The San Francisco call., 1906-10-14


with its straight strong trees
and primeval gIades. The deer
came boldly through leafy archways.
to drink at limpid pools. Rabbits. quail
and all small creatures roamed fear
lessly through the underwood. Birds
sang to the clear heaven. or nested in
the shade. Of mighty oaks, Grasses
grsw and flowers bloomed. The beauty
Of sea was there and Of clear nights
and sunny days.
And in the midst Of the gloon and
glory walked young god
He was tal. bronze-skinned. straight
as the sapling which he could unroot
with a single pull His eyes were keen
and unfaltering in the sunrays; his
face was untroubled for the forest was
his and all that was in it and he had
no fear. Under the ooughs- of the oak
home the maiden watched for his com
ing, and so as he shared the rabbit.
and caught FISH from the stream. with
, his rude weapon cast loosely about his
yOdy Ta-Nu-Na smiled. For the Great
Spirit was good and the evening meal
WAS ready And as they ate. the shades
lof. night descended, and the leaves of
the forest murmured lullaby.
And the youth slept
At the foot of a snow covered noun
tain rising a thousand feet into the air
dwell handful Of Indians At the
head Of the handful is "old Pine joe
otherwise Ta-Nu-Na. the descendant
and namesake of once mighty chief
7Ta-Nu-Na had listened to the voice of
che white men who dwelt in the val
ley and his heart was troubled. For
the white men had the Indian handful
sp their power and whether for good
or I'll Ta-Nu-Na did not know. The
remnant Of the Modocs, Pitts and
shastas clustered around the foot Of the
great mountain had engaged the at
tention of one white man whose ef-
forts to aid the helpless Indians were
well known. It was Joaquin Miller's
idea that an Indian republic could be
established-a republic that should
give the Indians some of the rights of
white men, and perhaps lead to self
government and the bestowal of further
rights as their understanding of the
system developed. He worked hard
for the naturalization of his idea and
meanwhile labored with the red men
to bring them into an understanding
Of the white mems ways.
But his efforts were not crowned with
success. Instead came the de-
velopment Of an idea by which the In
dams should be assured of so much
land bestowed on them by the Gov
ernment Each Indian should have his
own allotted portion and be taught to
cultivate the land. The Government,
wisely foreseeing the disposition Of the
land if left to the sole charge of its
Indian owners without conditions, is
sued an edict that not rod of the
land could be sold; at least not for
twenty years. TAis provision seemed
necessary in the face of existing con
ditions. but to the Indians. when the
law was interpreted to them. it meant
simply the ruin of their hopes.
The Indian of Mount Shasta.
For no Indian likes to work. It is
the law of his being. And so when
Ta-Nu-Na told his band what was to
be done for them by the Great Father
at Washington, many angry grunts Of
dissent were heard and the light Of
battle flashed in more than one faded
eye. But Ta-Nu-Na was wise in his
generation. He counseled patience and
silence and his word was followed. For
they were helpless. What could they
do, the little band crouching at the
foot of Mount Shasta with the summer
waning and the SHOWS of winter coming
on? /.
Could they have sold the land Ta-Nu-
Na would have been glad: for he knew
that the white man, though avaricious,
viii sometimes give money for that
which only represents it. But now.
fTa-Nu-Na saw long days stretching
before him and the remnant Of his tribe
without pleasure or profit; for the In
oian's pleasure is IN his freedom, and
of profit he recks little save as il
is Ineligible to his understanding. To
be sure there was Wa We-Ah, his old
and faithful squaw. She made baskets
now and then, but the art was fast
dying out among his people and the
sale was neither so ready or great as
Il had been. Nevertheless Wa-We-Ah