The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1901-07-14

women who mix In politics are some
times accused of forgetting. and she
has a magnetic personality which
makes her popular with both men and
women. 1t is said that she could have
had the Republican nomination for gov
ernor Of Wyoming two years ago had
she desired it.
vt the sessions Of the congress, which
begin next Monday and continue
through the week, there will be IA com
parison and interchange Of ideas, plans
and methods as practiced in the vari-
Gus sections of the country, the object
being to give each school the benefit
Of the experiences of the others. The
Indian educators do not come together
TO consider Il new and untried problem,
but rather to discuss means and meth
eds of promoting the progress toward
successful completion Of task already
well on the way toward solution. Mel
Their do they gather to discuss theories,
but to consider practical common sense
own experience. In addition to these
discussions, they will have the advan-
tage of addresses and lectures by some
of the ablest educators in America who
are especially qualified to give advice
and instruction in matters of Indian
education. The programme embraces
wide range of pertinent subjects, and
the attendance will include practically
all the superintendent and a host of
the teachers Of Indian schools from all
parts of the country where the aborig-
inal Americans still dwell.
The members of the congress will,
besides have for their entertainment
and instruction one of the most re-
markable Indian exhibits ever brought
together in this country. which is a
notably attractive feature of the Pan
American exposition. This exhibit is
in the United States government build
ing and was installed by Miss Alice
Fletcher, who perhaps knows more of
Indian life and character than any 9TH
er woman in the country. Miss Fetch
er, who is also we'll known for her lit
erary and chronological studies, has for
many years been engaged in work for
Indians, some portion Of the time as
special agent Of the government in car
rying out the provisions of the act of
congress allOtting lands in severalty.
The exhibit shows both her knowledge
Of the subject and her artistic appre-
ciafion of Indian cboroctar
At its entrance there is a case full of
Indian relics antedating the discovery
of America which shows the aborigi-
nal conditions of the race Then the
evolution of the Indian under the influ-
ence of civilization is told in the syste-
matte installation, until the final group,
inclosed IL beautiful grillwork. shows
the educated Indian to be an artist,
artisan, poet, scholar and author This
represents a modern sitting ROOM main
ly designed by Angel de Cora, an
Indian girl who graduated from the in
studying art. her chosen profession. in
Boston. The fireplace is a poem in
wood. cOnventionalized eagle-the
thunder bird of the Indian-in dark
wood Is inlald on the light panel which
supports the mantelshelf 1t is placed
here because the thunder bird is also
a type of the sun. the source of all heat
and fire. Around the entire mantel is
a wood carved scroll made up of the
sacred fire sticks with which the In
dams produced fire by friction. In the
topmOst panel Is an oil painting repre-
senting a fiery sunset on the prairie.
In the left of the picture is a group Of
Indian tents. through which the glow
of the evening fires shines. On knoll
near the center are an Indian maiden
and an Indian brave grouped so as to
indicate the formation of another
hearthstone In the near future. In this
room are articles of furniture, hand
carved and inlaid with onyx. This
dainty apartment is entered by beau
tiful portieres woven by the Navajo
Indians. Near the entrance Is q col
umn Of different colored woods ar
ranged so as to look from a distance
like a costly mosaic. The pedestal has
four faces, on which are inlaid mytbO-
logical designs and symbols Of Indian
alIegorles much older than the advent
of the paleface to this hemisphere,
which cannot be interpreted by Miss
Fletcher or any other expert in the his
tory or religion of the American In
dian. The capital Is as ornate as that
of Corinthian column and reprOduees
y