Evening star., 1902-01-16
MUST CUT THEIR HAIR
INDIANS To NO LONGER WEAR
FLOWING LOCKS.
Agents Instructed to Have Them Also
Stop Painting Their Faces-War
Dances Forbidden.

Inc twilight OF the Indian has been de-
creed by the Secretary of the Interior
Hereafter, unless the orders Of the depart
ment are speedily repealed. the red man
will cease to wear his hair long. paint hia
face and enliven the Journey to the happy
hunting ground with sacred dances.
The explanation is that Commissioner
Jones has sent to the agent In charge of
nearly every Indian reservation circular
letter directing him to forbid, in the name
Of the Interior Department. the wearing
Of long hair by the male Indians under his
charge and the painting of their faces by
Indians Of either sex. To accomplish the
complete cessation of these practices the
agent Is directed to employ all the means
at his hand-to suspend rations and other
supplies. to conf1ne the younger recalci-
trants in the guardhouse at hard labor, and
by tact. perseverance and firmness to in
duce the old men to give up the customs
which bind them to barbarism. Even the
blanket is to give way to the clothes Of
American civilization
1t happens that several small tribes have
anticipated this action Of the bureau, and
have given up the signs of their nomadic
life voluntarily. By far the greater number.
however. still cling to costume and custom
with the saturnine tenacity characteristic
of their race. 1t is thought possible, there
fore, that the new attitude of the depart
ment may provoke some determined re-
monstrance. and In preparation for this the
agents nave been cautioned against pro-
ceedfng with precipitate haste and to rely
on tact rather than force until the latter
becomes finally necessary.
The Circular Letter.
The text Of the order is embodied in the
following circular letter, copy OF which
is now In the hands Of nearly every agent
employed by the Indian bureau:
This Office desires to call your attention
to few customs among the Indians which.
it Is believed, should be modified or discon-
tinued
The wearing Of long hair by the male
population Of your agency is not in keeping
with the advancement they are making. or
Will soon be expected to make. In civiliza-
ton. The wearing Of short hair by the
males Will be a great step in advance and
Will certainly hasten their progress toward
civilization. The returned male student far
too frequently goes back to the reservation
and falls into the old custom of letting his
hair grow long. He also paints profusely
and adopts all the old habits and customs
which his education in our industrial
schools has tried to eradicate. The fault
does not lie so much with the schools as
with the conditions found on the reserva-
tions. These conditions are very often due
to the policy OF the government toward the
Indian, and are often perpetuated by the
agents not caring to take the initiative in
fastening any new policy on his administra-
ton Of the affairs Of the agency.
"On many of the reservations the Indians
of both sexes paint. claiming that it keeps
the skin warm in winter and cool In sum-
mer: but instead this paint melts when the
Indian perspires and runs down into the
eyes. The of this paint leads to many
diseases Of the eyes among those Indians
who paint. Persons who have given consid-
erable thought and investigation to the sub
ject are satisfied that this custom causes
many of the cases of blindness among the
Indians Of the United States.
"Io ou are therefore directed to induce
your male Indians to cut their hair and
both sexes to stop painting. With some of
the Indians this will be an easy matter;
with others it will require considerable tact
and perseverance on the part Of yourself
and your employees to successfully carry
out these instructions. With your India 4
employees and those Indians who draw ra-
tions and supplies 1t should be an easy
matter, as compliance with this or
der may be made reason for discharge or
for Withholding rations and supplies. Many
may be induced to comply with the order
voluntarily, especially the returned student
The returned students who do not comply
voluntarily should be dealt with s,lmma riiy
Employment, supplies. etc, should be with
held until they do comply, and if they be-
come obStfeperouS about the matter a short
confinement In the guard house at hard la
Dor. with shorn locks, should furnish a
cure. Certainly all the younger men should
wear short hair. and 1t is believed that by
tact, PERSEVERANCE, firmness and withdra wal
of supplies the agent can induce all to com
ply with this order.
THE wearing of citizens clothing, in
stead OF the Indian costume and blanket,
should be encouraged.
Indian dances and so-called Indian
feasts should be prohibited In many cases
these dances and feasts are simply subter-
fuges to cover degrading acts and to dis
guise immoral purposes. You are directed
to use your best efforts in the suppression
Of these evils.
ION or before June 30, 1902. you will re-
port to this office the prog1ess you have
made In the suppression Of these evils"