East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-12-22

Harold A. Loring. of the United
states Indian service, who arrived
here last evening, Is engaged In unique
work. His mission Is to collect the
native songs of the Indians SO that
they may be preserved by the govern
ment along with the folk lore and
other things that have been collected
in the past.
The appointment OF Mr.. Loring to
his position was made last July, and
was done at the instance OF F.. n.
Leupp commissioner of Indian affairs
The commissioner has been favorable
to such n step from the time he en-
tereds office. Also. the secretary Of
the interior and the president have
both manifested strong interest in the
matter.
When seen this morning before leav-
ing for the agency Mr.. I.oring spoke
very .entertainingly of his work.
when first appointed" said he. '1
went among the Sioux because had
been with that tribe more or less for
two years, and consequently was fa-
miliar with their language. Also
with the Chyennes, who have al
ways been associated with the Sioux.
After completing my work among
those tribes l went among the Crows
the Chlppewas, and the Flatheads.
Yakima reservation, after which / will
visit the Colvilles and the Blackfeet." :"
When he first started upon his
work Mr.. Loring was provided with
a large phonograpr of special manu-
facture. However. he soon found the
Use of suc,. 10 be unsatisfactory for
recording many OF the Indian songs
and especially the war songs, because
the pandemonium In too much for the
machine. However. he still retains
the phonograph and uses II to catch
some of the calmer Indian songs by
having few sing into It in concert.
But most OF the recording Mr.. Lor-
ing now does personally after hearing
the songs number of times. At first
he has the song given together by
number OF old members OF the tribe.
These he secures in preference to the
younger men, because with the latter
the old tribal music has become too
greatly affected by modern conditions.
After he has heard a song given in
concert, he has different ones sing
II individually. While such is being
done he records the music himself
and verifies his notes until he is cer-
tain of having 1t correctly.
1T is not my work to encourage In
dians to retain their old-time songs"
said Mr.. Loring. but merely to make
a collection of such so that they will
not be lost when the Indian has pass
ed away. 1t Is not desirable to have
the Indians sing because of the rous-
ing effect 1t has upon the more war
like tribes. This is especially notice
able among such tribes as the Sioux,
where civilization has not wrought
the changes that II has among the In
dians OF the northwest"
According to Mr.. Loring. the songs
OF the Indians show the history and
the characteristics OF the various
tribes The songs of the Sioux are
strong and warlike. while among
tribes less ferocious the music is more
prosaic.
AS Is TO be expected from one who
has such close knowledge OF real In
dian songs. Mr.. Loring does not place
high value upon the different Indian"
songs that have been popular within
the past few years. At least he does
not value them as Indian songs" for
he says they are poor limitations of
such. He does not believe Navajo"
would be recognized by an indian as
a song Of his race.
Since he has been engaged in his
work OF collecting the music of the
Indians. Mr.. Loring has composed an
overture for a half dozen or more
tribal songs. This will be published by