The Red Cloud chief., 1901-11-29
A SQUAWS' ATTIRE.
SOME WEAR SUITS W0RTH \
THOUSAND DOLLARS.
oklahoma indian Women Among tbs
Most Extravagant Dressers In Ameriea
Much Money spent In Purchasing
Costly Ornaments for Their Ciotbis3.


circles that the Oklahoma Indian wO-
men are among the most e~xtravagant
dressers In America. Tho fact In
worth presenting to those who look
to Paris for their fashions. There may
come a time when Paris looks to
Oklahoma IT things go on In this way.
IL Is a fact. very narrowly known, that
many OF the Kiowa, Comanchc.
Arapahoe and Ponca tribes have
dresses costing from $3.50 to $500
apiece. They are not made In what
we should call the latest styles; the
decorations are what count.
The sQuaws' money Ia nearly on
spent In purchasing costly ornaments
for their clothing. These ornaments
are in the shape Of jewelry and pre-
cious stones. elk teeth and pearls. II
Is nothing out OF the common to SEQ an
Indian girl walking around over her
reservation with $500 worth of elk
teeth tied to her dress In decorative
style. Again, a two-karat diamond In
no curiosity to these dusky bellies.
Most of the dresses are made from
soft buckskin lined with silk or satin.
Red satin Is a great favorite for dreas
lining and shirt waists among tho
Indian women. Yellow silk IL another
Of their favorites, but violet was tho
prevailing color this year. Next year
the Indian woman who leads the fash
ion will decree q new and fiashy color
to be the up-to-date thing, and, Of
course. all OF the women will follow
her. Society as we name II Ia a thing
unknown among the reservation In
dian women, but they have q certain
envy Of social standing Just tho same.'
When they come to the small towns
on trading days there may be assem-
bled several hundred Of the women
from various parts OF the country, and
they gather In the agency and talk
over events among themselves. gossip
upon the scandals and rail against the
whites for hours at a time. Il is dur
Ing this function that they may be
seen In their best dress, and ench n
tries to Guido her neighbor in
ments. The more elk teeth NJ has
on her dress tho more popular she n
at these weekly meetings Mt tho
agency buildings. They examine each
others dresses carefully and freely
express to the wearer opinions upon
the quality and cost. II the dreag
meets with the disapproval Of one. she
has no hesitation about saying % %
the owner Of such dress, who retorts
as she sees Mt. Sometimes open quar-
rels ensue at these sessions because
some woman has been too bold in her
criticism. Before they 60 home they
take O vote on the dresses, and tho
owner Of tho best is crowned leader 0f
fashion for the next week, and al
must refrain from criticislng her dress.
During the ensuing week there II q
great a C to outshine her garments.
and this is generally accomplished. NO
!. matter how hard she may have striven
to hold her place In the lead. The
sQuaws do not have to work as hard
: as Ii generally supposed. They do
little outside their houses. a. tho In
. dams who have an income from the
, United States do not farm. All Of the
: money due the women 'is paid direct
, to them, and they spend 1t 70 please
: their wi tastes. which means for
q dress. The fashions they follow m
D very amusing 10 the white De0pIe. bal
: with them It Is q serious business, and
o the women are az much interested In
{ their shopping as q white woman
would be at the counter Of one Of tn
q largest millinery houses In New York
Civilization IL steadily growing
with these people, and the Ways oi
the whites show in many matters be-
a sides those Of dress. Most Of thu
young married couples d tho Kiows
n and Comanche tribes havb comfortable
houses instead Of tepe&. They an
:, well educated. having ben forced tG
q attend government schqbls. To thes.
"A new manners Of HE tie young mar
~ and women take kindly but the Older
class will have non d them. They
a continue to live In tents, as do full
bloods OF other southwest tribes. Tn.
young Indian wife OF today IL clean
a fairly good cook alh tidy with hal
u house. She Is not y& we'll versed d
the art OF decoration and red an
green are predominajing col0rs In n
her rooms. whetherl in harmony O
not. The house h$ good furniture
but It Ii strangely arranged. IN
lounge is a ~favoritd piece Of furniture
and one sees 1t In VERY indian HOUSE
hold. always in thi parlor. II the In
n dams have a PLATO or organ II goa
l. into the bedroom The young buck
d best saddle goes Into the parlor. an
II In many houses III Is hung upon Ii
y wall. Red ribbobs are tied to ever
Y. thing. even the Jail OF the cat. for =
y Indian household is complete vithOs
r a cat and dog. -fSan Francisco Call.
ID --