The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-03-10
INDIANS REAL AND IDEAL.
Romano Has Given Poor Lo u Halo Which
the Truth Causes tn Vanish.

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The student of ethnology finds no
more fascinating branch OF human
ity than the Indian. Not the race
as depicted hy Catlin. Schoo.craft,
and Drake, who have painted him in
glowing colors, but the Indian as he
exists to-day The time has come
when the truth about Indian life
should be told. The gentlemen men
toned gave much thought 10 the
subject OF which they are nov the
accepted authorities, but he who
goes among Indians rs a student will
at once perceive that the whole
study OF the red men has been one of
eXternals 10 the exclusion OF the
secret and inner Lie THAT dis
closes the real character OF the race
The following paragraph appears In
the introduction of brakes master
piece:
There was found IN him the Indianl an
u~nbounded hospita ity, a friendship vouchcd
for with life itself, and unfathng rcmcm-
brance OF a kindness done him., "a nobility
Of soul that held IL firmly 10 his ideas OF
honor. filled him with reverence for the
sages and heroes of the tribe and inspired
in him an ardent longing To emulate their
renown, In social and domestic life kind
ness and sclf-control were constantly mani
Tested. wranglmg and strife being unknown
In the Indian dwelling.
1t is difficult, SAYS the Pittsburgh
Dispatch, 10 conceive OF a more in.
correct statement OF the case regard
ing the mental attributes OF the In-
dian. In addition 10 the error that
has been constant in the minds OF the
people, through such statements aud
ideas rs romantic and prejudiccd
writer's have given out rs ethnologi-
cal data, there has been a tunda-
mental error in the study OF Indians
In chasing or grouping them all to-
gether. IL is true that there are
certa constant characteristics
among the Indian. Just as there are
In the Caucasian race, but IL is also
true that the mental and physical
differences between tribes are more
marked than between the European
nations
1t is through reading such authors
rs viewed the outside or apparent
life OF Indians that the world knows
almost nothing about the dominant
characteristics of the red man. In
civilized circles the belief Is current
that the perceptive faculties Of the
Indian are highly developed that he
Is acute in all things, and that his
mind almost intuitivcly grasps phi
losophical sub ectS that he is a born
orator with "A natural rhetoric: that
ne pierccs the iallacics OF sophlstry
with almost divine powers of an
alysis; that he has evolved a re-.
ligious system and worshIps n God
under the title OF Great Spirit These
are the mental attributes with which
he is clothed by those who have been
accepted rs authority. His physical
powers are no less those OF a demi-
god. He is supposed To be "A bundle
OF muscles and nerves, capable OF al
most superhuman Endurance. His
objects and tells their characters
tics before they come within the
range OF vision Of the whites. Owing
to his uncrrlng aim his markham
ship is phenomenal His idea Of To-
cation is so highly developed that he
finds his way Owe untrod plains and
mountains, and notices the slightest
displacement OF stick OF stone.
What are the facts? The Indian
is not an orator. He expresses him
self with extreme diniculty and in the
simplest manner lie has neither
rhetOr cal nor analytical power. His
PHILOSOPHY is Of the crudes: sort, and
he has no religion. He does not
worship "A great spirit, except as he
has been taught by the whites. His
mental powers have nothing super
natural in them. Physically he H.
the inferior OF the white as he Is
mentally. His muscles are weaker
and his erves more easily unstrung;
his eye Is less keen than that OF the
white p~lainsman. and he Is "A tyro at
workmanship his idea OF |, cation Is
bounded by his environments lie
see few sights, hears few sounds,
smells few odors and tastes few
favors. The result Is that his whole
life is narrow as the facts presented
70 him are few. His perccptive fac
uities are OF a low order and his pow
ers Of discrimination small. This,
however, Is "A rule which, like all
other rules, has exceptions. for there
are nov and have been In the past,
elevated minds among the Indians.
Paid Ills nuI nahtG Inc.