The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-17
THE PASSING OF LIGNEoUs 10.
Few wooden Indians Employed Now
TO Show the Way to Tobacco stores.

Boston Daily Advertiser.
Slowly but surely all the old friends of
our childhood are passing away. But sad
dest of all is the passing of the American
Indian. Not that idle, dirty aborigine that
inhabits the Western plains.
refer to that noble figure, the wooden
Indian that for so many years has been
to the tobacco store what the striped pole
Is to the barber. But alas, his time has
come. And what will the children of the
future have to TAX his place?
This ~l-kn sign has a distinct and
logical genealogy. More than three CEN
turtles ago Sir Walter Raleigh learned that
there was a plant used by the Indians in
a manner unknown in Europe. Sir Walter
soon acquired the art and introduced it TO
Europe. In an incredibly brief period all
Europe had taken up this delight, while to-
day you can scarcely find a region on the
globe where tobacco is not known.
And credit was given where it was due.
ertheless his praise was sounded and her
aided. Then came the wooden Indian
as a tribute to the teacher of this 'tsolace
and delight of man."
AS if by magic all over England and in
this country the wooden Indian stood
as a symbol Of a tobacconist. But to-day
his knell is rung, and we of the present
generation are seeing the last of one dear
old friend.
What child of yesterday but did not de-
light in gazing at the noble buck" or
en- hand a bunch of cigars as II 10 urge
upon the world the delights OF smoking
In the old days a cigar store without the
symbol was Ike a one-ring circus Of to-
day. Passers-by would scorn at the at
tempt to sell the weed under any other
device.
But all has changed. You walk block
after block, and pass tobacco stores by the
score. but the old friend has gone. Tht
march of an effete civilization has marked
him out for slaughter.
His principal rival is the gaudy litho.
graph. 1t is with shame that l acknowl-
edge the fact. but the youth of to-day
would far rather gaze upon the picture oil
a chorus girl smoking that denomination, 6
features of the representative OF the past
Then, too. little figures of ball player
and dudes have taken a front rank.
But all credit TO the tobacconist on Chel
sea square. He possesses a figure that ha:
stood for forty years calmly surveying the
crowd rush by. This Indian was formerl,
the fgurehead on an East Indiaman, anC
could he speak tales from foreign lands
would spring from his lips of wondrou.
nature. But there he stands. and his owner
would not take a fortune for him And HI
Is right. Cins to the sacred association!
of the past.
But as if the invading Autographs anc
rival figures were not enough, along come,
the city ordinance and completes the worl
of devastation. They say that the side
walks shall not be Instructed. and al
signs must be removed. And go there i
but one result-the wooden Indian" mus
vanish from sight. After centuries haV
passed over his head. during which time h
reigned supreme. his useful life is TO b
snuffed out, and the cities shall see him n
more.
Fortunately he clings 70 life in the SINAI
towns, and doubtless will survive there 70
ages. But In the city his very e~xistenc
has been curtailed, and My a small imi
tation In a little store on an obscure stree
remains to recall 10 mind the erstwhil
proud figure who. with a bunch of cigar
in one hand, welcomed his friends. an
with appraised tomahawk was prepared 70
| SlandererS.