Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-02-14
NsLLIE rwo ssAas.
KDucArlox OF AN INDIAN PRINCESS AM
HER RELArsE INTO BARRARrTY.

~
In trying to make the Indian civilized BY
education, and who Is not hostile entire
" 70 the Ideas inculcatedAt Carlisle and
Hampton, has this TO say about the fate
of the youth who forget their teachings
and become savsges again:
at 10 our belief that the educated
youths should not be sent back to their
people 10 aid In educating them into
white mems ways, because they fall ut
terly aud always In 20 doing. We are
Of the opinion that the boys and girls OF
Indian blood should have homes found
for them in the Eastern and Middle
States where In course OF few genera
tions they would be absorbed. II sepa-
rate allotmeuts Of lands 10 the Indians
generally IL good thing, segregation OF
the Individual and removal from nomadic
life altogether would be better.
"when asked TO give reasons for these
beliefs we point to the Apache hid, to
the history of scores OF pupils from
famous schools, to the conduct Of grad
yates during the ghost dances aud at
Wounded Knee, to the revertsl to bar
barism OF hundreds Of women who had
special educational and domestic advan-
tsees by the schools, to the misery OF In
termarriages between educated Indians
and whites, and 10 the lack OF evidence
Of the working Of the alleged leaven Of
education in leavening the lump OF
aboriginal Ignorance, inhumanlty and
uutbrift.
zone instance OF complete return TO
aboriginal manners, mode Of thought
and disgrace OF living which came with
| In my knowledge may serve to point a
moral. When years old, Nellie Mat
nopah 1.-TWO Besrs) daughter OF the
principal and hereditary chief OF the
great Sioux tribe known rs the Lower
Ysnktonais, was sent, her father con-
curing, to u Catholic school 10 81.
Joseph, Mo. She was bright girl,
with other claims than birth to the title
of Princess. aud rapidly acquired a good
knowledge not only Of English, but of
French, while In needlework aud house
wisely gifts sh. displayed m aptitude
that chcered the hearts OF the gentle sis-
ters, her teachers, and led them 10 hope
that. arrived NJ womln's estate Nellie
would well repay their care snd toll by
the influence she would exert among her
people.
"when she reached the age OF Is, and
after more than eleven years In the con-
vent, and among the whites (for she was
not allowed, for reasons that seemed
good, TO visit her people during her edu-
catiou) Nellie was told that the time had
come for her to repay the sisters snd
priests she loved for all they had done
for her behalf, and that hereafter she
must live with her own kindred and seck
by example and prccept 10 wcsn them
from their ssvagery TO proper modes oil
living. The young woman wept bitterly
pleaded hard to be allowed TO stay In the
convent a. teacher, pointed out how
distasteful the coarse life OF the tepet
would be 10 one who knew so well the
amenkies OF life, and urged, further,
that from what she knew OF her tribe,
she would not be welcome should shs
try to induce them 10 adopt the customs
Of the whites. But her teachers were
firm, and properly so, since Il had been
n condition precedent with her father
an enlightened chief, so far 50 his en-
yironment would permit--when he per
mitted her TO go TO st. Joseph, that wber
she had completed her course OF ir'
s,ruction she would return TO him and tt
his life.
$50 with many tears she left hel
school and after long boat journey VI
the Missouri, during which she wa'
made much OF by several wives Of Off
Gers who were on their way 10 For
Yates, she arrived at the agency, within
three miles OF which her father and hel
tribe were encsmped. She went at once
TO the house of Mrs. Gslpin, an Indisr
woman of much influence among th'
Sioux, and with several well-educatcd
half-breed daughters. The day after he,
arrival che wrote the Indian sgent {
dainty note. In admirable French. asking
permission To remain at Mrs. Galpiu's
The request was referred TO Bishop
Marty, who would not acquiesce, but
said Nellie must 90 10 her father will
all speed, as the old man Was sick snC
needed her attendance.
1.-The homecoming was terrible
trial to the girl, and sll the whites abOu
the agency and the fort who knew OF thu
case pitied her deeply. When she enter
ed her fathers tepce she found the ole
chief moribund. Around him were med
lcine men, one of whom was stuffing Int
the diving mans mouth Dauseous com
pound OF herbs, which the suffer had
previously chewed into ball. Tn
girl was coldly welcomed and almost 10
suited when she insisted that the medi
cine men should leave and the sgency
, doctor be summoned. She carried he
point after an appeal to the sgent, snt
teuderly nursed her father through hi
few remaining hours OF life.
''For u fortnight Nellie came to TIT
agency daily, riding on an lndisn pony II
civilized feminine fashion. Then he
visits became fewer, and then some In
sisted-but were net believed--.hat sh,
had dotted some of her civiliz- d attir'
and rode sstride. Then we missed he
altogether, and visitors TO her tepee wer'
met with the Indian equivalent OF NO
at home.
"Six weeks after Nellie's arrival q
Standing Rock there was one Of the fort
nightly beef killings In tn. big CORA
across the river. These killings In thos'
, days were scenes OF brutality and blood
. such rs no white man would witness un
less duty called him thither. Extende,
, description would serve no good end
/ The Imagination can picture what cor
3 raj would be wherein six score or NOR
big beasts had been shot TO death snC
, were being dismembered by red men AM
women reused 10 high pitch Of excite
ment. Tbose OF Us who were 10 charE
OF the killing were amazed to see Neilt
7 Two Bears in the very widest centre o
r screaming, blood-bespstteree squaws
She was dressed Ia what the Indian
doubtless regarded as the height o
: fashion--brosd, nail-bestudded belt, rel
! leggings, porcupine-quilled moccaslns
, shor; calico skirt, blue issue cloth blouse
r Her face and part OF her hair were paint
ed, and she swung butcher knife Ia or
: hand, while Ia the other was piece o
: raw liver Of recently killed steer, from
E which dainty morsel she now and the!
/ took liberal bite, as school girl woul'
from red-streaked pippin.
e "We could scarcely believe our eye
r and called her by name. She paid NJ
4 attention, but on our evidenciDg an In
/ tenticn to come nearer TO her she showe'
; the saving grace OF shame, covered heI
| head 10 the blankets which hung nc he
hips and ran out of the corral TO he
3 horse, which she bestrode quickly ant
/ rode 10 the ferry. In few weeks W,
learned that the educated princess, tn
girl who from the age OF to that OF II
| lived amid the most refined Influences
the woman who wept when she had L
return to tepee lie, was about to be mar
ried 10 half breed named Bad-Hip,
msn with an unsavory reputation, bu
, noted as a huhter and with certain