The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-11
The Story Of the
Medicine Arrow.
Couple of Cowboy Artist RusseIrs
Paintings. Illustrating AN Indian
Legend, Reproduced.

~ russell, the cowboy artist of Mon
tana. The reproduction. which is /
splendid piece of mechanical art. show
ing excellent press work, also ap
pears as frontispieee To the magazine
II is drawn from imaginati ton to pro.
duce a scene in tradition of young
inulah VINO is receiving advice from al
aged squaw whose people had lone
since retired to the happy hunting
grounds. He sits on the bank of a
river holding his head between his
hands. presenting a picture OF abject
despair, while the old woman's bent
FORM stands near him, her arm pointing
10 u far OF mountain where she advises
/ the youth to go and consult the Great
! spirit. In the background is a group
of tepees, the lodgings of the young
| mans people. who ridcule him and call
him squaw because his luck is against
/ nm and he is compelled to carry word
! To his fathers lodge. 1t is with hopes
of gaining bravery and wisdom that he
! follows the old Womans advice and
/ Journeys to the mountain indicated.
There he consults the Great Chief, who
sends him to a higher mountain, on the
| peak of which dwells a tribe of little
wise men,
The next picture, also by Mr.. Rus
sell, represents the little wise men
spears in hand, about tn attack the
stranger. He exposes his breast and
defies them To advance. saying that he
death. The great white owl that stands
by the chiefs seat, calls to the young
man, and, after listening to his story
presents him with medicine arrow
and instrcts him as to what to do with
IT.. This painting is also cleverly repro
duced. The story of the Medicine Ar
row" which is Illustrated by Russell. is
written by II. Nelson of Cascade Mont,
and follows:
Long after the white man came there
lived young Indian whose trail was
Swallowed by evil fortune who never
had luck at the chase or hunt on re-
turned game laden 10 the lodge of his
father. Squaw.' the people called him,
and the women laughed at him.
"One evening, when his heart was on
the ground. he sat by the river. weep
ing and longing to change his luck, for
he felt that his medicine was not
good. soon an old squaw who had seen
many winters, and whose people had
long since passed To the happy hunting
grounds. came To the stream FOR water,
and, seeing the young mans grief,
asked him kindly why ne was so sad
He told her that he was never fortu-
nate, and his arrow always missed its
mark.
BE not disheartened.' she said Go
To the Big Chief mountain. the home of
the Great Spirit, and ask Him what
you shall do
length one evening. on reaching the
summit of a high mountain he saw the
old man, the Father of EVerytning VINO
gazed at him compassionately saying:
What is troubling you, my child, and
in what way can | help YOU
The youth told the story of his mis-
fortunes. while the old man smoked his
great pipe in thoughtful silence: then
slowly taking ii from his lips he said
impressiVely: Back in the mountains
there is a tribe of wise little people who
can help YOU. Go to them, for they are
great medicine makers.
So again the young man iourneyed
III quest OF fortune. and another even
ing reached a mountain high up among
the clouds, where the Vapor was so
thick that he felt lost and bewildered.
All at once he heard tiny chanting
voices. and, as he listened. the clouds
gradually raised from the peak, reveal
ing circle of diminutiVe warriors At
the chiefs seat stood "A large white owl
who held long medicine pipe Upon
seeing the stranger, the little warriors
instantly Sprang to their feet. grasped
their lances and rushed toward the in
truder, shouting their death song. Loud
and clear our heros voice rang out
with the others; then. standing fear
lessly, with his arms thrown down /
ward exposing his breast. he told them
that he was not a woman and did not
fear death
The Owl then called back his peo- /
pie. told the young man TO seat him. :
self in the circle of their council and .
the Peace Pipe was given him to
What question would YOU
ask Of us?' inquired the owl We are \
wise and may help YOU.
My brothers said the youth sadly.
are successful in the hunt and chase: I
they have bravery and Kill and are
loved by our maidens. |, alone, am .
never lucky. and am forced to carry
wood and water for my fathers lodge. (
while the women laugh and call me
'squaw.'
When the tale was finished. the OWL
drew from his CULVER a medicine arrow
and. giving it TO the young man, told
10 return to his people. On the way
however, he must 60 to the river and
wait by the waters edge at evening
after the sun had gone to his lodge
until ne should hear something moving
IN the water. Then he must shoot 1t
With his arrow. and the skin of The ami
mai Killed must be Worn in his hair.
ienceforth he would he lucky. for his
medicine would be good. Thus. with
hope, he left them and iourneyod
swiftly To the river, where he crouched
silently on the bank in waiting.
At last he heard the Mater splashing
and, trembling with excitement. drew
he tManGing howstrng. sending the
arrow spinning To its mark For the
first time in his life he anew his aim
1aa been true and he FASTENED towards
The sound of struggiings in the blue
iepths. Twas an otter that he eNult-
lntlN drew from the stream: an offers
skin that he cut i'll strips 10 braid in
his hair.
From that day the sun shune i'm the
taung mans heart. He no longer SUI
7efed from the ieerS OF his tribe for he
Guild now wear the feathers of an IN
Ian brave. His returns from The hunt
III trail We're ever welcomed: feastS
acre given in his honor and his skin
became nrovorbial. And thus II is that
very Indian now wears the furry strips
+ otter skin. and the wisdom Of the
White owl * unquestioned among the
indians Of the North
Frankly Observation-Disclosures do Van
mink, asked the young political rcono-
mist, is the most difficult problem thar
eeial conditions in this country pre-
put