Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1892-07-28
soldiers-cooking, caring for horses, and
hlarx e. 4lx.s.. = ..4l 49,

soldiers-cooking, caring for horses, ant
even how to wear their clothing.
In fact, it has been especially difficult
to teach them to be saving Of their uni
forms. Not that they do not take the
greatest pride in their personal appear
anee. Their natural vanity precludes
that. But when they become possessed
OF neat-fitting blouse or pair of shapely
trousers, they can seldom resist wearing
the same until threadbare, and if per-
mitted they would speedily make way
with not only their clothing allowance
but also their monthly pay for clothes
alone.
In connection with clothing 1t is sur.
prising to note the complete TRANSFORMED
ton the exteriors of some of these men
undergo at the dances, of which they
have been allowed to have several since
their enlistment. With the removal Of
uniforms, and the addition of hideous
paint, beads, ornaments of porcupine
quilts, and metallic bracelets, together
with a conspicuous absence of clothing,
they seem very unlike the tractable SOL
diers that they were.
But the qualification of their pleasure
in dancing, wild and savage as it ap-
pears to lockers on, does not seem to do
harm, and no retrogade movement in
discipline has been apparent.
There are in the troop a number of
excellent dancers, White Horse, tall,
fine-looking young brave, having the
reputation of being the very best on the
reservation.
The proximity of the Indians to their
reservation has been to the troop officers
a bette noir from the very beginning. All
kinds of ingenious excuses are be-
thought of to obtain pass to go on the
reservation. Sickness of family, burn
ing of houses, ailings Of horses and cat
tie, domestic infelicities, all these rea-
sons are cited and re-cited. While the
truth prevails in these excuses, exagger-
alton must always be looked for. In
dian braves who have been reported
dead by members of the troop have had
way of coming to life again, without
any apparent embarrassment to the
originators of the canard, they ex-
planning it simply by, Walking Fly
was dead a little while, but all
right now. - One honest fellow
who was very anxious to obtain a pass,
in order, as | we'll knew, to carry a flag
to his relatives, told me after all other
resources had failed, that he had heard
that his father was dying. Upon cross.
examination l found that the paternal
one had severe attack of rheumatism
in the right foot.
Upon organizing the troop several
white non commissioned officers were
detailed for duty with it to assist in its
instruction, but at present these have
been reduced to two-one acting as first
sergeant and the other as troop clerk.
All other duties are performed by the
Indian non commissioned officers in a
creditable manner.
There Is a common feeling among our
army officers throughout the West to
disapprove of the enlistment of Indians
as soldiers. No one seems to question
the benefits accruing to the Indians by
the discipline and contact with civilized
speech, manner, and costumes. But by
many it is not believed to be the func-
ton OF our small but efficient army to
act as public educators, and it must be
confessed the moldng of the Indian
soldier requires an education in many
things not directly pertaining to the
military profession; and these critics
believe that our army has enough to do
to take care of its own efficiency with
out undertaking the civilizing of the In
dian. Probably similar views were ex-
pressed upon the organization of the
negro regiments. Be this as it may, the
scheme is not without PRECEDENT in the
military establishments of India, France,
Russia and other foreign countries.
Probably our army would feel better
satisfied, and greater good would result,
were an Indian regiment of cavalry and
of infantry organized, without decreas-
ing our present strength OF white and
colored troops.
The natural pastime of the Indian has
for ages been war and the chase, and
by combining the allurements of a mill
tary life with the use of English words
and manners, compromise upon what
is to the Indian monotonous and irksome
school-room instruction, much of that
obstinate conservatism which has been
so great an obstacle to Indian civiliza-
ton may be broken down and elimi-
mated.