The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-04-14
Stories of an Inland State.


pose of civi.izing her red brethren In
subsequent conversations with the Agent
Louis Holding, she would always turn the
| conversation this way. II his was, In
| deed. a superior race, her Indian pride told
| her that the Indian must be brought up to
| il. Herein she argued differently from all
| previous Indian leaders. The common In
dian argues that his race Is the superior
race and If there is to be any changes the
| white race must come to the Indians
usages.
II was a peculiarly Of Misty Dawn that
she argued in no such way. She felt the
superiority OF the white race keenly and
knew that the Indian must adopt the man.
| ners and customs Of their white guardians.
The Agent found that Misty Dawn might
become very valuable officer in his ad-
ministration. She exercised a peculiar
power over the Indians, not from harsh
hess or from persuasion, but because she
could do anything and remain exempt from
retaliation from the Indians. The reason
the Indians did not strike back at her was
| because she was woman, and the very
effrontery of woman defying them stun
ned and disconnected them.
AS assistant of Miss Ames in the Indian
school she began most curious set of re-
forms.
She would post herself in the room with
a wet towel and basin full of water When
the pupils were seated in the morning Misty
Dawn would look them over with an eagle
eyes and If she found one who had not wash
ed his face or combed his hair she would
sweep down on him, basin and towel in
hand, and roughly wash him. The Indian
children resented this, but they could do
Misty Dawn, they never omitted washing,
before this reform had been on its feet a
month.
Then Misty Dawn, 10 the intense amuse-
ment of Miss Ames who had laughed her
self hysterical over the washing process,
began another civilizing movement.
The Agent had told Misty Dawn to hold
herself straight. He had related TO her
that white women were proud of their
forms, their step, their carriage, their pos
lures.
So Misty Dawn surveyed the Indian girls
and resolved on action. She saw that there
was not an Indian girl in the school who
did not squat down in her seat in a state of
fabby collapse, the chest falling forward,
the spine bent, the arms listless and the
head sinking lazily down between bumped
shoulders.
It now became Misty Dawn's self-consti-
tuted duty to walk around the room and
straighten these girls up. She punched
them vigorously in the back, pulled their
heels together, lifted their ch:ns and made
them hold their books in both hands. With
discouraging frequency the girls would
collapse. With the impetuosity of a tiger
Misty Dawn would sweep down upon the
offender, punch her in the back and
straighten her out again.
This was a difficult task. The girls would
forget TO remain straight. It was part of
their Indian nature to sit loosely and vul-
carly and Misty Dawn's reform was some
times in danger of complete failure. But
with a persistency which was a source Of
infinite amusement to the teacher, Miss
Ames, Misty Dawn at last succeeded In
breaking the ugly, ungraceful Indian pos
ture in the school.
Having learned from the Agent, Louis
Holding, that the single-file in walking was
purely Indian and that the white man and
woman walked in pairs, Misty Dawn turn
ed her attention to another reform.
1t became a frequent spectacle on the
streets to see Misty Dawn rush UP to sim
gle file of girls moving leisurely along. one
behind the other, take one by the arm and
push her forward to her sister; another
roughly by the waist and bring her along
side to her brother. If il were necessary,
Misty Dawn would follow them home, max
ing them keep this style of march.
Holding knew all this and was intensely
interested in the girls endeavor, wondering
much at her and her zeal.
The Indians looked upon her with won
der fearful of offending her, just why they
could not tell
But Misty Dawn now turned her atten-
ton to the older Indians and trouble en-
sued.
She had discovered that the Creator had
Intended that the legs should stand straight
and even so that locomotion should be ae-
complished with ease and grace. Try as
she would by Strengthening their spines and
throwing their shoulders back she could
not improve the carriage of the Indian
girls She would stoop before them and
pun their legs around, make them Mold
themselves erect, but when she had once
let them go, the old wobble in their walk
would come back. The cause was beyond
heartily and said:
Misty Dawn, have you noticed their
toes?'
: Suc hIrNs IAO~s lIlS liOuDlC. Inc
girls toes pointed in. That was the rea-
son their legs did not move trinity.
She also discovered that her toes did not
turn in and wondered thereat.
But she knew the secret now and began
to work. But the poor Indian girls could
not bow TO her wishes here. Try as they
would to please her. fearful as they were
of her commands, their toes would point in,
in spite Of them.
Misty Dawn soon discovered that the
girls were not disobedient; that they could
net help themselves.
She sat down and devoted much thought
20 the problem.
She was almost discouraged: Indians
must remain Indians" she concluded.
Then she thought OF something, and,
thinking Of it, started out quickly on a cam
paign.
In and out Of the wigwams she went,
creating CONSERVATION everywhere. She
spared no one. calling officially at every
wigwain and doing her duty without mercy.
The sQuaws became angry. One or two
followed her beraiing her loudly, but she
did not answer these, merely turning into
the next wigwam. Then more squaws join
ed the procession, all talking bitterly and
loudly.
Ho6ing, the Agent. noticed the commo-
ton and followed with the irate Indian
sQuaws. What could that girl be doing
now?
HIS asked the women. but tkey were so
angry they did not answer him
Misty Dawn went into wigwam. The
angry group waited for her on the out
SIDE Presently she came back again and
tossed a few soft corn husks on the ground
A young fuli-blood. her eyes flashing fire,
sprang out Of the vigwan and plunged for
Misty Dawn.
Misty Dawn turned upon her, calm,
straight, commanding