The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-08-21

demeanor of the big men to the right and
left of him. 1t was funny to see this
mites painstaking imitation of a great
braves dignity. When the time came to
dance he danced and shouted Tin his
shril1 childish treble) just as they did.
Last of all the Sioux, in war bonnets and
wampum, and the Apaches, wearing beau
tiful blankets of brilliant hue, filed into
place They walked with immense dig
nifty and no one with so much dignity
as the last man, who wore soft hat
stuck with feathers and proudly wrapped
about him a new patchwork quilt. No
doubt he felt himself better dressed than
White Buffalo, just before him, who had
a magnificent blanket, fresh from the
dyer red and blue and yellow in most
cunning patterns.
The dance promptly began; the drums
beating, the singers singing and the dane
ers rushing and leaping into the ring.
They jumped about. at first slowly, then
with wilder gyrations, swinging their
harmless wands, which they bore in lieu
of weapons, and droning a monotonous
song of triumph. And all around them
their ponies graZed, while a buffalo, per-
haps doomed to be the mainstay of some
future feast, solemnly watched them from
his stockade; and the golden domes of the
dream city by the lagoon caught the
sunset light.
After the dance three of the chiefs were
introduced, -Who-Went-to-W War, Big
Brace and Gray Eagle. Gray Eagle is a
young chief and very handsome and the
master Of ceremonies remarked that "the
girls had a good deal to do with Gray
Eagles election" which would imply
that human nature is still very human,
even when the sex is supposed to be most
truly subjugated Gray Eagle must have
understood English, for he suppressed a
smile and shot a glance at the squaws
near US, who promptly giggled Big
Brave in one battle with warning tribe
killed nine warriors. Or, to use the
archer's words, me had nine scalps 10 his
credit
Man-Who- Went-to-War was splendid
looking brave, with a face of the tradi-
tional melancholy and dignity Of the In
dian. He listened as the archer described
the part which he took IN the Custer mas
sacre. Man Who Went-to- War says that
| after the first charge when Custer found
| the force against him and gave hack the
Indians would have retired. They did not
! want to kill Custer, who was esteemed
! among them as a brave man; but when
| Custer charged again, they became angry
| land In that one wild charge up the hill
/ they killed every soldier"
When the archer had made an end, he
! turned to Man-Who-W ent-to- War, expect
| ing him to retire; instead the Indian burst
/ into an impassioned food OF oratory in
| his own tongue The white audience po-
| litely applauded; and the archer inter-
| preted that Man Who Went-toWar had
| said that It was all right for the white man
| to have this country, but that seeing that
the white man had come to this country
! from across the seas where he had not
! had room enough TO live, he might at
| least allow his red brother standing room
| here. as much room as he had left in the
| old land "He says he would like some
| time to talk TO you about three hours on
| these subjects said the archer, and
! there was a laugh. Yet there was touch
Of pathos in the attitude of the lonely old
| warrior of a doomed race. who fought
| until fighting was hopeless; and, now, In
| n strange land. among hiY alien foes, Is
only part of an idle show.
I had an interview of my own with
Big Brave l met him on the plaza near
| a candy stand. / said How because
understand from the novels that sucii u
the polite salutation for an indian. he
renlied. rather 10 my surprise, simply
| Yes ma am"
DO you speak English2' said I.
He shook his head How YEP said he
| and he smiled affably
would you like some candy SAID l.
yes maan," said he
I bought him some candy, ~hlch NJ
shared with the others. Then, through
the interpreter ne asked my halhe =, 1 IN
extended his hand with speech IN IN
dian which l would have given some
| ching 10 have understood And then We
narted But when he saw me again OF
the ground he said, How yeE IN
friendly fashion.
AZ this is the extent of my persona
intercourse with the unfortunate rev
men | do not feel equal 10 any moran re-
fectiveness. So far, however, as we San
them they seemed TO have poiieeH '
Of their own. They were quiet ana as
tirct1v friendly. At night we saw the
Apache medicine dance. 1t would be marc
10 Imagine n wilder scene. Great hres %
wood built into cones were blazing, aIle
aho,lt them leaned the masked and nahee
forms of the Indians, their heads sur
mounted by the huge painted CROSSES "
tho medicine" Ali about them on ms
grass were dark forms OF Indians, men
women and children. \ warrior sat ned
me holding his baby boy and taking
at intervals to his wife VINO sat hedi
With an older child. He might have beer
an American father, for anything IN ms
information and gesture. His wife laugh
ed over something he said, just as he
pale-face sister who belongs TO women
club and doesn't mind keeping her lore
waiting might laugh. And the dart
head with the feathers and the race VIII
it's war paint was bent over the chilt
. and the little form was carefully SHIFTED
quite as If he were a white father ant
loved his little boy
| ann told by those who know the lndial
best that he has warm family directions
That night l was disposed TO belleVe lh'
, story.
The Indian encampment Is TO grow
more interesting all the time. There is {
be a succession of the great traditional
Indian feasts, and the tribes themselve
. are becoming excited and eager TO cele
brate them on a large scale. The famou
sun dance of the Sioux, the dog feast o
the Rlackfeet the ghost dances, the medi
cine dances are only few of the spec
tacles that will be given. To the stu
dent, however the keenest interest vii
attach to the Indians daily life and In
} dustry, and such an opportunity to stud
it first hand has never been given an
never can be given again. The schoo
work, the farm work, the rude begin
nings of manufacture. these will be Of
exhibition. And, at the same time, on
} can see from ten to twenty tribes, a
r different from each other as American
f are different from Cubans. or Turks fror
| Frenchmen, who will live together wit
2 the doors open.
r An Eastern friend writes to me, as tn
2 Omaha Exposition worth a journey fror
l the seaboard?" / answered her, 9TH
f Indian Encampment, alone, is worth tn
Journey" OCTAVE THANET.
e THE WORLDS ALLUREMENTS