The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-05
THE INDIAN HUSBAND.



Palefsce FatherA
It is interesting to hear a white WON
an declare that Indian women are not
so badly treated by their husbands a
is believed generally. Miss Alice
Fletcher. who is ono OF the
most eminent students o; eth
biology in tho country, defends
the Indian in many respects IN which
ha has been subjected TO severe Oiti-
cis1n- She first became acquainted
with Indian manners and customs
when she took part In the opeaing of
Indian mounds in different parts OF the
country. from Florida to Maine. Then
she made up her mind 10 live among
them. so that she could obtain COR
rect knowledge of them in their most
intimate relations. She took up her
abode with the Dakotas, some 20 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 arc
dirty in their. persons. Miss Fletcher
gays that she has found them neatcr
and cleaner than white people 30 ait
uated would beL
Indians have no stationary bathtubs,
with hot and cold running water. They
have to carry every drop they use from
some creek in the eighborhood. Hence
they are not SO ready to wash as they
might be otherwise. They are far away
from civilization, living in one room. or
tent Every article they use in their
domestic economy must be brought
a long distance, and is therefore cost
j. and hard to get The Indians have
no money and no way of earning any.
As consequence they do not buy many
cooking utensils.
How does the sguaw clean house?
She does it frequently and effectively.
according TO Miss Fletcher. She selects
a new patch Of ground where she thinks
1t would be plsasant and convemicnt
to pitch a tent. Then she has the tent
removed 10 it and pitched. inssde oue.
Thus tina side that was before washed
by the rain and b1eSched by the sun
is turned inward, and the soiied,
of the old home Is exsosed 20 the rain
and sun. and in due time becomes clean
enough for smother reversal. The earth
floor is clean, and # only remains for
the household belongings to be swept
and transferred. This - the moving
that is done, and there Is no cranky
landlord to find faIlt with Yhe state Of
the old home, or deGzanl1 rent In I'd,
vance for the new.
Talking about the behavior OF Indian
men TO their squsws, M1xs Eletoher
declsres that the husbands are a6ec-
ticnste In their homo circles, and par
ticularly affectionate to the children
a bold warrior viii Often walk the
floor all night, tryingso socthe fretfsl
child. while tho wife slumbers calmly,
Just as we hear of their doing in white
American families. Tho Indian is q
good husband, as a rule. because II he
does not behave himself tho wife has
the privileges Of dismissip9 him, and
finding some one else to take his place.
Indians are a merry people in private
Liza in spite Of all thai Il said OF their
impcrturbable era~fty. Your Indian en-
joys q joke - much az apyone> and
there arc plenty of tests among them
selves In the security OF their villages
away from Caucasian observation.
1t appears that the Indian woman II
not in as good Q position now - she
was Ia tho Old cayE, on account OF tho
ways of the whitn people obtaining a
hold among the rod men Miss Fletcher
nys that an old warTiW eams 10 her
che day with tears IN his eyes and I'M
plored her 20 save the Indian WOMEN.
Said he.
we don't want 20 80 them degra6s
TO the position he'd by thowhfte wives
Of the white men.".N. Y. prxaa