The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-18
UP.TO-DATE INDIAN WEDDING
ALSO BACK TO A VERY MUCH
EARLIER DATE THAN THIS.

tho Bridegroom . Member OF the Opu-
lent Usage Tribe Dressed Paleface
Fashion for the Ceren0ny-Some
Romantic Features OF the Match.
From the 81. Louis Globe Democrat.
ARKANSAS CITY. Kan. Sept 2e.-Last
Thursday. on the Usage reservation. occurred
the most elaborate wedding In the history
OF the Usage Indians. This wedding In
thought by the other Indians TO be about
the last OF it's kind that will ever be celebrated
by this tribe. This conclusion Is due to tho
inroads civilization In making upon Indian
, customs. and Is also largely due to the fact
that nearly all Of the younger members Of
the tribe are entering schools. and the In
fluence Of these schools makes them drop
their native habits and customs. This we'd
ding even was not letter perfect. according
to all the rites OF the red man. and at one time
IL looked as though the ceremony would be
declared on because the groom refused to
attire himself In blanket and red paint.
The contra citing parties were Arthur Bon
nlecastle. a fullblood Usage. and Angie Penn.
The bride has a small strain Of white blood
In her veins, her father being a mixed blood.
but her mother was q fnllblood Usage squaw.
The two are Of the higher type OF the red
race-much higher. In fact. than 10 often
found-and every fullblood Indian on the
reservation believes they arc the two best
young people Of the tribe. Because Of their
general popularity, every Indian attended
the wedding. no invitations to an affair Of
this kind being necessary for the Indian.
Nearly 800 white people. residents Of the
reservation and nearby towns. were invited
and were In attendance
The story Of the romance that leads up
to this wedding Is pretty one. When Arthur
At plN 10
both died. leaving him without relatives
upon whom he could call. 30 he Is packed
OF to the Usage mission In Kansas. more to
get him out Of the way than to secure for him
an education. Here he started his education.
and In q few years was sent to the Carlisle
Institute. where he graduated with high
honors.
When the first call for volunteers In the
last war was made. he at once enlisted and
saw service In Cuba. He went to China
with his regiment. and was the second man
over the walls OF Pekin. For this service
he wears q medal. presented to him by the
United States Government. and Of which
he Is very proud. After the trouble In China
was over he was transferred to the Philip
pines, with his regiment, and served there
until nine months ago. when he was hOnorably
discharged, and left the service as drst
sergeant Of his company. Six months ago
he returned to the reservation. the home Of
his young boyhood. To him all the manners
and customs Of his people were new. and II
required some little time again to acquire
the Usage language. although he speaks
English. French and Spanish like native.
He is the ideal type Of the Indian tall.
straight as an arrow. and is absolutely honest.
He has picked up no bad habits In his travels
to different parts Of the world. and his associa-
tions and experiences have given him wide
and correct knowledge Of things outside
Of the ordinary. In his six months resi-.
dence on the reservation he has become well
acquainted with the people and has assumed
the management OF his farm and business
interests. which. during his absence. had
been In the hands OF his brother and the
Government agent. The Indians. and es-
pecially the fullbloods. admire the young
man very much. while the whites upon the
reservation look upon him as the brightest
fullblood Of the tribe. 1t seems fitting. In
decd, that he should see and fall in love with
pretty Anglo Penn. who il his equal In every
way.
She Is regarded as the most progressive
Indian woman in the Usage country. and
her people admire her. one and all. She is
loved by all the white people who know her.
Her beauty is known from one end Of Che
reservation to the other. There Is not a
than She She Is II years old, while her
husband is "a. Her entire life has been spent
on the Usage reservation. She was educated
at the agen cy school. and possesses as good
an education as any, white girl who graduates
from high school.
bloods. the girl has always been kept with
her mother except when In school: the Usage
women never allowing their, daughters out
Of their sight after they reach the ago OF II
years.
he was heart and fancy free. Ono day while
and Il was case Of love at first sight With
him. He told his brother about her and In
formed him that he was going to call upon
learned while in the white mans country.
but it doesn't go on the Usage reservation
The brother was familiar with all OF the Indian
explained I he proper method and told him
that in order to, secure the woman Of his
would probably have to bid at an auction
sale. against any other eligible young men
on the reservation who CHANGED to want the
}eeted, and elassed the ' procedure as being
equal to purchasing steers.
Nevertheless. this is the custom: and after
without going, through this form he would,
in all probability. never be able to talk to
aed left s the to hs
brother, because, among tho ,Osages. the
lover never enters, into the trade. but some
male relative makes the purchase. under
the directions of the lover and then draws
upon him for the expenses Of the transaction,
The brother in this case went to Sassy
OF the desires of his brother. Sassy Calf at
once assumed the role OF matchmaker and
sent out word that upon certain day he
would receive bids for the hand, II not the
heart. Of Angie Penn, Upon the day set, four
young bucks. all accompanied by their male
Calf feast was served and the business
OF the day declared ready; than the bidding
began. The relatives Of the young men
snuatted in circle. in the centre Of which
stood Sassy Calf. ready to conduct the sale.
Previous to this the young men had been
the girl. but were not allowed TO talk her.
They made up their minds just how much .
wife Of that kind was worth to them and noti-
fed their relatives how much to bid before
dropping out Of the game. Bonniecastle
told his brother that he wanted the girl and
to outbid all Of the others
The bidding was spirited. but Bonniecas-
ties brother raised every one. and finally
was declared the successful purchaser. The
proceeds OF the sale 20 to the girls rela-
tives and toward dcfrayinR the expenses OF
the wedding. The amount finally agreed
upon for this girl was $500 in cash. for the
wedding feast; q racehorsc known a. Hoo
ponies. valued at $3.50, The horse Hoodoo
was to go to Sassy Calf. the matchmaker,
and the fifteen Indian ponies were to 20 TO
the guests at the wedding.
The date was agreed upon At this time
and the arrangements were all made by the
was not even told who was TO be her hus-
band All abe knew was m AZ she was OOinU