The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1905-02-23
of old Jim Beck, Gen. Crooks former
chief of scouts in the old campaigns

chief of scouts in the old campaigns
through this country, and who once
saved this fort from massacre by infor.
nation against his people. He ap-
peared proud in telling me his daugh-
ter, who drove the team, doing all the
work of pitching over the bundles of
hay, could speak "much good English"
giving me to understand she had just
lately returned from San Carlos school,
but as l attempted talking with her,
wishing more hay, not one word would
she speak or appear to understand,
looking calmly in my face and jabber-
ing Apache with smattering of Span
ish-but have no doubt the hay will
he forthcoming.
The government has a mistaken idea
in spending money to educate and civil
ize this tribe, in my humble opinion.
The old crones and old men are usually
SO filthy it sickens one to look at them,
and when garment is once put on it is
never removed until it drops off in
shreds, as no clothing is removed when
curling up for sleep Oh the ragged
blankets and bits of canvas on the dirt
floor of their tepees. Nothing can in
duce an Apache to live like the whites
in anything like house, as do the
Narazo's, though the government at
tempted the scheme and built small,
neat shacks which the Apaches put their
horses, sheep, ETC., in, and chung stub
bornly to their tepees.
OF course there are some exceptions
among these people. While there are
hundreds living and dressing like this,
there are some young bucks working
about the post who take considerable
pride in wearing the apparel of the
white man, and cutting their hair, and
occasionally an old chief is dressed
neatly in shirt, breeches, moccasins
and Mexican sombrero. Old Cheno,
who calls on us often, shaking hands
all around at meeting and parting, pre-
sents really grand figure, with his
massive frame, noble head and Shout
ders and shock of heavy snow-white
hair.
The misses home from school, and
manageable maidens look quite gay in
their bright prints, the old Spanish col
ors, red and yellow, being favorites. The
skirt reaches to the heels and has ten
widths Of print, or bleached muslin
the dancing skirt is usually white with
orange, purple, or black bands and
twenty widths of ruffies. They are al
ways hanging about my door, begging
me to make the rutfling on my machine,
and no wonder, when | think of the
number of stitches taken by their un-
trained fingers. With the full skirt is
worn a short, loose sack, with ruffle
over the shoulders, while strings upon
strings of gay colored beads are wound
about the neck, rings and bracelets
adorn the hands, and their plump round
faces would be quite pretty with the
bright eyes and sparkling teeth, but
they are invariably dirty.
Whenever 1 look up it seems that In
dians are at the window peering in, or
waiting about the back door, and they
ususually time many of their calls to
be on hand when meals are being serv-
ed, knowing they will receive some
scraps from the table, and cup of
coffee, which is feast for them
When person dies the family move
out, the tepee is burned and another
built at some distance. They bury most
of their dead at the agency, except the
tiny papooses, who are wrapped in their
cradles and hung from the top Of high
tree. The Apaches make large variety
of baskets, buckskin and bead work, of
which have gathered a fine collection,
but their work is rather inferior to
most other tribes.
Wishing continued success to The
journal.
MRS. OREN CHENEY HIGGINs.