Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-01
despite the absurd general Caucasian no

despite the absurd general Caucasian no
ton that no Indian can appreciate joke,
and the running fire of comments upon the
visitors they kept going were highly en-
tertaining to the few whites who could I'M
derstand them. When they got a few
hours off occasionally 1t was worth while
to see the transformation they worked in
their personal appearance before leaving
the village to go sightseeing. With the
money they were getting they could af-
ford to dress fairly well, and often they
got themselves up for their outings with
considerable taste. These girls, when by
themselves, would chatter and laugh, with
all the abandon and vivacity of their exotic
sisters, but in the presence of white folks
almost always preserved the Stoical de-
meanor for which their race was noted.
There is just now a greater desire than
ever before, on the part of the real Ameri-
can girl, for civilization, for the education
of the schools. Perhaps 1t is merely de-
sire for amusement and mental occupa-
ton
Il am so hungry to think" said one of
them who had come in contact with civil
iZation, but who had not yet become civ
iliZed.
The adult Indian woman is not very
ready to become civilized. Her first feel
ing for the white woman is pity and con-
tempt. The white woman, she argues, must
cook and sew, make beds, wash and iron,
clean house and work all the time.
Evolution of Cupboards.
The Indian woman stays out of doors.
The blue sky is over her and the green
grass or the deserts gray sand is under
her feet. She must bake cakes or corn
meal, and she must keep a fire under her
pot of water hanging from a forked stick
fastened in front of the tent, but she has
plenty of time to spare. Her family eats
fruit in season and that needs no prepa-
ration. When there is coffee to be had
she boils that, but that takes little time.
Her beds are blankets spread in the tepee,
or the wickiup, and need little attention.
She is comparatively comfortable. Civliza-
ton with its added worries and cares Is
not worth while, she thinks.
Then some white woman brings her
rough box, stands it on end, nails in some
shelves and arranges the Indian house
keepers few pieces of pottery and bas-
kets. Soon the Indian woman is proud of
her cupboard and paints it and keeps it
clean. LAS soon as some of the comforts
and conveniences are given to these Indian
housewives they are delighted to take the
added responsibilities because of the added
pleasure and occupation they bring.
One Indian woman whose husband had
built a home with money borrowed from
a loan association asked for curtains for
her windows.
white people, she said, have curtains,
SO that no one can into their homes. I
want curtains for my home, too"
A white woman who lived near by sent
east, and a few weeks later a box
rived containing a set of dimity sash cur
tains for the Indian woman's windows.
She took them, delighted. but she brought
them back few days later.
They are pretty" she said, but want
rthe windows all covered. Now other In
dams can over the tops"
With the few interests she has the saw
age Indian girl naturally takes everything
seriously. Her whole imagination is used
in planning and working out new patterns
and designs in her bead work and her
baskets. Most of the symbols she uses
have religious meanings, and it is the eff
fort of every Indian woman never to use
the same design twice.