The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-22
CAPT. CUSS0NS
ON THE RED MAN.
Defends Him From the Charge Of
Cruelty and Treachery.
GEN MAURYS HUMOROUS SPEECH
His Experience as an Extcmporaneous
Spcakcr--Entertain Addresses
Before the Woman's Club
Last Evening.

Yesterday afternoon the large auulehCo
which gathered at the Womans Club
enjoyed one OF the most delightful pro-
grammes which has ever been presented
thero-those two gallant soldiers, General
Dabney Maury and Captain John Gus
sons. being the contributors to It. The
subject announced last week was 1.-THE
Indian I'm Literature and Legend How
I ever Captain Cussons abandoned that In
! his spirited. rational and c.Oquent de-
| Tense OF the Red Man from the charge
OF cruelty revengefulnoss. and treachery,
and may be said 20 have presented him
! from the standpoint OF fact as he knows
! Il to be from long life on the frontier.
! Mrs. LEROY chairman for the evening.
/ introduced the two gentlemen, merely.
! she gracefully stated for forms saks and
| because they insisted upon IL
GENERAL MAURY.
General Maury then, amid applause.
/ took his place upon the rOstrum, and Gre.
( ated much amusement by his witty allu-
! sion 10 his inability 10 speak extempo-
| raneOusly. lie told in this connection the
story of how. some years ago. being in
vitod 90 speak. De had written his speech
and tried through mouths 10 learn It 10y
heart. When the time approached, how
ever. he was So overcome by nervousness
that he took the nOrth-bound train and
left tine city. but was sstOnishcd TO sec
in the next mornings paper an account
OF tho eloquent and stirring address o.
General Dabncy il. Maury." OaughteD.
He then had the following 10 say.
Your kindness iu asking me TO tell
YOU about the North American Indians
embarrasscs me. for 10 rs founded upon
the belief that ! know. a great deal
about those Indians. whereas the fact Is
that / know only what is bad IN them
and il will be unfair TO such unfortu-
nate people 20 tell only what IS bad in
their nature. 7 share the sentiments Of
all mon of the United States army whose
official life has been passed ia dealing
with these, our natural enemies. For 200
years We have known them only as male
factors of the most vengeful and cruel
nature. We have taken from them their
country. destroyed their homes and hunt
cd them down as beasts Of prey. After
generations OF our people have been born
and lived and died in this antagonism.
IL is no wonder that the brutal sentl-
mont Of one ~ the most ruthless OF
American commanders has found eN-
preston in the aphorism:
There is no good Indian but dead
Indian"
AS my observation Of these unhappy
people furnishes no exception % this YER
dict. ! have been most fortunate In secur-
ing for your instruction this evening
gentlemen who has probably observed
and studied the Indian character more
thoroughly than any man now living. Ny
function ladies. is 10 introduce 20 YOU
our neighbor. Captain John Cussons. VINO
was for many years their guest and COM
rade- fought under Joe Johnston. Lee ana
Forrest. and after all his long experiences
has decided 10 become a Nirginian ana
live amongst us Permit me 20 intro'
ducc 10 YOU Captain John Cussons. OF
Glen Allen Va.
CAPTAIN CCSSONS.
Spirited applause followed General
Maurvs brief address and preceded that
OF Captain Cussons. whose virile presence
seemed TO stimulate enthusiasm. Is he
took his place he and General Maury eN-
changed some laughable asides chat were
much enjoyed by the audience Revert
ing To his first meeting with the Indians
Of the I.akOtah tribe i'm 1854. he brought
facts 10 bear TO support all the eloquent
arguments. which he presented I'm refu-
tation OF the bitter charges brought
against the Indian as mentioned above.
lie told OF his novel Introduction 10 an
Indian home. of the hOspitable treatment
be received and of the kindness when
was bestowed upon him by the very In
dian who later betrayed Custer 10 his
death. He showed by the citation OF
touching incident. how mercy does dwell
I'm the bOsoms Of these people who have
not known. as we know. the incentives
To mercy that come through love ana
knowledge of the All Mercitul, but the
of u iffh created most
enthusiasm was that which defended The
Indian from thu charge of tiCachery lt
pleased the white man 90 style treachcry,
what WAS no more than the interplay Of
ambuscade" and aroused shouts Of laugh
ter and rounds OF applause by saying
that II 10 OutWit an enemy I'm war by
clever manoeuvrcs was TO lie then
Thomas Jonathan Jackson told Tie
sixty miles long three days before the
battle of Manassas. when he failed 20
meet his enemies where they expected
TO meet him. Ills humorous illusions 10
the strategic genius of General Jackson
were much enjoyed and his feeling and
beautiful reference TO the death of that
gallant and gifted leader was responded
10 by more applause. His reference 10
tho murder" Of Sitting Bull was full
OF feeling and his peroration was eloquent
and striking
GUESTS or THE CHAlRMEN.
The audience included as guests OF the
chairman Mr. Thomas Boiling. Mrs. Rich
ard Maury Mrs j. II. Montague. Mr. J.
H. Montague. IT.. DR. James y. McCaw,
Mrs. and Miss scott Major Robert stiles,
Miss Tompkins. and Mrs. ----- Gibson.
Tea was served by Mrs William L. Shcp-
pard. Mrs. Thomas j. Moore and Mrs.
John Hunter
Or Macmillan T. r. Groszmann. will
lecture on Thursday evening at the club
NJ $50 o'clock on The Ethics of Child
study"
On account Of Mrs. Caskie Cabells
absence from town. her Current Events
class at the Woman"s Club will meet on
Thursday afternoon instead Of Wednes-
day.
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