River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-07-30
FRISKY BLIZZARD.
The sad disappointment of a FANATIC
on the Indian Question.

on the Indian Question.
! used to be fanatic on the Indian
question" squaring off in pugilistic
attitude every time happened TO hear
word dropped derogatory to the red
skin.
But that is all over now. | have
studied the Indian in his native wilds.
Assuming the Sioux 10 be true types of
the aborigines, | studied Chief Frisky
Blizzard, an admitted type of the Sioux.
My study was not long one, nor very
profound. but it was sufficient
Sitting on an empty barrel just be-
hind the post traders store, | caught
sight of a bowed. respondent form.
There, Whomso.' said thepost trad
er. lis Chief FrislSy Blizzard. You now
have a chance to familiarize yourself
with the Indian in his natural state.
Go to him. He's harmless"
j went.
Poor Blizzard! His silk hat was like
himself-hopelessly crushed A feather
was showed through a punctured hole
in the crown, and that, too, was faint
and dropping. The chiefs head lay
negligently upon his breast, and his
hands were concealed in the folds of
his toga.
| paused reverentially at his side
knew of what he was thinking. He
was canvassing the red mans ancient
splendor and comparing that with his
present hard lines. Laying my hand
on his shoulder said huskily:
'Dost yearn for the barbaric mag
niticence of thy ancestors? Noble scion
of a noble, tell me, art musing on the
unhappy fate of thy people?',
No answer.
Fairly confident of my rhetorical
powers, continued
Once, where stands Fort Totter
yonder. it was the wont of thy sire TO
chase the bounding oe-buck, to pitch
his teepee in the shadow of the wood
and smoke his tomahawk pipe while
thy mother prepared his evening meal
Chief. dost mourn for those golden
days?"
Still no answer-no move on the part
of Frislly Blizzard.
| then resolved to try him in the Sioux
tongue. Perhaps the familiar words
would fall upon his soul like sweet
sounds from the shadowy hunting
grounds | spoke:
"Wandetoka wecheschtope, art thou
chanewonka of thy skasonka?"
Which is, being interpreted: Brave
chief. are you afraid of your white
brother?
lie spoke not, but | thought saw him
finch into a more compact attitude. 1t
struck me this might betoken some hos
tility to my Sioux, and | ceased to ex-
press myself longer i'm that tongue.
"Mr. Blizzard" | said, won't You
unburden your wrongs TO me? | stand
before you a champion of your race.
My arm is iron in your defense and yet
you disdain me even a look! Is this
right? Is this just? VIII you keep
silent when your white brother sues for
speech? If you do, pray Heaven to
hear that | shall leave you without
word. | have finishd, have spoken. /
am done.
This threat evidently touched a soft
spot, for he did not move. Slowly, I'M
steadily, a hand stole out from the
folds of the red blanket and carried
bottle to lips that were painfully ris-
ing to receive it. / started back APP
palled. 1t was bottle of rum, and if
l was studying Chief Ffisly Blizzard in
his natural state, it was certainly
state of intoXication.
Inch by inch the shaking bottle drew
nearer and nearer the Indians open
and expectant mouth. Further and
further back he leaned until, just as
mouth and bottle were about to meet,
the barrel turned, Mr.. Billiards. cop
per-colored ankles flashed in the air,
and he fell backwards to the earth,
leaving his legs still hanging in the POI
sition he had lost With sleepy, con-
tented smile on his gutta-percha face,
he lay on his back and disdained to
move.
turned sadly away from the sight
and walked away sorrowful steps.
How the mighty have fallen l
murmured, pausing once to look back,
show lor'-Benjamln Whomso, in De-
troit Free Press.