Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-03

a Woman's Story Of How She Ensersaiped
Him in His Ftrst Suit II Clothes.

II was back in the EOS when a camp OF civil
engineers constituted what is now the we'll
known city of Fargo. ND. Ny husband was
among the number. and /. with our little
daughter, had rece ntly joined him. Our camp
had many visitors that year. II CHANGED that
two well-known French gentlemen. heavy
bondholders in the Northern Pacific were
making the tour 70 judge Of the wisdom at
thcir investments. Two or three New York
stockholders were spending few DAYS in camp.
also, and a couple of St. Paul wholesale mer-
chants, on the lookout for possible contracts
for supplies.
heard an unusual commotion outside the
tent before rising in the morning and peep
ing out. saw party Of eight or ten Indians.
full-blocded Sioux, from the Missouri valley.
Father" in Washington. Among them was tho
willy. keen-witted. merciless savage who after
ward became SO famous-Sitting Bull. They
had left their native hauntp chad only in their
native garb, but at Bismarck two or three of
them had succeeded the evening before thew
left in inducing themselves into some Of the
cast-of clothes OF Fort Lincoln soldiers Over
these they had thrown their own blankets so
Sitting Bull had not discovered the change I'M
I'll the next morning. While openly scoffing nj
such degeneracy, the interpreter accompany
ing them told us the chief was secretly
chagrined at not having procured such gorgeous
raiment for himself and upon his arrival at
Fargo he declined TO he presented 20 the DO
tentates of the Northern Pacific railroad until
properly attired.
THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT.
As he was resolute in his desire to have white
mans clothes. contribution was levied on diff
ferent members OF the encampment. the result
OF which, although satisfactory to him. struck
the rest OF us as inexpressibly ludicrous. The
only pair OF trousers whose waistband was
suited to his girth belonged to a very short
man, and gave to their present wearer that
Imaginable appearance inseparable from abbre-
vlated neither garments. AZ no ordinary mas
culine sock was long enough to fill the gap be-
tween shoes and trousers. Aunt Nenny. the huge
old negro cook was called TO the rescue, and a
pair OF snow white stockings were given to him.
There was, of course. some difficulty in giving
these the smooth, unwrinkled appearance de-
sirable, but the ebony aunty (whom have al
ways suspected OF presiding over that extraor-
oinary toilet got round the difficulty by faster-
ing hose and trousers together with those use
ful little articles known as safety pins
One OF our brawny teamsters contributed n
shirt. Flannel shirts were in general wear
among our engineers. and a white one (com-
monty known as n boiled shirt was an almost
unknown luxury However. one of the men
resnrrected one long buried in hidden trunk,
and to Sitting Bulls great satisfaction be was
Instructed as to the approved manner of entrance
ana exit vest was not to be found and il
seemed for time that fertilization. as represented
by coat was for him still in the dim future
But here again his good genius in the shape of
the fat old negress interviewed. coat having
been found whose only objection was its ex-
IRENE narrovness across the back. this in
genious woman energetically ripped the center
seam and inserted a broad stripe of vivid red.
cut from a heavy blanket. A stove-pipe hat
polished to the last degree was found. and thus
equipped the famous chieftain made his debu,
before the presiding officials of the encamp-
ment.
THE LITTLE GIRL LAUGHED.
The wives Of several of the officers had been
at various times resident in the camp, but just
then l CHANGED to be left alone with nv little
girl to represent our sex. had been warned
OF the impending call, but had been told moth
ing of the change of raiment and when this
astounding toilet appeared before me the keep
ing OF the muscles of my face under control
and maintaining a gravity BETTING the occa-
sion was the great triumph Of NV life. Nv
little daughter was not so fortunate and al
once gave utterance TO an uproarious burst OF
mirth, causing her father to instantly seize and
bear her ignominiously from the tent
Sitting Bulls language was a compound OF
pure Sioux, mongrel English, despatched here
ana there with a word or two of French picked
up in his intercourse with post traders. As
these traders generally use language adapted
to the strength of their emotions when their
stores are pillaged by the half-breeds. the ejac-
ulations picked up and embalmed by Sitting
Bull were occasionally somewhat startling to
ladies. But women on the frontier learn to ex-
hibit great fortitude In matters of this sort So
proudly felt that Twas acquitting myself verv
creditably during the interview and as I had
been instructed to invite the ehieftain to dine
with us in due form and state, did SO. He
evidently viewed the idea of sitting down 20 a
meal at the came time with a woman with
much disfavor. His creed taught him that
should stand meekly behind his chair. bringing
to him his nectar and ambrosia, as Represented
by bean soup and venison, myself thankfully
swallowing t intervals such morsels as he might
see fit to toss me.
THE BLESSING.
Among our guests that day was a vounp
eastern clergyman, making his first trip over
the prairies. He was a very Jealous youth,
strongly imbued with the missionary spirit,
albeit sadly lacking in experience. l soon saw
he looked upon the meeting with these Indians
as special providence and burned with a de-
sire to turn it TO account in their behalf spirit
ually. Still no opportunity seemed to offer ard
We took our places at the table. Now. clergy
men were rare visitors in those regions at tina /
date and we had become lamentably thought
less as regarded many of the religious OBJ
servances of civilization. No sooner had we
seated ourselves than the dreadful conscious
ness came over me that nv husband was en-
tirely oblivious of the fact that when a minister
OF the gospel was present grace was a custom
airy preliminary to a meal. He prepared to
carve the substantial roast of venison and
there was no lull in the conversation of the
gentlemen. In vain l fixed my gaze upon his
face and stroye to send him a mental telegram
In desperation thrust my foot across. seeking
his beneath the table. hoping in this way TO
give him an intimation of what should be
done. But alas. when did succeed in touch
ing him he, with that depraved obtuseness seen
only in man. looked up with cheerful pardon
me, as though he had trespassed beyond his
boundaries beneath the table.
The poor young clergyman had given one or
two aloud ''ahem' in vain and now i'm despair
rose from his seat and. with arms extended
over the table, loudly invoked blessing upon
our feast. Despairing of any other chance. I
for the conversion of the grim old savage be-
fore him, making in all a rather lengthy pre-
amble. Sitting Bulls ewes had been fixed
eagerly on the yenison, wandering only to the
motions OF the carving knife IN the hands of
my husband. who. finding his hospitable eff
forts suddenly suspended by the unexpected
prayer, sat with the carving implements in his
hands gazing helplessly at me with an air of
mild reproaeh, as if to say: Why didn't you
warn mei'
The old warrior evidently regarded this de-
vout exercise as some sort of incarnation by a
medicine man Of the pale faces, designed TO
affect food. for as our minister. in his eager
ness to offer a suitable petition. wildly waved
his hands over the various dishes Sitting Bull
glanced suspiciously from one article of food TO
another, then to the faces of the white men
and finally sank sullenly back in the unaccus-
toned chair.
SITTING BULLS TABLE MANNERS.
When at length his plate was filled and sent