The Van Buren press., 1897-12-25
ABOUTINDIAN DOLLS.
Piece of Human Scalp Fastened {
Their Heads for Wig.


Their Heads for IA Wig.
Talking about Indians said the
Man on the Cracker-Box, Il haven't
lived at the foot of reservation for 30
years without knowing something
about the critters, nor eaten dog at
their feasts for nothin'. l tell you
they are a sealy lot, but what | want to
know is: Would we folks be any better
in their placer
He got up to weigh out pound OF
dried apple and another of crackers
for squaw who came in softly, her
moceasined feet making a sound like
the footballs of cat. She did not look
at the row of braves sitting along the
counter. but when she received her
two packages she weighed them one in
each hand and shook her frowsy head.
Him too big" she said, indicating
the crackers. Him too little point
ing to the dried apples.
well, what yer goin' te do about
it?' drawled the Man of the Cracker
Box, resuming the Office of whiting
an ak helve out of stick of hickory.
"You'ye got pound of each-now git"
Mrs. Squaw went off muitering, and
the passengers who were waiting for
the stage to Blair said:
..should think you'd be afraid of be-
ing scalped.
Am. | expect every morning to wake
up with a tomahawk in my bosom, but
sass back just the same. Talking OF
scalping, they had scalping bee up at
the reservation few months ago, but
this time they sealped one of their own
kind. Did it for reyenoo only and made
a mess of it. got mixed up with it in
noeently myself an like to lost my own
bangs. ! tell you it do make heap of
difference whose dogs tail the tin can
is tied to, an Pawnees and Shoshones
are as partieler as any other folks"
He stuffed his pipe full Of killikinick
and touched a match to it. After a few
whiffs, during which the Indians filed
out on their way to the reservation, he
resumed:
@The ladies up at the reservation-I
mean the ones who wear leggins and
blankets-got up a sewing circle to
make dolls for fair in some church in
the east. 1t appears that Indian dolls
sell at these places like hot cakes, so
they sent out for hundred or two,
and it just stood the whole reserve on
its head The first knew of it an old
seuaw, as homely as hedgehog and as
old as Methusalem, came in here and
wanted to trade off one of 'em for a
pound of sugar.
"'You must be sick ] says, to think
I want craven image like that round
my store'-for it's mine when the boss
isn't here-and l told her had enough
Indian in mine now. Then she tells me
to look at its hair-and, would you be-
lieve it, that there doll had two long
braids of real Indian hair tied with two
bits of red flannel for ribbon, and
sewed on the critters head by piece OF
real scalp. Whewl 1t made me feel
kind of faint, and | says: Take the
blame thing away. But she prosecuted
me for that sugar till she got it, and
left the doll for pay. And that night a
squaw came in and threatened to toma
hawk me if | didn't give ii up, for she
said it was her son Paul Something they
had scalped, getting him drunk first
and then taking off the crown of hi.
head as neatly as if il was done with t
moving machine. And was tha
tickled, | said: We'll, ma'am, how dc
you like ii yourself? And with tha'
she flung a hatchet at me and grabbed
up the doll and skipped. 1t came neal
bringing out the United States troops
for The man that was scalped was {
Blackfoot, and they like TO have had aI
uprising. You can't never tell what 81
Indian won't do. | think | hear III,
stage a-coming.'
did the church fair in the east ge'
the dolls?" asked The passenger, as h,
prepared to leave.
''Every one, and wanted heap more
Ever see an Indian doll? They're the
blamed cutest thing out. Made of rags
and dressed in a regulation suitof buck.
skin, with fringed breeches and real
moccasins, an like an Indian as two
peas. An here's queer fact. They
allus toe in, just like them critters them
selves. I've had heaps of them offered
here by the squaws, but the boss won't
take 'em for currency; nuther will |.
Why. an old grandam will snatch an
Indian papoose's doll and bring it here
TO trade off. There's allus the long
hair with bit of scalp sticking to it,
and the owner of the same likely to
come in and claim it. So you're of
well, come again when you can't stay
slong. Chicago Times Herald.