The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1897-01-09
THE INDIAN HUSBAND.
He Tends Baby ard IL an Example for
PaIefnce FatherB.

He TENDS lady GEu In an EAhhtPAO "
P~aIefnce FatherS.
1t is interesting to hear a white wom-
nm declare that Indian women are not
SO badly treated by their husbands as
is believed generally. Miss Alice
Fletcher, who is one of the
most eminent students of eth
Dology in the country, defends
the Indian in many respects in which
he has been subjected to severe crlti-
cism. She first became acquainted
with Indian and customs
when she toe part in the opening of
indian mounds in different parts of the
country, from Florida to Maine. Then
she made up her mind to live among
them, so that she could obtain a cor
rect knowledge of them in their most
abode with the DalIctas, some 90 years
ago., and Learned more about Indian
nature from close observation than any
other white woman in America.
With regard to the habits of the In
dams, and the supposition that they are
dirty in their persons, Miss Fletcher
says that she has found them neater
and cleaner than white people so sit
uated would be.
Indians have no stationary bathtubs,
with hot and cold running water. They
have to carry every drop they use from
some creek in the neighborhood. Hence
they are not SO ready to wash as they
might be otherwise. They are far away
from civilization, living in II room, or
tent. Every article they use in their
domestic economy must be brought
n long distance, and is therefore cost
ly and hard to get. The Indians have
no money and no wa of earning any
AS a consequence they do not buy many
cooking utensils.
How does the squaw clean house?
She does it frequently and effectively,
according to Miss Fletcher. She selects
a new patch of ground where she thinks
it would be pleasant and convenient
to pitch a tent Then she has the tent
removed to it and pitched, inside out.
Thus the side that was before washed
by the rain and bleached by the sun
is turned inward, and h Soiled,
smoked side that was the walls and roof
of the old home is exposed to the rain
and sum and in due time becomes clean
enough for another reversal. The earth
floor is clean, and it only remains for
the household belongings to be swept
and transferred. This is the moving
that is done, and there. is no cranky
landlord to find fault with the state Of
the old home, or demand rent In ad-
vance for the new.
Talking about the behavior of Indian
men TO their squaws, Miss Fletcher
declares that the husbands are affec-
ticnate in their home circles, and par.
ticularly afHectionate to the children.
\ bold warrior will often walk the
hoor all night, trying to soothe a fretfuI
child, while the wife slumbers calmly,
just as we hear of their doing In white
american families. The Indian is q
good husband, as a rule, because If he
does not behave himself the wife has
the privilege of Diminishing him, and
finding some n else to taxi his place.
Indians are a merry people in private
life, in spite of all that is said of their
imperturbable gravity. Your Indian en-
joys n joke as much as anyone, and
there are plenty of jests among them
selves in the security of their villages
away from Caucasian observation.
1t appears hat the Indian woman is
not in as good a position now as she
in the old days, on account of the
ways of the white people obtaining a
hold among the red men. Miss Fletcher
says that an old warrior came I o her
enc day with tears in his eyes and i'm
plored her to save the Indian
Said hei
1--WE don't want to SEQ them degrade
to the position held by the white wives
of the white men."-N. Y. Press.