The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-16
CHILD LIFE AMONG INDIAN
Rearing and Training q Little Red ps,S
and Giris,

CHILD LIFE AMONG INDIANS,
Rearing and Training q Little Red p.,s
and Giris.
Given q reasonable chance for lis n.
Indian child is Is happy. hopeful, Ambitions
and playful - 10 the white child born unds,
much happier circumstances, says ths
Los Angeles Times. He is, too, OUT. A.
initiative, and like his white cousin, 10 Am.
the ways and manners OF his elden I'M
mimics their occupations In bis play.
Tho infant Indian possesses rather mon.
dignity than tho ordinary white obI]d
This IL chiefly owing to tho oare DO rsc,v.s
rather than to Inherited sedateness, Ia
his infancy no is strapped to a board a,
securely packed in an elongated bs.E,,
woven for that purpose, where be an
neither kick nor squirm. He cries hss
than his white cousins. because be e.dv
learns that 1t u an Improbable occupation,
The Indian mother Is very accommodating
II her infant wishes to cry. she lets bin
do So She does not, like the white mother
rush to the child when he begins to howl
and try to pacify him. She let's him howl
till he tires Of 1t and ceases Of his own
accord. It Is because crying brings them
attention that most children cry. The
young Indian does not get the attention.
30 be soon cuts out crying entirely. With
crying, kicking and squirming eliminated.
there IL really nothing left for him but to
remain calm and look dignifed. This b
what he does, as a rule.
The Indian baby's wardrobe Is very
simple affair. It generally consists Of q
single cloth, or skin, as the case may be.
wrapped around and around the small one,
It IL about two minutes work for the red
mamma to dress her child and bind it to
the board or basket which serves as a crib.
The board or basket IL then stood upright
in a corner Of the dwelling. II her work Is In
the house, or against . convenient bank
or boulder, II the work is in tho field, or, u
it is in the forest, the cradle may be sus-
pended from the bough Of tree.
Tho care Of the child Is as simple as ito
dress, II receives little attention outside
Of the giving Of nourishment at stated
intervals. Occasionally, once a week OF
once In every two or three weeks, as may
be most convenient, several Of the Indian
mothers make little bathing party. andgo
to some pool or stream and give the babies
. bath. There are none OF the little luxures
of the bath OF the white baby. such u
scented soap, soothing powder and tho
like. The little ones are loosened from
their bonds, their wrap is removed and
they are laid In tho shallow water OF tho
pool or stream, to kick and splash and dS
port to their hearts content. while their
mothers chat upon the bank near by. Aits
. season they are removed and dried.
Are they tenderly wiped with soft. clean
lineni No, indeed. About the middle Of
each grown baby 10 tied . pieoe Of cloth.
and they are hung bv this cloth from tho
Dough Of some convenient tree, to dry 10
the air and sunshine, while their mothers
their briefly interrupted gossip,
Later tho human fruit Il pluoked from the
branches, and the little ones are wrapped
and graded, when they ride upon the bscks
Of their mothers to their rude homes
1t has been frequently remarked that
Indian children all seem strong healthy
and well formed. There 10 a reason for
this in number Of the tribes. 1t has
been the practise with most Western tribes
to refuse life to weakly or deforned in
fants born to them. In the case Of albtno
mon, the child is left to perish Of neglect
and starvation. for the Indians believe
that these children are markB OF displeasure
on the part of the Great Spirit. and they
cannot be induced to NEEDLE with the child,
either to put 1t out Of the way by drowning
or suffocation, as Is their practise with
ment, that It may have Chance to i've
When child 10 old enough to begin walk
ing the board or basket cradle is discarded.
and the next few years OF the child's ITO
IRE years Of freedom. He gambols about
the paternal dwelling, inside and Quit
% do the puppies which are his companions
Ieetion from the coid. and he cam csn stand
much colder weather than ordinary white
children.
Children Of from to 10 years find deal Of
deliq ht in active games and athletic sports
racing and such games as deer
md hounds, mimic battle, follow the leader
throw the spear and hide and seei. ana
,imilar to those played by white children;
The fondest desire Of the heart Of tho
indian parent is that the child shall be brave
md self-reliant. The child is never
whipped. for that tends to break his spns
md make q coward Of him. Nevertneles,
indian children arc respectful. ooedi'hIs
he home. and do not mingle In the con-
Of their elders.
The Indian father tells his sons stone r.
II prowees, a. they gather around tns
,pen fire In the middle Of the lodgs OF
,efore the door Of tho dwelling for the puld;
,ose Of encouraging them to bravery sna
eliance. The mother schools them 70
endurance and patience under sunsaan aG
70 pains = spared to inculcate ~ toe"
hose qualities 20 admired by the redmon .,,
Tho education OF the child Is oroatr.
bout principally by observation a IIa.T ~
10 learns the history and tradition; 9! ,t *.
ribe ~ they are related about the De- Ns1r.
tone Of the tepee in the evening ~.r,
90, he hears stories OF the chase, o. 49,
( proves, and he Is quick to eaten =.
ubtle points Of the tale and TO Learn s,.h; %
ecrets OF stalking the game or ampu'"hass
be enemy. The daughter learns nv +,
nother's arts, a. does the white rIh, ~
rsctical attempts under the motae a,s
supervision. Tho arts and occupsu0ni
both sexes arc few, and the pr0cess "
an education 10 not long "
i6cult one.