The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1907-08-17
Loue Story of *'SH Fox
and "Skippi,,g >Bird''

The American Indian will stand
thereafter in history as pathetic per-
sonality; for, no matter what has been
the career of the various tribes of
Indians, as a race he has in fact al
most disappeared. He is going to be
especially interesting in the ethnolog
ical history of man, owing to the fact
that he seems to be the only one of
alien races that assimilates with the
white with profit to both.
We are learning late in the day that
many traits of character that were
accredited to him as typical, are not
his at all, but were attributed to him
merely because Of the lack of intimate
acquaintance with his personality;
intimate acquaintance with him being
prevented by his implacable defense
of his rights" through three centur-
les of continuous war.
That he is susceptible to the finer
emotions, and not at all the stolid,
stern figure of past literature, this re-
cital of an actual Indian romance will
show.
One Of the great events on the
Sioux reservations of Pine Ridge and
Rosebud. after the war of 1876, was
Buffalo Bills" visit for the purpose of
choosing some warriors to travel East
with him. There was eager competi
;tion among the Indians for the honor.
Not only would he who went with the
exhibition get lot Of money, simply
for enjoying himself all season long,
but he would bring back trunks full
of things for trade, desirable things
from the far-off cities of the white
man, upon which he could proceed to
grow rich, and in addition, he would
be- as long as he lived, a man of stand
ing, one to be hardened to and envied
by the untraveled. Perhaps, also, one
of the great advantages was escape,
for a season, from the reservation,
which must in time: grow deadly dull
for persons predisposed to activity.
That latter consideration, however,
was not operative in the mind of Sly
Fox, gallant young Ogallalla Sioux
buck, who, by the aid of mighty log
rolling" pipe laying influence" and
'pull' among the older selecting
chiefs, had finally got himself into the
band of chosen ones for the season of
1887. So far as he was concerned
there was no monotony on the reserva-
ton, SO long as the maiden, Skipping
Bird, was there. Though it seemed to
him absurd to imagine that she lacked
If mol
that she failed to realize his superb
GRITTY over the impudent, intermeddling
young bucks who made goo-goo eyes at
her, Sly Fox would have felt easier in
mind if Skipping Bird had been more
explicit in stating her preferences in
his behalf. He and Lean Dog, his most
obnoxious rival, had an argument
with hatchets-which in it's inception
seemed likely to be an effective vari-
ant upon the monotony of life, but was
interrupted and authoritatively called
off by Red Cloud. the chief, who was
boss" Then; Sly Fox moped and
sulked until the happy idea of going
with the Wild West and coming back
rich and dazzling occurred to him.
But after he had been enrolled
among the fortunate and his fever of
exultation had cooled a little, doubts
began to worry him. He could get no
assurance that Skipping Bird would
wait for him to come back and over
power her with his wealth and mag
nifcence. Lean Dog, he had to admit
to himself, was his equal in person
and ponies, as indeed were several 9TH
ers whom he viewed with jealous sus-
picion. And Skipping Bird was so ex-
asperatingly non-committal, according
nothing more than the same shy smiles
to each and all. 1t was by conduct
like that, he said to himself, that a
woman got to deserve a club; but Of
course that would be out of the ques-