The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-02-16
HE BUYS VALENTINES
Chief Bigheart Does Some
Shopp ng at the Capital.
WOULD TRIP A GREYHOUND
He Displays a Roll of Bills of
Remarkable Sizea

New York. Feb. ia Washington
special to the World says Chief Jim
Bibheart, of the Osages, wrapped about
with a red blanket and wearing broad
brimmed hat, beneath which his blossy,
braided hair nestled snugly to a massive
head, strobe into the largest department
store in Washington yesterday, followed
by three braves. each swathed in a red
blanket and each with navy-bluc trousers
embroidared with porcupins quilts, and
with silver ornaments on his hat.
They are capitalists, these Osages, OF
whom eighteen are here now, prepare
tory 10 signing a treaty that admits the
owning of their lands in the Indian Ter
-itOry in severalty instead of under the
old tribsI> system. Every Usage, chief,
brave squaw or papoose, is worth more
than $4,000, and on this sum a paternaI
government pays them per cent interest.
In addition they have made money on
the side by renting their lands to the
cattemen.
Chief Jim Bigheart is one Of the richest
OF the tribe He beckoned imperiously
10 the first floorwalker he met and said:
Valentines, Heap valentines"
Yes sir" replied the foorwalker.
Down this aisle and then the second
aisle to your right
Chief Jim Bgheart pulled his blanket
about lin and walked to the valentine
counter.
Gee" said the lady clerks. Here
is some Injuns."
Valentines demanded Chief Big
heart. Heap Valentines
The lady clerks dragged out some
comics. all done in splashes Of red and
green and blue and yellow.
These are cent apiece" one said
Chief Righeart frowned darkly.
Valentines he said. with much en-
phasis. Heap valentines
The lady clerks Were anronted.
''All right" one Of them said; here is
a nice one"
She brought forth box containing a
CONNECTION in paper lact and pictures
with some satin friIls around the edges
and all that sort Of thing.
This one is five dollars" she said,
with a wink at her lady companions.
Me take" said Cher Jim Bibheart.
In a glass case near by reposed forty
similar confections-forty of the finest
valentines in the store Chief Jim Big
heart saw them. and, calling his three
braves about him. spoke rapidly in Usage.
Then with an embracing gesture, he said:
ME take"
.'All Of them?" asked the lady clerk.
Ugh said Chief Jim Bigheart.
perhaps you would like some more"
said the lady clerk
Ugh" said Chief Jim Bigheart. They
ransaclIed the stock and produced the
finest there were. Chief Jim Bigheart
and his braves stolidly said Me take"
as bunch after bunch was brought out.
Finally every good valentine in the store
was exhibited and bought
How much?' asked Chief Jim Big
heart. There was mucn nguring.
Five hundred ana twenty dollars"
the clerk nnally SAID
Chief Jim Bigheart produced a roll OF
bills big enough TO trip a greyhound and
counted off the money
How send?" asked Chief Jim Bigheart
Why said the manager, who had
come down to supervise the sale. wei
send them for you if you will give us
the address and pay the postage"
Ugh! said Chief Jim Bibheart Therf
for an hour he dictated addressed of men
in all parts Of the country and some in
Washington, including the president. rep
resentative sherman, chairman of the
committee on Indian affairs; Representa-
tive Curtis. Of Kansas. who has Indian
blood in his veins: Speaker Cannon,
Senator Stewart, who is chairman of the
senate Indian committee; Secretary Hitch
cock. Of the interior department; Commits
sioner Jones. of the bureau of Indian
affairs. and many more. When he had
finished and had paid his postage one Of
the lady clerks said:
But you are sending all these to men.
Usually they send valentines to ladies'"
"Injun ladies no get valentines" said
Chief Jim Bigheart "Injun ladies work
Sauaws! Ugh"
Then the chief and his three braves
pulled their blankets about them. stalked
out TO + street and went to their hotel
COSTLY PRESENTS GIVEN.