Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-12-12
RETicENce or THE INDIAN.
little Method or Form la Ills Most Fa'
NOUS ICounciis-A Changeless Nature.

No One knows where an Indian Is
going5 Travelling across the plain in a
stage or an army ambulance you will
see him afar of galloping as II he Ind
been sentfor doctor and was afraid
he wouldn't find him at home. Ap-
proaching you as the two paths cross
lie will usually rein up. exchange saIu-
tations. study your Quilt closely.
checking his pony to the slowest OF
walks. and without asking 4 question
will know just where you are going,
what you are going to do and what
food you will probably give him If he
calls upon you at your evening fire.
Then he is off again, ranging easily in
the saddle and soon disappearing from
sight. The land from which he came
is as empty as that into which he has
vanished. There is not a sign Of human
habitaiion in either direction. He has
probably come twenty miles since
dawn, and will. unless lie concludes to
camp with you, make another twenty
before drawing rein.
Still he is a lazy animal. Gathered
in groups lie furnishes the best subject
Tor picture or study. They do not seem
TO talk about anything. but sit in the
most indolent attitudes waiting for
nothing IN particular. Those mounted
keep their seats often for hours at
time. the ponies chiseled like them
selves from motionless life All at
once, without any noticeable signal.
they will all rise and leave rs il all had
been waiting for that moment, and
knew just what TO do when it came.
The dress Is mixture OF everything
white that touches them; the broad hat
Of the Mexicap. the blanket of their
own tribe. the trousers of the American
though made of calico as general
thing-and the weapons of the army.
Sometimes, indeed. they arc better sup
piled in this latter regard than are the
soldiers themselves. The women,
without an effort at solving the pro-
blem OF skirts. ride astride, aud if there
is pony to lead or drive that task is
relegated to her inferiority by the lord
of her life.
A great deal has been written about
The councils of the great chiefs, and
some ingenuity has been used in
picturing the dramatic things done
and the heroic things said. But as a
matter Of fact the little group present
ell in this picture is much more like
The usual council. SO curious aud taci-
turn are the savages that they do not
seem to need our loquacity 10 arrive at
decision. They cit about silently in
struggling groups, exchange word
now and then, with not vestige OF
confessed authority, and when they
have all arrived at the same mind
though how they know when that time
has come no one but them could posi-
bly, tell-they drift away as f0rmlcssly
as they came.
The blood of the Indian is as different
and distinct from our own as can
possibly be imagined. The nomad in
him is not convertible. 1t is rs change
less as are the spots of the leopard.
Those few who are home builders seem
different. They seem to hold within
their lives the germ of what develop
ment in the white has made civiiza-
tion. They eau and will be made good
Indians without the hackueyed method
OF killing them. But the nomad is as
changeless as is the Tartar. The in
habitants of tho lower portions of
western Asia never were conquered
and never will be. They have never
changed and never will. So the
nomads of the American plains will
remain savage as long as they live and
will present to the advances of the
theorist ali the immoyabe wall of
nature fortified BY ages of hcredity.