Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-01
Written for The Evening Star.


A whole lot, Some sense and more non
sense, is written and read about the Amer
loan girl, so-called, which is really about
no American girl at all, strictly speaking,
but about an exotic girl a girl whose race
came from across the seas, thousands of
miles TO the eastward of America. This
girl blonde or brunette, tall or short, slen-
der or stout, dark eyed or with eyes OF
blue, is always a white girl
We who have invaded the continent tc
which she and her race are the natural
heirs call the real American girl the In
dian girl She is rarely the heroine of our
romances. and our society artists, our Glib
sons and our Christys, never make her the
subject of their drawings. Her skin is
brown. with a coppery tinge; her hair is
black and with never a curl or a wave, and
her eyes are always dark. We-who are
so superior-sometmes call her a young
squaw
But this real American girl is a very in
tereStlng creature, nevertheless. The wom-
en- missionaries, who OF all white people
know her best, say she is very timid, but
stOical; often feeling that disagreeable SEN
sation we call fear, without showing it.
For She as well as her brother has been
taught from her mothers breast that to
show fear is to show weakness, which is
something of which to be deeply ashamed.
She is never hystercal, and she seldom or
never hetrays any nervousness.
This real American girl is coy and re-
served, especially when any of the eX-
otto, so-Called Americans are in evidence.
She takes lovemaking very seriously. She
herself has little 10 do with it. Her father
generally chooses her husband for her.
When an Indian brave sees the girl he
wants for his wife he must show his sin
certify by making gifts TO her father If
the man does not want the girl enough to
give up pony or blanket he is considered
Il trlHer, and sent away. But If his gifts
are of sufficient value, and if he shows
some bravery and sense. he is accepted for
the daughter.
Wanted Euffies.
After marriage an Indian woman's great
est delight IS in her children. Her house
hold duties are not heavy. She must cook,
fetch wood and water make plaques of
straw and baskets and weave a little.
There is much time left for the care of
her little Indians. She embroiders Won
derful beaded suits for them, and gaudy
little moccasins, working a thousand diff
ferent thoughts into the designs she orig
mates; and she has sweet lullabys to sing
Tor them. telling of strange gods in the
west from which long ago the Indian peo-
pie came and to which they shall return
again.
She makes for her children little dolls
baskets
bark and helps them with their games and
teaches them to weave and to sew When
an Indian baby dies, in some tribes, its
mother carries its cradle on her back until
IL shaH nave grown strong enough 10 find
It's way alone TO paradise.
The real American girl is short and
stocky When she is unciviliZed she is un-
tidy. Her clothes are clumsily fastened.
her hair is rough and she is not clean.
She is very fond of personal adornment
however, and, possibly, she considers her
many colored blanket and her strings of
bright beads much more attractive than
the civilized Indian girls neat and clean
cotton clothes.
Once an Indian girl named Nuna. who
NVed near mission. asked one of the mis-
slonarles TO cut for her calico dress. The
missionary was glad to help the girl and
told her to come back the next day and
get 1t. She got bright cloth red and blue.
ana planned neat and simple garment
one that even an Indian girl, with her
limited knowledge of sewing, could make
up. The next afternoon, sharp at the an
pointed time, Nuna came to the mission
house to get her dress. The missionary
spread it out before the expectant girl.
showed her how to put it together and
then looked up for some sign Of pleasure
Nuna carefully folded up the dress and
then started away. after the briefest word
of thanks.
We'll Nuna." said the missionary don
you like the dress?"
Yes" said Nuna. sadly, mice Dress
Was 1t what you wanted?" asked the
missionary.
Yes" Nuna repeated, dolefully, mice
dress. Thank you"
But something is the matter"
Nuna walked up to tire missionary. II
was in the days when women wore over
skirts and the overskirt of the missionary
was edged with a ruffie. Nuna touched It,
"Nuna's dress is nice" she said but
Nuna wanted one of these.
Water-Shy Mokis.
Perhaps If 1t was as difficult for the ex-
otic American woman to get water as IL
IS for some Of the Indian women they
would be no more careful about personal
cleanliness than the aboriginal women gen.
orally are. Many Indian tribes live in
dry and arid regions. Their villages are