Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-03-08

than one wife. as we understand wife
here in civilization. The other women
attached to his household are 10 Work
for him and support him. he calls
them all wife" and pays them no
wages, getting their lifelong services
free.
If he were refused the privilege OF
having these wives the women Inem,
selves would be better off. They would
have the money for their own ana
would be free women. whereas they are
now practically slaves. Brown VINO is
an enthusiast upon this subject de
clares that the Indian squaws neeu
freeing" and that the people VIII
wake up some day to see tnat TINS Is
true. That is Browns side OF the STORY
but the reports from the Indians say
that the women are contented and 90
not want to be changed about.
The immense value of having half
dozen wives is not imagined by men
whose household. headed by one wlfe'
is all the tax they can we'll afford.
What would do with six?" they ask.
And so little can they picture the ad-
vantages OF many wives, sucn as IN
dams enjoy. that the mere name OF po-
lygamy is made a hinge for the funny
paragraph. But Indians know better
about polygamy.
MAKING THE MOST OF 1T.
One of Big Chunks wives is skillful
amulet maker. She keeps herself sup
piled with cut glass beads OF all colors,
which she Saws and strings into brace
lets for travellers to buy. Twice a week
she is at the nearest railroad station
with a basket of these pretty ornaments.
She also makes bead headdresses and
belts and beaded baskets. Big Chunk
glows like the sun from her cut glass
! ornaments. and she makes enough over
10 sell TO all who will buy. The name
| of this squaw is Brown Dog.
Another of Big Chunks wives-her
| name is Amahua-is an adept at spin
ming. She makes striped blankets that
easily sell al the agency for So yard.
| For Big Chunk she weaves the bright
est. thickest, warmest blankets Of all
and for the agency she does a plain
sofy, warm looking plaid that is sold fol-
SO a yard without minutes waiting
Other braves buy of her, sending whis-
Ky and tobacco to Big Chunk in pay
ment.
Several of Big Chunks wives are
practical farmers, fishing and hunting
for him and tilling the ground. They
make farming implements and plough
plant crops. raise vegetables and do a:
a farmer and his sons would do for The
women o. the family. When Bis
Chunk wants TO go on journey, hi
takes them along 10 build RATS for hin
and carry him and carry the baggage
Big Chunk has never Travelled by rail
road. His horse, with The sQuaws walk
ing in the rear, are enough for him
He knows they will run fast enough t
Overtake MIN by night and set the ten
poles.
About year ago Big Chunk notice,
that ne was unpopular with his friends
the other Indian braves When the!
gathered al a camp fire and sat in
circle with hands under the robe play
ing Button. button he noticed tina
the button was never passed TO him
After awhile he found out the cause
II was because yellow Ram and Dirego
TWO OF the hardest working wives. wer
stealing whisky and choice bits of mea
for him. He was much incensed. bu
promised to beat each woman with
tent pole until she promised never Il
repeat the offense.
The oldest feature in the life of thes
Indian families occurs in June at tn
! anniversary of the death Of Gen. Custer
As this date approaches the wive
gather more closely around their bril-
liant and adored head. There are whis
perings from tent to tent, and all fee
that the time for yearly anxiety has ar
rived The squaws know that at thi
time the feeling against the Indian
runs highest, and they have a fear tina
at this late day the massacre Of Custe
may be avenged by the white men.
1t is unlikely that the government
agents will succeed in scattering tn
wives of the braves. Or in combining an.
Indian under the sun TO one suuaw
And il is certain that the annual gath
! ering in Washington will be saddenet
if Big Horse. Rain-in-the-Da Dark and Vel
low Chief have TO buy only one plan
cover for a squaw's shawl instead of tn
dozen or so they now yearly purchase
CLARENCE S. RUSSELL.