The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1895-12-14
RUINED REDSKINS.


DR.. Charles A. Eastman, the Sioux In
dian physician and missionary who was
married to Elaine Goodale. the poet, II
the Church OF the Ascension in this city
four years ago, on visit to New York
with his wife made an address before
the Harlem branch Of the Young Men 1
Christian association. DIR. Eastman
told his large audience many interest.
ing things about the Indians.
i find" he said, shat the Indian as
a man is very much the same as the men
OF other races. Their habits and their
faculties are the same, and when they
are developed they have as much man.
liness, godliness and self-respect as the
men OF other races. 1t is surprising the
amount Of faith in God you will I'D
among some OF the most ignorant and
uneducated Indians. l could mention
dozens of remarkable cases If | had
time, but, AZ am limited, will only
tell you OF one. This one was an old
Indian who was converted long ago.
Ever since his conversion he has made a
practice of rising every morning at
seven O'Clock and saying his prayers.
When asked him why he did this he
told me that it give him first chance
with the Lord, and he was thus enabled
to be heard alone.
THE great trouble with our young
men to-day is that they have been pre-
cipitated into modern civilization with
such suddenness that they have all
sorbed most of the evil Of it and little
OF the good. They are mostly drunk
ards, rustlers and idlers and are phys
ical and moral degenerates. They are
not the same men that the Indians of
my day were. Then, our young men
thought nothing of ten or twenty-mlle
runs, and it was common amusement
with them to race and beat fleet ponies
across the prairies.
To-day you can scarcely find an IN
dian who can run as much as two miles,
while in the old days it was nothing 10
do from 50 to 10 miles day in foot
travel, and to go for as many as three
aays and nights without food. This diff
ference between the Indian Of old and
the Indian of to-day only serves 10
generated physically and morally since
has been thrust upon it.
"They say that the Indian is dying
lway. If the Indian is, it is good
hing. What we want to save is the
nan. the good in the young men. and !
~ doing this we can save the race. 1t
$ going to be hard work. for the small |
ribes are scattered all through tho
vest, and, harassed and driven nearly !
.razy as they are by the government. it
S difficult to win over their confidence.
they are absolutely without ambition
low, and the only way that that can
.ver be effected is through the medium
# the Gospel. The Indian is known in
he east as stoicai aud sad individual,
nut that is mistake. Before strangers
le is stoical. but that is only diplomacy
nd not his real nature. Get him
round the camp fire and he is a good
elbow. He will talk and laugh with you
nd tell funny stories the same as
1hite man. What he likes more than
nything else is joke, and if you want
0 earn the contempt of an Indian you
ave but to show anger over joke IN
is presence. He will take joke on
imself and laugh as heartily over it
8 if it was on another, SO he has no use
3r any man who cannot do the same.
my idea of converting the Indian is
, start in by improving him physically.
hen improve him mentally and you
ill find a self-respecting, noble and
man. The Indians were
riginally the most gentlemanly race
ktant. The Sioux were famous for
leir gentlemanly behavior among
and know it was the same
ith many of the northwestern tribes.
he best evidence Of this is the fact
lat the young Indians were never AZ
wed to address their elders until they
ere 2l years of age, and no male could
noke until he had proved himself II
rown man and had been admitted to
e councils OF the tribe. 1t was such {
ws as these that made the Indian de- (
tied husband and fearless warrior.
or such was the original Indian. To-
" the race is ruined one-ruined by I
Every game with them is 9
medium for gambling. There are 9
,ne of the manly contests OF the old
tys now. They're all beggars, too. 9
ID even the very youngest 10 not !
hamed to ask for aims. They live t
lly to eat and sleep, and their thoughts i
e always Of the present. The Indian s
irit il broken, and nothing but sys- e
matte work will ever revive it"--N. Y. t
IN. {
The Doctor Got Evea. :
THAT horrid little Bimley boyl" ex- :
lined Dora, pouring tea; "he was l
Il a. insulting to DR.. Carver A. he
uld be-