The morning times., 1896-05-03
THESE RED MEN
HAVE WHITE HEARTS
Mrs. M. {. Steyenson's Experiences Among Old
Time Rulers of the Plains.
|ONE WOMAN WHO Is NOT AFRAID Oh THEM
How They Live and Their Peculiar Affection for and Devotion
to Family TieS-Knd to Their Women and Children.

Col. Stevenson persuaded them TO have
smoke, after which they might talk the
matter over. Do you know THAT occupation
OF Smokingi IS the most pa aciTyIng thing man
can engage in? The Indians always speak
OF the peace pipe, you .now, they Daye dis
covered its value t seems.
After the genial smoke our men sug-
gested to them that as they knew more
about the grass land around than We it
would be good idea for them To take our
horses to pasture with theirs. That set
tied the compact. We were lodging trust
with them, and the Indian rarely betrays
confidence. So these warriors remained
our guests for three days. And would you
believe it. they left US then and rode twelve
miles further on and massacreed q large
party OF whites. So you see we Rad rea-
son 10 fear them on that OCCASION
The interviewer remarked that all the
Indians who came 10 Washington looked as
though it would seriously Inconvenience
them TO smile.
Now, really, said the questioner, did
you ever see an Indian jolly? You have
lived around their homes with them aud
ought to- know
Jolly, lively, witty? No; that style OF
individuality is removed to- the other ex-
treme of civilization and is hardly TO be
thought OF in connection with the Indian.
But they have their hours of relaxation
With HuiilOT SOIuetllIe5 GTeeilS IN. talking
over the camp fire of hunts. Just as the
white man does. Human nature is at the
bottom the same the world over.
what sort of family men are they, them"
"Oh, they are most faithful as a hus-
band, they are devoted fathers and loyal
friends They have the primitive virtues,
and haven learned TO excuse themselves for
this slip or that from the path Of honor
as they see it,
devoted fathers. you say? How IOes the
paternaI instinct express itself, for in
stance?''
We'll, very naturally. The moment
warrior comes in from the hunt the first
thing he does is TO catch up his baby aud
toss II tIIi il hicks and crows. He bestOwS
all sorts OF triiles on the httIe red fell
low aHu will cot let the collector buy up
such things, no matter how much is offered.
/ One must wait till the baby is big enough
TO give his consent -
And how is the Indian as lover9 Do
the men propOSe?''
Yes. indeed; the new woman idea has not
penetrated the savage breast, - said the in
foTmant. with shake Of her head The
I warrior Is the active party in matrimonial
aspirations. First he speaks 10 the girls
parents, and If they consent she usually
answers in the affirmative. About two
months are spent in preparation. the moe
caSInS, blankets, dress, and other parts OF
the wardrobe being provided by the clans
I OF his father and mother. the clans Of the
gilr's parents arrange for the feast that
. occur after the marriage. and it is the
tribal custom Tor the groom 10 leave his
own clan and live with the family of his
wife"
To know that every warrior from Pow
hatdn down TO the very last OF the Mo-
hicsSns had been subject 10 the thraldom
of a savage mother in-la V was Overwhelm-
inc 80, mi n
engagiugly. as though aware of an IN
sPONru question:.
1 You viii want to know how an Indian
Gtt~ rl WfJh his mOther-iu-l&w. CCntin-
/ ued Mrs. Stevenson, with a twinkle in her
dark eyes. We'll, if he is good to his
wife and children. and does his share OF
hiITiiH@ ~ue treats him Is though she were,
inday,I his mother, but iESt let him have
a bad heart and a crooked tongue; why
then Sis. ~COId> him. and. If he is very
worthless, drives him from the eIan.''
/ ''Do Indiau women gossip
+ Il don't believe / have ever been asked
that question before said she "Oh YES,
they gOsSip-SOmetiIres- You will see OC-
CaSiOnally a group OF old women shaking
their heads and Gathering together about
~t,-r,s. ai-i .u''s- tlla- While they are bOutiJ
auo' her woman will probably come along
AMI speak good word for the absent one.
JUS as it m ight happen here
! What kind of time do these old maids
haveoo''
There are no Old maids in the Indian
nation. That seems funny. does il not2''
"Idyllic and extraordinary. But do the
young girls flirt?''
These are certainly archaeological
guest ION but interesting Let me see.
shoulI say their opportunity Is rather linn
ire-, but they make the most of il when It
comes. Now, here is a picture for you,
for instance. Every evening at sunset the
girls of the Sia pueblo go To the wells
to draw water. and if the young buck has
a fancy for any especial maid he is more
than likely at sunset to hang around that
we'll"
Exactly so, very paintahle; but the wo-
man is doing the work all the time What
other work do women dO?'f
"A great deal. They are notiders. There
is no employment in pueblo life that the
women aud children so enjoy as the process
of hOusebuilding. When il was known in
Sia that ] wanted the ground under my ten
hardened the entire female population ap
pcared at the camp ready for work, anC
for two days the wind waited over tht
plains the merry sounds of their chatter
Besides building. the women gather TIT
crops, make pottery and attend to house
hold affairs"