The Press., 1893-09-21

Sings to Her In the Dead of Night.
 Although the Sioux Indian is, under all other circumstances, as stoical as stone, his heart softens under the touch of love, and he is as romantic in his courtship as the most sentimental Cau casian. The old custom of selling a maiden to her lover by her father has fallen into disrepute. It is one of the savage customs successfully eradicated by missionary teachers. In those days a squaw was considered beast of bur- den, while her condition is now much improved.
 There are two characteristic methods of Sioux courtship commonly practiced, though it must be admitted that with the gradual education of the young men and women in the schools there is an apparent tendency to ape the ways of their white brothers and sisters and to consume the fuel of their parents in Ine pursuance of their lovemaking, but with those from whose natures it seems i'm possible to eradicate the traits of their forefathers the customs followed by their ancestors are still comme il faut, and to these they stubbornly adhere. -
 Ration day is seized upon by these s'true Indians" for lovemaking, and the sport of it is as heartily enjoyed by the old as by the young. When a brave finds upon the agency grounds the maid en of his choice, he manifests his prefer ence for her by taking the blanket from his shoulders and stretching it out before him, rushing at her with the intention oe4 1c1c der. If the brave doesn't succeed in cap turing the girl at the first attempt, he tries again and persists in his efforts un- til he is satisfied by her action that his suit is not approved. If his advances are favored, the maiden, after brief period coquetry, allows the blanket to settle over her head, and thus enveloped she listens as well as she can to a verbal ac- counting of his deeds of prowess as a hunter, of his possessions in ponies and skins, and the low chanting of song in which he pledges his love eternally.
 If after listening to this the maiden is still willing to become his squaw, she tells him so. The blanket is removed from her shoulders and together they go to the maiden's parents, or, if they are dead, to her nearest relatives, to whom they declare their desire. The match is speedily sanctioned, and when they leave the agency the bride carries on her shoul- ders portion of her husbands rations
 There is less romance in this method of winning 8 wife than in the custom of woeing with the aid of flute. Such a courtship as this must be carried on in 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 8 smooth bark is chosen. It must be about 15 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. It is then twisted off. A row of holes is cut through the bark, and it is when completed exactly like fife, though less shrill in tone. The brave invariably chooses pleas ant night for his lovemaking. When the conditions are favorable, he locates himself short distance from the tepee in which the object of his affection is sleeping and blows on his bark flute a weird chant, probably an impromptu composition.
 Of course the sound of the flute at tracts the attention of the people in the village, who gather around the ardent swain and indulge in good natured badi- mage at his expense. If he is true lover and desirable man for husband, he will continue his playing, indifferent to | the presence of his tormentors.
 | The test sometimes lasts two hours be- | fore the father of the maiden who is thus being wooed issues from the tepee and ascertains who the serenader is. He re- ports to his daughter, and if she ap- l proves the suitor she goes forth to meet him and leads him to her tepee for the sanction of her parents. If she doesn't approve the man, she tells her father to dismiss him, which he does, and the un- successful lover disconsolately pockets his flute and leaves, followed by the jeers of the crowd.
 It not infrequently occurs that the lovemaker is unable to keep his temper while the crowd is rallying him. He sometimes even throws down his flute and attacks his prosecutors. Such a mani festation is considered an evidence of bad taste and indicating 8 defect in the woo CTS character. It is useless for the un- fortunate fellow to press his suit further after such breach of etiquette.
 Sioux parents of a marriageable daugh. ter use good deal of diplomacy in dis posing of her hand in marriage. They are always ambitious to find husband who has considerable wealth, for accord ing to tribal law they are entitled to g certain portion of the possessions of the son-in-law. It sometimes happens that the hand of the same maiden is sought by several braves. When this is the case the will of the father rises superior tt that of the daughter, and she is compelled to consider his choice, which he does mol make until he has excited lively bid ding among them for his daughters ia vors. Needless to say she usually goes tt the man who has the greatest amount ot property to share with her father.-Kati Fields Washington.