The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-24

coming the neighbors call to get a piece
of the delicacy.
"Such is the law under normal condi-
tons. When there is a famine, or partial
famine, in certain food stuffs, the hunts
man is not permitted to retain his lawful
portion even. In that case it is his duty to
arrange banquet and invite all sufferers,
or else ask every householder to send for a
portion of what is. then, public property.
IF fishing is good, banquets are frequent,
the unusually successful huntsman being
expected to feast the less fortunate. and
only when every larder in the village is
we'll provisioned, the Nabob may under
take to store away his surplus.
I'm hard times those who have some
thing must assist the destitute as long as
there is anything to divide. That gone. all
hunger. and, sometimes, starve together.
THAT abnormal division of property ex-
listing in Christian lands, permitting hun
dreds to starye while tens have a million
times more than they make of.
the heather Eskimo will not tolerate.
While he does not care for Luke, or other
biblical writers. the apostles beautiful doc
trine already quoted: Give to every man
that asketh of thee is in him Unborn. The
Eskimo is not civilized enough TO disre-
gard the laws of nature, to which Christ
and His apostles gave beautiful express
sion.
Better still, even the horrible example
of his Christian neighbors, Europeans liv-
ing in Eskimoland, who often boast of
plenty, while the poor native lacks the
direst necessities, even the example of his
superior brother-'superior in intellect, eth
les and Christianity. he calls himself-is
unable to turn the child of nature from the
principles of humanity.
AFFORD GOOD FOUNDATION.
1.-THE principles Tracticed by the Eskimo
have been condemned thousand times as
inconsistent with culture and civilization,
mere philosophical theories. too idealistic
to be given even q trial. yet in Greenland
they served as the foundation of social
system at once original, attractive and in
structive. Reflect OH the paucity of Green
lands natural sources: Stones. little drift
wood, skins and bones are all the raw ma
terial offered. Nowhere in the world Is ii
more difficult to make a living, nowhere
are opportunities for starving, or freezing
to death more plentiful. Yet the idea of rec
iprocity among men, imported from the
great American continent and upheld de-
| spite missionaries efforts to Christianize
and brutaize him. made the humble Eski-
mo triumph a stingy and ungracious
nature. Standing boldly without the pale OF
any established church. the Eskimos be-
came living example of the true Christian
spirit. With obstacles innumerable to
block his path, he attained a high degree
| of culture. In his limited sphere better
| artisan does not breathe, the very tools he
uses are rare specimens of exquisite work
manship.
The division of labor among men and
women is simplicity itself. The mans work
| is on the sea-as soon his boat touches
T. land the woman takes up the burden
''Still. like in civilized countries. the male
Eskimo arrogates himself some rights that
the female dare not aspire to. Woman is a
chattel. stolen or purchased from the IA
Their. But for the rest the modern Ameri-
can principle prevails. In her own field, the
home, the wife is supreme. Indeed in some
parts of Greenland / observed that women
are looked up to umpires and that their
| Judgment was valued higher than that OF
| the man.
IAN Eskimo girl who respects herself
will feign great indignation and contempt
when placed before the alternative to ac-
cept or reject a sutton. She would rather
bite off her tongue than say yes / regard
| this as Renaissance of better days, when
| the female Eskimo. her American an
cestress. possessed decided rights of her
| own that made her the equal, IL not the
superior. of man.
I'm Eskimoand divorces are easily Sc
| cured and young bucks not infrequently
exchange their brides with no more ado
as American Indians swap horses. In some
| parts polygamy fiourishes. and there are
| few. If any restrictions. between the sexes
| after marriage. the main consideration be-
| ing objection TO race suicide" The more
children in household. the better the op-
! portunities for obtaining food
Yet marriage is hedged about by precise
| laws. coinciding. in principle. with the
Sing-law of the Chinese, the gotra of the
Hindoos and the gems law Of the ancien,
Romans. and TO this day certain prohibitive
measures of the Eskimos' American fore
fathers. the red Indians. are observed
| Cousins are not allowed to marry, neither
! can boy or girl brought I'D in the same