The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-21
THE LITERARY OUTLOOK.
How DR.. Eastman Secures His Indian
Legends

Legends
Dr Charles A Eastman. the fun
piooded Sioux Indian. who recently
published the delightful volume, In
clan Boyhood, has recently concluded
O visit 10 the east made partly for the
purpose OF holding a conference with
President Roosevelt, and partly TO talk
over with his publishers the getting out
of volume on Indian Folklore" At
the present time. DR. Eastman holds
Hn important government position in
South Dakota. and some of his friends
locosely refer 10 him as the future po-
Nical boss OF that state. AS a matter
of fact the Indians are becoming more
and more independent each year. and
naturally they are becoming a power in
a civilized way. DR. Eastman is a
great favorite OF his people. DR.. East
man. however, does not look forward
10 a political life with as much pleas
IRE as 10 his future literary work. For
many years he has been collecting and
writing down the old Sioux legends,
and these he expects to bring out in
book form before very long now. Dr.
Eastman. OF course, knows q great
many Of the Sioux legends himself
"lf / were not an Indian said DR.
Eastman during his visit in New York
u feel sure I could not secure the
legends [ do not know The difficulty
about the white man getting these
leg nds Is this he asks the Indians
questions about them, and at once all
the Indian reserve and reticence comes
10 the surface. The Indian will not tell
what he knows about the matter if he
is questioned. The white man who is
anxious TO collect this Indian lore goes
among the Indians. offers one S. and
t--n begins TO ply him with questions
Ih- Indian is anxious TO give s. worth
but is not anxious TO tell what he
knows about the legends The result
SIS the white man gets hold of ,consid-
cradle that is of no use at all
DIT Eastman then explained how he
secured he true legends which he was
moi entirely familiar with himself. He
would go into an Indian council and
~ir quietly without saving q word for
a. long time Then he would begin to
tel one OF these legends as he knew it,
The instant he came to doubtful
point and hesitated or made a state
rnant which was not entirely accurate.
another Indian would grayely interrupt
iiw and take UP the story giving the
rlg1t version. " this Indian made
mistake still another one would inter
rlrt and go on with the story. 1T took
q great deal Of patient work but Dir
Eastman was equal To that, and in this
manner he has collected some of the
most interesting and hitherto fnaccessi-
Die Indian legends
Morgan Robertson. the we'll known
sea story writer, IS confirmed enemy
Of Che short story volume He says the
publisher may make money on a book
Of short stories bat In niuety-uine cases
out of hundred the author does not
AIT iphertsuHs contention IS euriously
borne out by The facts in bis own case.
Some of the volumes of short stories
which he has published has been at all
rroltable yet ne IS one of the best short
story writer's in this country. So strong
IS his couViction that the short story
volume has had its day that hereafter
Ne viii publish no books except long
ftor'fs although his forthcoming vol
Ame is almost contradiction of this
Statement sinful Peck is the title of
THE volume which viii be shortly issued
over llr Robertsons name. As origin
ally conceived. the contents of this book
were collection of short stories which
bad O. one principal character. Sinful
Peck AIr. Robertson. however. re-
Vise1 the matter ia such a way that It
makes a continuous story. The book is
dedicated as follows
ITO Arthur Henry. the Skipper Of the
Isle O. Qurk. whom I hailed ia the
darkness and who sat by me through
she night"
The dedication itself contains a story
WITH the personal element behind it
Which is Of more than usual interest
arthur Henry viii be recalled as the
author Of AN Island Cabin" a story
OF his discovery and life on a iftJIe ISL
End IN the upper end OF Long Island
sound Robertson happened to read
ideury's book. and although he was not
Of that time acquainted with him, ne
wrote expressing his appreciation of his
story AS a result the two fell into con
adorable ccrresp ondence and later on