Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-04-11
SiOuA AOyEMAKING.
HOW A You.e I,cnh WARRIOR
MAKES j.scWn l,is PASSION.

NOW NDSsn U'IFN WNnnlSN
MAKES Iacwh l,iS PASSION.
ne Goes 10 work o. On- of Two Ways
Either with Pood ar ,iusie-Chases the
Maiden Of iiis Choice with y blanket NJ
sings % Her In the Dead of Night.
Although the Sioux Indian Is. under
oil other circumstances. ~ stoical m q
stone. his heart softens under the touch
Of love, and he Is as romantic In his
courtship as tho most sentimental Can
casian. The old custom Of selling q
maiden to her lover by her father has
fallen into disrcputc. II Is ono OF the
savage customs successfully eradicated
by missionary teachers. In those days
q squaw was considered beast of bur.
den, while her condition Is now uiuch
improved.
There are two characteristic methods
Of Sioux courtship commonly practiced.
though II must be admitted that with
the gradual education of the young men
and women In the schools there Is nm
apparent tendency to ape the ways Of
their white brothers aud sisters and TO
consume the fuel Of their parents In the
pursuance of their loveinaking. but with
those from whose natures II seems i'm.
possible to eradicate the traits OF their
forefathers the customs followed by their
ancestors are still CONNIE II faut. and to
these they stubbornly adhere.
Ration d:y IL seizcl upon by these
.'true Indians" for loyena,sing. md the
sport Of II Is ~ heartily enjoyed by the
old as by the young. When u brave
Sids upon the agency grounds the maid
TN Of his choice. he manifests his prefer
ence for her by taking tho blanket from
his shoulders and stretching II out before
him, rushing ut her with the intention
of throwing II over her head and shoul
der. II the brave doesn't succeed In cap
turing the girl at the first attempt, he
tries again and persists IN his efforts un
Ill nc Is satisfied by her action that his
suit Is not approved. II his advances are
favored. the maiden. after brief period
coquetry. allows the blanket to settlr
over her head. and thus cnyeloped she
listens as well rs she can to u verbal ac
counting Of his deeds Of rrowess as
hunter. Of his possessions IN ponies an
skins, and the low chanting Of song IL
which he pledges his love c,crally
II after listening TO this the ,nai'lci
Is still willing TO become hts sfnaw. si'
tells him 30. The blanket H. removes
from her shoulders and together iiI,y ~
to the maiden's parents. ar n they nr
dead, to her nearest relatives. to whcn
they declare their desire. The match
speedily sanctioned. and when they lc,vf
the agency the bride carries on her shout
ders q portion Of her lrland's rations
There Is less rOinancein thismcthod oi
winning a wife than IN the custom oI
woeing with the aid Of u flute. Snch II
courtship as this must lie carried on III
the spring when the sap Is running In
the trees, for only at this time can the
wooer make his tuneful instrument.
The manufacture Of flute Is not diff
cult piece Of work. a section Of willow
or any other wood with a smooth bark Is
chosen. II must be about 10 inches long
and half an inch In diameter. With a
smooth stick this piece of wood Is vigor
ously rubbed until the bark has been
loosened on the wood. II Is then twisted
of. A row Of holes Is cut through the
bark, and 1t Is when completed exactly
like fife, though less sl,rill In tone.
The brave invariably chooses pleas.
ant night for his loveinaking. When
the conditions are favorable. he locates
himself q short distance from the tepec
In which the object Of his affection Il
sleeping and blows on his lark flute
weird chant, probably an impromltu
composition.
OF course the sound 81 the flute Mt
tracts the attention Of the people In the
village, who gather around the ardent
swain and indulge IN cool natured badi
mage at his expense. Ii b. IL a true lover
and desirable man for husband. he
will continue his playing. Indifferent to
the presence Of his tormcntOrs.
The test sometimes lasts two honrs be-
fore tie father Of the maiden WHO IL thus
being wooed issues from the i'lec and
ascertains who the sCrUaaGCr L.. lie re-
ports to his daughter. End u she AZ
proves the suitor she goes forth 10 meet
him and leads him TO her iclcc for the
sanction Of her parents. II Ehc doesn't
approve the man. she tells her father Il"
dismiss him. which hc does, AMI the rn
successful lover ,liacJnsla,ely pockets
his flute and leaves. followed by The
jeers Of the crowd.
Il not infrequcntly occurs that iac
lovemaker is unable 10 keep lis temper
while the crowd IL rallying him. III
sometimes even throws ,lOwn his fint'
and attacks his perEc...ors. Srch u mani
festation Is iscons!,,cTc'l TN cyidcGvcof baC
taste and Indicating defect Ia the woo
er's character. II II rselCss Tor the vi
fortunate fellow ~ rrcss - init further
after such breach of etiquette.
Sioux parents of q mGrriag,ai.le dGagh
ter usc good deal of iip.ou ~ In ,is
posing Of her hand IN marriage. The.
are always ambitious Ia fnl u hus'ian,
who has corsii, raIlr wealth. Tor a,C'r'
Ing TO tribal law they are cr.itlc.l to
certain portion of tie To.ea,ions Of a.
son.in.iaw. II sometimes laplGEs tia
tho hand Of Tie sane lini'ra !. sn,..l
by several lrayrs. v Ken ihis il The ''aSc
the viii Of the father i!scs a.cg.or Il
that of the daughter and ia" nco,r,,lls
To consider his choi,y. ,,i,h Ls ,.o : Eo,
make until lie las excited II lively bic
ding among them Tor lis Gaughtr's e.
vors. Needless 10 gay slc usral!y gOcs T.
the man who las Tie gr,g.iri cirVunto ~
property to shar wi;!i Ler faihsr. -I.a.
Fields Warhir"-n"
The Pillar Of safety.
fl.fora the erection of the new univer-