The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-08-18
REDSKIN CHILD LIFE
REARING AND TRAINING OF INDIAN
BOYS AND GIRLS.
Yhc Way the Infants Are Dressed
aud CradIed-Tbc Occasional Bath
of Water, Sun and Air-Games and
Sports of the Little Ones.


Given a reasonable chance for life
the Indian child is as happy, hopeful
ambitious and playful As Is the white
child born under much happier cir
cumstances, says the Los Angeles
Times. He is, too, quite as initiative
and like his white cousin, he apes the
ways and manners Of his elders and
mimics their occupations in his play.
The infant Indian possesses rather
more dignity than the ordinary white
child This Is chiefly owing to the care
he receives rather than 10 Inherited
sedateness. In his infancy he Is
strapped to q board or securely packed
in an elongated basket woven for that
purpose, where he can neither kick nor
squirm. He cries less than his white
cousins, because he early learns that
it is an Improbable occupation.
The Indian mother Is very accommo-
dating. IL her infant wishes to cry
she let's him do so. She does not, like
the white mother, rush to the child
when he begins TO howl and try to
pacify him. She lets him howl till he
tires Of it and ceases OF his own ac-
cord. 1t is because crying brings them
attention that most children cry. The
young Indian does not get the atten-
ton, so he soon cuts out crying en-
tlrely With crying, kicking and
squirming eliminated there Is really
It I.trt tn ron "A i'm
calm and look dlgnifed. This Is what
he does, as rule.
The Indians baby wardrobe Is n
very simple affair. 1t generally con-
sists Of single cloth or skin, as the
case may be, wrapped around and
around the small one. 1t is about two
minutes work for the red mamma to
dress her child and bind 1t to the board
or basket which serves as crib. The
board or basket Is then stood upright
in a corner OF the dwelling, II her work
is in the house, or against convenient
bank or bowlder, If the work Is In the
field, or, If II is I'm the forest. the cradle
may be suspended from the bough OF
tree.
The care Of the child Is as simple as
its dress. 1t receives little attention
outside Of the giving of nourishment
at stated intervals. Occasionally, once
a week or once I'm every two or three
weeks, as may be most convenient.
several of the Indian mothers make Il
little bathing party and go to some
pool or stream and give the babies a
bath. There are none of the little lux
ures Of the bath of the white baby,
such as scented soap, soothing powders
and the like. The little ones are loos-
ened from their bonds, their wrap Is
removed, and they are laid In the shall
low water Of the pool or stream to kick
and splash and disport to their hearts
content. while their mothers chat upon
the bank near by. After season they
are removed and dried.
Are they tenderly wiped with soft,
clean linen? No, indeed. About the
middle of each grown baby Is tied n
piece Of cloth, and they are hung by
this cloth from the bough Of some con-
venient tree to dry I'm the air and sun
shine. while their mothers continue
their briefly interrupted gossip. Later
the human fruit Is plucked from the
branches, and the little ones are wrap
ped and Graded, when they ride upon
the backs of their mothers to their
rude homes.
1t has been frequently remarked that
Indian children all seem strong, healthy
and well formed. There Is Il reason
for this In number of the tribes. Ii
has been the practice with most west
ern tribes to refuse life to weakly or
deformed infants born to them. In the
case of albino children, which are by
no means uncommon, the child Is left
to perish OF neglect and starvation. for
the Indians believe that these children
are marks of displeasure on the part
induced to meddle with the child, ei-
ther TO put II out OF the way by drown
ing or suffocation, as Is their practice
with deformed children, or to give IL
nourishment, that 1t may have chance
TO live.
When a child is old enough to begin
walking the board or basket cradle Is
discarded, and the next few years OF
the child's life are years Of freedom.
He gambols about the paternal dwell
ing. inside and out, as do the puppies
which are his companions. He Is ma
ked usually unless he needs protection
from the cold, and he can stand much
colder weather than ordinary white
children.
Children Of from six to sixteen years
find deal of delight in active games
and athletic sports-wrestllng, racing
and such games as deer and hounds.
mimic battle, follow the leader, throw
the spear, hide and seek and many
other games, some OF which are simi-
lar to those played by white children.
The fondest desire Of the heart OF
the Indian parent is that the child shall
be brave and self reliant. The child
is never whipped, for that tends to
break his spirit and make a coward Of
him Nevertheless Indian children are