Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-08
INDIANS GETTING DIVORCES.
The Red Men Slowly Learning the Gus
toms Of the Whites.


1.-THE Indians have discovered the beau
ties of the Dakota divorce laws ana are
taking advantage of them" said Gen. An
drew A. Burt to Star man at Fort Myer
today.
at the present rate Of increase the Indian
divorce mill Of South Dakota in five years
w,u become more expensive than the
ready-made divorce factory for fasteners.
While an Indian divorce was an unhearo
thing half a decade ago, sixteen petitions
for legal separation have been filed at
Oacoma during the last year by full
blooded Sioux bucks or squaws. Divorces
have come to the Indians as one OF the
heritages of civilization. The Indian off,
Gals have been trying for twenty years TO
induce the Indian to be married according
to the white mans law.
"Now they have almost succeeded. But
the same law has taught them the interest
ing fact that they can change wives or
husbands They fail to understand that the
divorce law is anything but means to OBJ
tain the luxury of an unlimited number OF
marriages. Many bucks and squaws who
know not word of English ana pear no
mark of civilization except that OF clothes
come to the attorneys offices and ask for
divorces. when they have no reason but
desire to form a new marriage. They point
to other Indians who have had many wives,
and ask why they cannot when the law
provides the way.
"When the Indian tribes were placed on
reservations and cut of from their native
wild life their respect for their own social
laws dWindled. 1t was not long before
many were living in utter disregard Of the
family obligations. Bucks deserted squaws
and suuaws took on new husbands without
any formality and without any reason ex-
cept their whimS. Bfgamy was erased from
= 70 DIV q
evil that the government officials and the
church missionaries demanded that the In
dams be married according to the South
Dakota law. Now that they have found
out about the divorces they have returned
to their old free life through the divorce
avenue.
The Indian marriage of today is a GU
rious mixture of civilized methods and tri-
bal ceremonies. Unwilling to give up their
traditional customs. the Indians are now
using both tribal and civilized laws. The
young buck chooses his squaw in the man
ner Of the Sioux. then is married by JUS
tice of the peace or missionary clergyman.
1.-The dance at which squaws are publicly
chosen by eligible bucks has not lost its
popularity. At sufficiently frequent inter-
walls these dances are called. They are
usually held in great tents. The old war
riors and squaws take their seats In a
circle. silently smoking. Presently the
younger Indians come In. The bucks are
arrayed in all the finery that civilization
dens enter the tent with coverings over
their heads. These are gorgeously made,
and rattle at every step with beads and
the teeth OF wild animals
'At the signal from an old Indian the
younger ones begin to dance. It is an I'M
couth step, possessing no charm for the
white man. With peculiar rhythm of
movement the young bucks hop about from
maiden to maiden, lifting up their cover
ings and looking at the faces underneath.
When at last the buck has found his lady
love he marches of with her. Under the
native customs the marriage is concluded
when the Indian takes his bride to his
teDee.
"But even the hot-blooded Sioux has been
tanned to submission to the civilized mar
rage law. When the sacred dance is con-
cluded the couple set or for the nearest
town or church. Justices Of the peace in
Oacoma have been visited by as many as
thirty couples at the same time, all de-
palian missions are proving most popular,
however. The Indians are mystified and
charmed by the elaborate ceremony of the
Episcopal marriage, SO they now look up
these churches to finish the elaborate tri-
bal custom of choosing wives and husbands
They want to be married by high church
form. They think this more in keeping
with their own ceremony than the few in
formal words in a dingy Justices Office.
las many of the Indian marriages must
be performed through interpreters, SO the
divorce proceedings are carried on largely
through Intermediates. 1t is a novel sight
to witness copper-hued Sioux Indians,
tribesmen with those who slew Custer .
army, sitting about q court room, and
watching with solemn mien the red tape
of a modern court"