use of
the bow, he is allowed to exercise his skill
in shooting birds. around the village and
when he reaches the age of fifteen, lie is
furnished with gun and required to prac.
tice shooting geese, ducks and other water
fowl. At night his father tells him stories
about elk and bear hunting, how to sp.
proach the deer and buffalo, and, when he
has proven himself good shot, he is per-
mitted to accompany hunting parties, and
II successful, his education is considered
complete, and he is released from parental
col troll to enter upon life, the chief end
of which is to excel in the chase, and to
crafty worldly appetites and desires.
Think of fhsse poor little Indian boys,
thinly clad and exposed to the intense
cold, away off in their western homes. and
then think how happy are the young
readers of the illustrated Christian
Weekly, wsll-clad with good warm
houses to sleep in, and with Christian pa.
rental TO watch over, care for, and teach
them that the chief end of man is not to
excel in the chase or in war, but to elotify
God and enjoy Him forever.-R. W j.