The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-08-12
TRAFFIC IN INDIAN BRIDES.
A reasure for Putting Stop to the
Business.

The barter In lnolan mAlucnss
practiced by the various tribes IN
Oklahoma, will, it is expected, De
greatly curtailed and eventually
obliterated by an act recently passed
by the Chlckasaw Indian council,
raising the price of marriage
Incense to $1,000. For a long time
there has been a disgraceful trafhc
in brides among the Chickasaws,
Kiowas, Comanches, Apaches and
Creeks of the Territory. Beautiful
young squaws have been placed
upon the auction block and knocked
down to the highest bidder. often
times they thus become unwilling
brides to worthless husbands. The
barbarous custom has drawn many
white adventurers. attracted merely
by pecuniary gain, for many OF the
souaws have a headlight of u, GOO or
more. The consideration for q bride
is usually in ponies at about $40
each. At a sale last January
pretty member of the Usage tribe
was sold for 2s3 ponies, or s2:SS
The white men usually make ar
rangements with the father of the
girl to pay a trivial sum down and
to pay the remainder of the price
for the bride in labor.
The new high marriage license act
does not prohibit the mixing of the
races. but the white man, in order
to secure a tribal citizenship, must
pay 81 900 for the privilege. In all
other respects the Chickasaws are
highly civilized, and many of their
women are happily married to white
men that wooed them for themselves
alone.
Quanah Parker, chief of the
Comanches, is a pronounced polyg-
amist, he being credited with no less
than eight wives. purchased at the
auction mart. Ten years ago the
Young warrior became smitten with
the charms of Too-nocey, an unusu-
ally attractive and well educated
maiden. The father strongly fav-
ored Parker's suit. The girls
wishes were not consulted. She was
commanded, however, to encourage
the young warriors advances
There was a brisk competition at the
sale, at which Too-nocey's father Of
ficiated as auctioneer. Chief Few
Tails was Parkers closest rival. His
first bid when the auctioneer cried
"How much am bid on this pretty
squaw?" was fifty ponies. Parker
raised him fifty more. Few Taili
promptly followed with the offer o
$50. Then they began to raise eacf
other by small numbers until Parker
finally squelched his rival by bid
ding 500 ponies, which was more
than he possessed and quite out o
Few Tails reach. Parker satisfied
the father that he would make gooC
the deficit, and Too-nocey became
his first bride. He worked long ant
faithfully to pay for his wife, ant
was soon made chief of bis tribe
adding to his harem.
The Osages do not let bride g
on q ."stand-off." The considera
tion must be forthcoming ut once
The weddings Of this tribe are "a,
affairs. A number of bucks race 70
the BRIDES pony, and maiden squaw
compete In the same way for he
robe. During the festivities tn
bride. elaborately gowned in
white robe of buckskin, covere
with silk and adorned with man
ornaments, including costly dis
monds, emerges from her wiewan
During race for the pony the bride
mother divests her OF her beau
tifui wedding garments, leaving he
clad only in a night robe. Then tn
bridegroom runs from his wigwan
throws his blanket around her an
carries her off to his happy home
No word is spoken throughout tn
ceremony. After the wedding th
guests assemble in another part {
the town and feast on boiled dol
fried dog, canned dog and dog soul
Minneapolis Tribune.
A lazy liver may be only tire
liver, or a starved liver. A stick
all right for the back of lazy MAJ
But it would be a savage as we'll as
stupid thing to beat weary man OF
starving man because he Jagged
his work. So in treating the laggiI
liver it is q great mistake to lash
with drastic drugs. In ninety-nil