The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-27
ABOUT INDIAN DANCES
PRACTICED AS A SOCIAL AMUsE-
MENT AND VERY POPULAR.
General Burt Says Our "German" ands
"CotiIlOn" Are OF Indian Origin
The Begging Dance.
Dondence OF the Indianapolis Journal.

Correspondence OF the Indianapolis Journal.
FORT MYER. Va. Sept. 25.-If there is
one thing in the way of social amusement
an Indian loves better than another it is
dancing, and I can assure you they get
much innocent amusement out of 1t. 1t will
probably be a surprie to the present gener-
alton and many of the older ones. for that
matter. to learn that the modern society
german or "cotillon" of the whites is
stolen absolutely from the red men of the
plains.
There is hardly night In an Indian en-
campment that there is not dancing among
the bucks and squaws. Little preparation
is necessary for these affairs. and formal
invitations are not considered essential, the
call of the s'tom-tom'' being the only
notice given those who may desire TO at
tend. There is no difference I'm social grade
among the Indians, no social ostracism. no
-four hundred" All meet at the dances
on an absolute equality. The dances are
usually held in tepces, two OF them being
pitched facing each other. In one Of them
half a dozen Indian bucks are squatted
around a drum each furnished with a stick
for the purpose of making music" and
this is the entire orchestra. Each man has
particular place on the drum TO beat.
Very soon after the first tap on the drum
those who desire TO participate I'm the dance
begin TO appear. Even at the grandest
dances there is no ceremony, and, although
there appears 10 be no particular senti-
ment against it, it is very rarely the case
that man accompanies his wife 20 or
from the festivities, yet married woman
who would accept such attention from
another man would commit great breach
of propriety. The men find their way 10
the tepee where the drum Is beating and
the women squat around the tepee that has
been arranged for dancing. When the
crowd of would-be dancers Is thought suffi-
GENTLY large. the women intimate what
they would like 10 dance and the drummers
begin their monotonous beating. II is
curious. but il is also fact that at all OF
these Indian dances the leader Is always a
woman. The women all squat around the
tepee until sufficiently inspired to take the
center OF the floor. the woman that does
this first is the leader for that figure. she
or two and then up to some buck whom
she chooses for partner; then they dance
around for a while and each takes a part
ner OF the opposite sex. This continues until
there Is room for no more couples. This
is continued for perhaps twenty minutes
when the music ceases, the partners sepa-
rate and each returns TO his or her former
place. There are any number Of very pref
ty figures danced In this way. One that
1 recall Is the sign dance" After dancing
around for a few minutes a woman viii
take a man. lead him into a circle. placing
him opposite her, both in the meantime
dancing hard. Then she will talk 10 him In
the sign language of the red men something
after this manner;
What do you think OF me, my buck; I
ready for you TO make love 10 me-"
His answer Is In the sign language and ne
is at liberty to respond as he desires with
out giving the least ofrsnse ExsQnant2y