The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-02
SLEEPING BEAR.
One Indian Who Has Developed Com
mercial Ability.

mercial Ability.
Great Falls, May 1-''Sleeping Bear.
Dry Goods and General Merchandise
is sign over a store at the Fort Bel
KNAPP agency which is worthy of more
than passing attention. AS one might
easily guess, the proprietor is an In
dian. More than that, he is a full
blooded Gros Ventre and he has amass-
ed the several thousands of dollars
which is the capital invested in his
stock by careful economy through
number of years. To the man who has
been brought up to believe that the
only good Indian is the dead one and
that it is the first principle Of Indian
nature to gorge when there is plenty
and to starve when there is want, it is
a decided revelation and one that Is
difficult of belief on first sight. I'M
providence has SO long been leading
Indian characteristic that this excep-
ton is the more startling. 1t is safe to
say that there are not enough excep-
tons to disprove the rule. although in
the past few years those who have
been working among the red people
say that many of the young generation
have settled upon land and are now
the possessors and skillful managers of
many head of stock and grade horses.
However, Sleeping Bear is probably
the first Indian of Northern Montana
to develop anything like commercial
ability.
1t is said that he is shrewd and
careful buyer and an excellent sales
man. Strangely enough, he refuses to
give his own people credit, but ex-
tends it to limited few of the whites
who reside on or near the reservation.
Those who have had occasion say
that the red man is good debtor, that
he always fulfills his pledges when it is
~, h; 70 n CO ND 0r-
ries over his debts far more than his
creditor has occasion to. The writer
is reminded of one occasion in his per-
sonal experience. An old Indian and
his young son purchased saddle for
the boy in this city number of years
ago. They had insufficient cash to pay
for the saddle. The old man explained
that they were going on wolf hunting
expedition, to be absent for about five
or six months, and when they returned
they would have plenty of money to
pay the balance. He offered to leave
as a token of his debt plain pipe of
red pipestone, but he was very careful
to explain through an interpreter that
the pipe was not in payment of the
balance. AS an experiment the In
dian was given the saddle. That was
in March. He was away until October
when the incident had been nearly for
gotten. Then he brought state war
rant for $40 or $50, issued by a county
in the southern part of the state. Al
though he was unable to speak word
of English he somehow had learned
that the warrant-state warrants for
bounties were then being heavily dis
counted and We're not very desirable
as investments--Was not worth its face
value, and again through an Interpreter
offered it in payment of his debt at
| something like Is per cent. discount.
The warrant was refused. to the sor-
row of the old man, but it was eX-
| planned to him that his credit was at
the time worth more than that of the
state and he was satisfied. Again he
disappeared and not until two years
later did he come back This time he
had the exact amount of the debt in
silver dollars and he was as happy as
a winner at a horse race. This man
was Cree, tribe which is generally
| credited with less manliness than other
| tribes of Montana and the pipe which
| he had left as token of debt was of
| trifling value. Had it any sentimental
value it is impossible to say, but senti-
| mental values are rare among the
| Crees, who will usually sell anything
| they possess, including their women.
So it seems strange that Sleeping
| Bear should draw the line at trusting
| his own people, but he probably knows
| his business. The outcome of his VEN
| ture, for he has but lately embarked
upon the sea of commerce, will be of
| interest. 1t is reported that he follows
| the convention of the white man in
everything pertaining to his business,
and has letter-heads and envelopes
and other stationery, which follow the
commonplace rule save as to the name,
which would attract attention if buried
| mile deep in convention.