The San Francisco call., 1908-12-27

Accordingly. the fact that the
Crow Indians have adopted the
the country fair may be accepted as
proof positive that the civilization Of
that great and once warlike tribe is no
- longer problematical, or a consu1nma-
ton 70 be hoped for in the distant
future. but an accomplished fact When
the aborigines take kindly to ragtime
music and pink lemonade and compete
Tor prizes in exhibitions Of mammoth
pumpkins. squashes and cucumbers, It
IS evident that nothing but the acci-
dent Of race 'differentiates them from
the white farmers who regard fair day
as the great event OF the year There
is nothing in common between the
warpath and the midway; and the war
rior who has known the Joy of seeing
his rooster win first prize, or OF wit
Messing the decoration Of his yearling
heifer with the blue ribbon, will never
again permit his bronzed features to
be adorned with warpaint The Crows
are evidently ready for citizenship and
II they prove as crafty In politics as
they used TO be IN war the political
bosses OF Montana will surely have
hard fight to regain their supremacy.
The fourth annual fair OF the Crow
Indians was held several weeks ago.
Socially and financially 1t was an un-
sQuivocel success. From the viewpoint OF
the lovers OF the spectacular the Crow
indian fair beats the greatest wild west
show ever put on the road; but its
deeper interest and significance lie in
the fact that IL shows that the alb
criGtnes have deliberately and forever
given up the old ways. and that their
ambitions, hopes and aspirations now
lie along lines OF peaceful rivalry with
their white fellow citizens.
The fair at the Crow agency in
eastern Montana was largely attended
By Blackneet, cheyennes. Sioux. Nez
Peroea and members OF many other
tribes OF the northwest. II was, prob
ably. the most representative gathering
ot tribes OF the northwest ever assem-
bled together. Considerably more than
1000 Indians were IN attendance Each
place. and there all members OF that
tribe erected their tepeea. and at night
ceremonial dances were given IN large
tents erected for that purpose. The
camp was approached by q road that
led acress e footbridge. crossing the
Idttls Big Horn river. At the foot
bridge rs cents admission to the camp
ground was collected from all visitors.
Every morning at 10 o'clock the pa
rede was formed. The leader OF the
parade was the herald Of the old chief
Plenty Coos, head chief Of the Crow
nation who followed carrying a large
American nag. The old war chief was
conspicuous by the absence OF harbagic
trappings, wearing no insignia OF the
wsrpath excepting q white eagle
feather IN his hair. However, his fol-
lowers were not so modest GorGeous
war bonneta. belts and savage TeEslis
covered horses and riders, giving the
acene picturesQueness that thrilled
the hearts OF many old time plainamen
who Witnessed II.
Considered merely an q pageant the
parade was worth travelling many
miles 70 see Considered IN the light OF
its historic interest and significance II
has been matched by no other parade
n America fl recent years. Here were
the descendants Of the first Americans
Many OF those IN the parade had fought
Crook and Miles and Custer on many
hercely contested field. Some had par
ticipzted IL the battle Of Little Big
Horn and no doubt their thoughts re-
verted TO that famous field (only three
miles away. where they had hoped
forever TO block the approach Of tn,
white mans civilization These grin
old warriors had come to the parting o.
the ways, and their presence IN th'
parade was evidence that they wer,
philosophers enough TO bow to the in
evttable. Here and there, borne higl
fn the air and waving in the breeze
was q string Of scalp locks In prox
frnity so close that sometimes thesl
Erewsome relics were enveloped in it
folds was the American nag. Ipcon