The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1895-01-04
rn. HNow they arc open.

flannel zouave suits, who wait to do
my bidding. We will bowl at ten,
have Turkish bath at twelve, ride at
four, play pool before dinner, and
dance afterward."
And it was even so. Every place of
amusement connected with the hotel
had been closed. Miss Chicago turned
the key which unlocked all the doors,
and during the rest of my stay at the
hotel, we had the gayest sort of a
time. Everybody was happier be-
cause of the presence of this bright
young western girl. The invalids
smiled when she passed them, the
servants rushed to do her bidding; the
very animals seemed to know when
she was near. ! left her here, but
know there was weeping and wailing
when she came to take her departure.
A REAL KING IN AMERICA.
He Is q Half-Brced Comanche indian and
His Guile Il Absolute.
''There is real king out in the south
western part of Indian territory" said
a citizen of st. Louis to Washington
Star reporter recently, land in recent
trip down through the Comanche and
Kiowa countries met Quanna Parker,
head chiet of the Comanches. The
Comanches are still blanket Indians
that is, they are not civilized and edu-
Gated like the Choctaws and they live
in tepees. But they are among the
sharpest and brightest of Indians
Every boy remembers in dime novels
that Comanches were the favorite
enemies of the brave trappers and
hardy pioneers. They were fighters
and are the most expert horsemen in
the world. But they fight no longer,
are rapidly becoming civilized, and for
their progress and docility Quanna
Parker is to be thanked.
Parker is half-breed, the son of
chief whose wife was white captive
girl. When but a youth Parker, by his
daring and bravery and successful ex-
ploits against other tribes and the
whites in the Indian wars, rose above
the older chiefs and became the leader.
Now that the wars are forever over his
same great will power and strong per-
sonality impress themselves as strongly
upon his tribe, but in the direction OF
advancement and civilization. He is
virtually a king. His word is
law; his will supreme. He says
he will civilize his tribe, and
he will do it. AS one result of his eff
forts many of his Indians live in frame
houses. He compelled them to save
one-half of their money received from
the sale of their cattle. With sixty In
dians' wagons he went down into
Texas, bought lumber, then came on
to Washington and persuaded Indian
Commissioner Morgan to build the
houses. He lives in fine nine-roomed
frame house, handsomely furnished in
modern style, Brussels carpets, fine up
holstered furniture, mural adornments,
and decorated nicely. His Office, with
it's desk and fittings, occupies one
room, and it is here he transacts his
business. He wears a white shirt and
trousers with leggings, braided hair,
and colors his face when among his
people, but when travelling dresses ex-
pensively in fashionably made clothes
and sports big diamond pin. He has
horses without number, two coaches,
four buggies and other vehicles. He
has six wives to brighten his household,
and never heard of any hair pulling.
There is method in his polygamous
madness. Each wife is the daughter of
chief of the six principal divisions or
squads of the tribe. So he is solid with
the whole lot on this score.
parker is about forty, tall and
muscular, with light copper-colored
skin, the Indian facial characteristics,
with a piercing black eagle eye. He
speaks English well, and is general
favorite with ell who know him."