The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-06-19

They were so solemn, 80 dignified, so grace
full in their bearings and so Indifferent
withal that the imaginative artist clothed
them with intellectual and spiritual attri-
butes corresponding to their superior ex-
teri0rs. The interest of the artist IN the
Indians was specially stimulated by q
princely commission of .000f for q plot
ure entitled THE Buffalo Hunt" and she
could not praise enough those grand and
stately men. so calm. so dignified and SO
royalty indifferent in their majestic natur-
slness."
l never had the heart to destroy any of
as conceived by this great painter. She
had first found the American Indian in the
works of Gustave Aimard aud the Sioux
type seen In Paris fully realized, as she
saw them, the ideals of her early readings.
To do the Indian justice, they played
their parts we'll when they learned what
was wanted of them. Men who were
thieves by nature. who would rather beg
than work any day, who had no con-
scientious scruples about taking human
life, who were incapable of telling the
truth, even for pay-in fact, almost with
out single redeeming virtue, appeared be-
fore Mile. Bonheur as rare types of
natures n0biemen."
Her admiration eliminated one morning
in an invitation to two of the Sioux chiefs.
Rocky Bear and Red Shirt known to the
Parisians as "L'Ours des ROches" and La
Chemise Rouge" to midday breakfast at
one OF the outdoor summer restaurants OF
the Bois de BoulOgne.
EQUAL TO THE EMERGENCY.
This breakfast was gwen by her as
partial com pensation TO the two chiefs for
their patience in posing in the foreground
of several sketches. They brought with
them their interpreter. who also had q
special invitation. This interpreter was
q tall. Ratchet faced man of the ex-
IRENE Western typo. Among the Indians
he was known as squaw man on account
of his having married an Indian woman.
He spoke no French. but was thoroughly
familiar with the language of the Indians.
AT this breakfast, which was served under
glass covered porch, the two Indians.
one side of the table, while the artist and
several of her friends were upon the Op-
poslte side. / sat at her left, and translat-
ed to her the fiowery phraseology of the
Indians impaired through the interpreter.
who in turn translated into tho Indian
tongue the questions and remarks of the
artist after had rendered them III Eng
The Indians were constant source OF
study TO the artist Rocky Bear watched
carefully the movements OF every one. and
used his knife and fork with perfect cor
rectDess A glance told him everything
that he wished to know concerning table
etiquette. while Red SHIRT had In his pre-
viOus visit to Europe acquired very cor
rect knowledge of what constituted good
table manners. They appeared so digni.
fed so gracious and so easy that Mile. Bon
heur was constantly breaking out into
calculations of admiration.
These" said she ARE real men. They
are not the simpering. gOssiping, bowling
animal of to-day. These are grave. digni-
fed. austere men with. the perfectly simple
manners which belong to the true children
of nature. They remind me of the French
men of the days of Charlemange whom We
read about. How have men degenerated
under civilization in comparison with these
noble specimens seated opposite me. No
royal prince could have better manners,
nd no king could be moro dignified aud
more composed than Monsieur Rocky
Bear"
She also admired to an extravagant de-
gree the m elapcholy dropping lines of the
interpreters face. She said that he re-
minded her so much Of tho face of the ideal
Don Quixote.
i did not venture 10 translate any of
these extravagant compliments after bare