New-York tribune., 1891-12-18
MR. RENCOUNTRE,S DIVORCE.

To the broad-minded lover Of his fellow-mel
nothing can be more gratifying than forward
step of o less advanced race 1t tells him of the
time when the human family shall stand on an
equal footing as regards all that goes to make
up civilization. There has not been reported for
a long time more striking advance step by a
savage people than that contained in brief South
Dakota dispatch, published in The Tribune
yesterday which told of Sioux Indian who had
got divorce from his wife in the civil courts.
Net only is the North American Indian to be
congratulated on this remarkable display Of ad-
vancement but the State of South Dakota comes
in for q liberal share as well. 1t is public
announcement that it is prepared to furnish di-
vorce without regard 10 sex, color, or previous
condition South Dakota stands up proudly and
saws to the whole world. Come to me and get
divorced" But it is the Indian chiefly who
deserves attention. His name is Alexander Rem
oountre. lie told the court that his wife had
tried TO kill him with an axe. Instead Of shifting
her with a club or fleeing from the tepee and get
ting another wife, lie went to Judge Haney and
asked for divorce. Mr.. Rencountre introduced
testimony 10 show that his wife had long been
q severe trial to him even before she made the
murderous assault upon him. She had run up
bills at the store for red blankets colored beads
and pink face powder which sh, did not need. a
month ago she insisted on having new rooster
feather boa, though he wanted her to make her
last winters mOnley-fur shoulder-cape do. Nor
was this the worst She had fiirted with Low
Dog, a minor chief, and once she went out
walking with Man-That-Makcs-the Sneak. She
had also long shown liking for Young Nan-Afraid-
to-Whoop a notorious dude, and had frequently
said that Afraid-to- -Whoop's clothes fitted him
much better than her husbands Many times
Mr.. Rencountre said he had had to eat cold
dog-tail soup for supper, while his wife was
gadding about town with Mrs. Poker-hush, and
he told Of one occasion when he took home
Chief Big Snort 10 dinner and found nothing
but cold rattlesnake steak and half can of
Boston baked beans in the house. Subsequently
he ascertaned that his wife had been to an
auction sale with Mrs Woman That-IIeap- p-TalkS
and bought broken shotgun, japanese vase.
o pug dog, pair of high rubber boots, and
two plates Of false teeth, both for the upper
jaw, none of which things she needed Finally.
when Mr.. Rencountre tried to reason with her, she
seized up an axe and aimed blow at his head.
This was too much. lie asked for the divorce
and readily got it.
The idea that the Indian cannot be civilized
is q mistake. He is civilzing himself When
he takes up the customs of the best pale-face
society there is no longer any question about
it. lie has begun at the wrong end, but that
makes no difference-he will work out his own
social salvation in his own simple way. We 'dings.
receptions, balls and other similar functions of
polite society will soon become common in
Indian circles. Engraved cards like this will
soon begin TO circulate Mrs. Red Dog re-
guests the pleasure of your company at the mar
rlage of her daughter, Lille Lanstry, to Young
Man-With- Only -One-Suspender" The great In
dian problem is settled at last.