Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-06
EARNESTLY SEEKING LIGHT.
Appeal of an Indian Who Grieves for
His PEOPLES Vices.

Commissioner Leupp Of the Indian bureau
has received within the last few days a
letter addressed to the President, through
the Indian Office from an Indian who de-
sires some light on the problem that has
been perplexing him for many moons. The
letter furnished almost as much a problem
to Mr.. Leupp and the officials of the In
dian office as the matter, which it has been
finally determined, and which had been
bothering the Presidents correspondent
The tired brains of the clerks in the Indian
bureau who have worked over the letter
have evolved the theory that the writer
desires some decision to whether it
would be better for the Indians If the
young men were taught the Indian dances
at the different schools The cOrrespon-
dent says that he believes most of the
trouble from the young Indian comes from
the fact that they are kept in ignorance Of
the Indian dances while they are young and
that when the dances are taught them they
go back to the old style of living and do not
profit by their education. The writer of
the letter is very earnest and really wants
to help his people, it would seem. The
translation here given is the deduction of
the officials of the Indian bureau, but al
most any kind of a translation can be
made therefrom. as the following literal
copy will show:
my Dear President
through Frances E. Leupp, Indian
COMMISSIONER at w aSnlngtOn, II. T.,
Il am so glad to hear that We Rave a
new man for our head man Mr.. Leupp.
Now, My Dear good friend and l ask you
to help me. I am Indian ignorant and
poor am one of eros Ventre tribe of this
agency. am almost walking in your ways
and study your good Way every day. But
l don't know all yet. 1 just Keep on. Be
cause l know that you Wants us to do that
way. learn more and more and try to do
What is right. and standing by on good
side. The years ago. the big Chief H Price
he told us What President Wish to the In
dians. Mr. Price said that our president
wants all Indian children VIII send to
school and learn how to talk english. Write,
work. garden, Farming raise stock charac-
ter, education. to live right. So we send
some our children to school at Fort Steven
son school. and some children send to east
to school. When my boy get through the
Government school he know not enough so
| send him to Fargo, N. Oak. high school
l paid my own money. But he is dead
Now he is gone. I am very so sorry.
II also go to school at Fort Berthold
during 1880. and study about four years.
Since l would like to be as white man good
character. l quit my old way. l must go
to tell you about Worse thing in Indian
Way that Make young men foolish is Indian
dances Some of young men get through
their school But they going back to old
Way before that not allowed the school
boys they never Indian dances Because
Indian dances is some bad Ways in it.
Make Foolish young men. 1 Wants to
know What you think is best? the school
boys right to Indian dances or not Indian
dances, you know every dances they gave
away What they got make for themselves
they did not learn that When they go to
school.
MY Dear good friend. Hon. Frances E..
Leupp, Dear Sir. l want to do me best to
help What right to every body. 1 just try
to bring those boys in right Way and
want you to see them about it.
The Washington all Great Chief Shall
not be forgotten