The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1905-07-05
THE INDIAN AT HOME.
Life of the Red Man Upon the Government
reservations in Oklahoma.
A. M. Barnes in Columbia State.

| can be done tomorrow is never done
today, hence not done at all. With
thrift and perseverance these Indians
OF Oklahoma could become the most
affluens people on the face of the
globe. They already the wealth of
the territory. For instance, take an
lndisn family Of six. AS starter,
each member, from the baby up, is
the possessor Of 100 acres of as fine
land as the world crn produce, on
which no taxes are to be paid for 81
years. Here are nearly 1,00G acres in
common. This land can be rented to
the white settlers, on Eve and ten
years leases at from 90 to 50 an acre
per year; some of the very best rents
for s5 per acre. In addition the gov
ernment pays to each Indian, even
to the baby a few days old, $75 twice
each year. Thus his family has
in all an income Of from $4,000 to
$4,000 year. This is the rule not
the exception. How many families of
six in the States enjoy such income as
this?
Rolling in money, the Indian has
no regard for it. and wastes it right
and left. Such extravaganza prevails
that seems well-nigh incredible to
those who are not eyewitnesses of it.
Not long ago case of fine California
canned fruit was seen stored on the
piazza Of an Indians houue. These
cans had cost from 40 to SO cents each,
yet the children opened them, eating
and wasting the contents at will. 1t
is no unusual aight to see barrel of
sugar standing in an outhouse, some
times in the yard, unprotected from
the weather, The children making use
of its contents as they please. Now
and then goodly-sized lump is
rolled about Cor amusement. Calico
is bought by the bolt and torn into
lengthy strips. for any and every pur-
pose.
It is no uuususl thing for an Indian
to pay ss much as $500 to 5000 for
conveyance that strikes his fancy; Of
course, the dealer often takes advan-
tage of mis- ignorance and charges him
far in excess Of the real value. Some
as fine conveyances as I have ever
seen are driven by Indians who live
in mere shscks and who look as
though they had ..ot had acquaintance
with q bath since the day and hour
they were born. i
Not long ago an Indian. who had
recently received thegovernment mon
ey for himself and family, was in one
Of the large towns, when 1 handsome
hearse drawn by splendid pair Of
gray horses drove up to the door of
an undertaking establishment. The
Indian eyed it in open-mouthed ad-
miration. The driver, who happened
to be the owner, saw that he was
struck aud realized that it would be
an easy tack to catch sucker. s,
You like him?" asked the hearse
owner.
Mighty heap replied the In.
dian.
Then in the next breath.
How much take p. d.
Twelve hundred dollars replied
the oYner, without the least compunc.
tion Of conscience.
Me take him.
/. TIE next day the Indian drove into
town, himself saJ wife on the drivers
seat, the inside Of the hearse filled
with papooses, Of every age and con-
ditiop, squatting shout and psering
through the plate glass uindovsl The
j Indian had bought che hesrse for .
family carriage. I. ..:i
This is not 9 newspaper story, but
came straight to me-. E5. 8
;:. lA. NJ. Barnes.
Chelsea, i. Z. sls: