The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-11-26
10, THE POOR INDIAN.
Once Mo-e Red Man Gets the Better
of EOnIiSh Palcface


of Foolish Palcface.
They were Indians. Real Indians.
And they were CARRIED in the brilliant
regala Ct the plains. Red ard yellow
blankets. eagle feathers. trinkets of
gold and silver and bright metals,
fringed buckskin leggins-all, in fact,
that make the pictures given away
with a pound of tea attractive decora-
tions for the 'den,' were to be found
on these specimens of the faSt-dying
native Americans. says the Washington
Star. And. of course, they attracted
great attention. There were probably
fifteen or twenty of them, silent and
severe, standing on the portico of the
Interior Department So picturesque
was Their outfit that even Nthe blase
department clerks, who see Indians
every day or so, We're drawn from their
arduous duties TO watch them. A
fringe of curious men and women were
gathered around the group and their
comments were extremely personal and
in no low tones
Don't he look too sweet for any
use?" queried $500 stenographer in a
silk waist, broadcloth skirt and patent
leather boots to a $3.50 "laborer" equal
ly well logged.
There is something so noble In his
face" the other replied. The object
Of their attentions was standing about
four feet away, his face turned half
away. and his countenance betraying
that nearness to absolutely nothing that
only the Indians can show.
He was picturesque. He was one OF
the few who wore no hat. His hair
was braided and hung over his Shout
ders and silver bands were about his
forearms. He wore soft white shirt
of civilization. clasped above the ell
boys with red silk elastic sleeve hold
ers. Beyond these two trifies, however.
he was all Indian, from the eagle
feather that hung from the scalp lock
to his beaded moccasins. He looked
younger than the others Of his COM
pany and attracted the most attention.
People gathered near him, surveyed
him from head TO foot and made audi
BILE comments on his appearance and
cracked some of those weak Jokes
about Man Afraid of His-Mother-in-
Law, ETC.. that so many well-meaninS
citizens think they are called upon to
repeat when an Indian happens to be
around.
This Indian must have heard these
things. He was never more than three
Or four feet away from the speakers,
and they did not pretend to lower their
voices. relying on his lack of knowl-
edge of English. The ubiquitous anna
teur photographer was there with his
camera. This time the young man be-
hind the bulb was the rankest sort of
an amateur. The crowd watched his
efforts to snapshot the Indian with
considerable interest. After making
one or two Intellectual attempts to get
the right focus, the young man ex-
claimed impatiently against his luck.
This is a new lens and new box,
and don't know the proper combina-
tion," he said to friend standing near.
Then Mr.. Indian turned his head and
looked toward the camera. With a
smile that illumined his whole face.
he bowed courteously to the phetogra-
pher, and in the purest and most cult
waited English said
eff l might be pardoned for making
a suggestion, am somewhat familiar
with that make of instrument Use the
81 stop. and with half a second expos
ure you ought to get good negative,
in this light. Oh not at all, not at
ALL"
AID the smile wore off his features
as the Indian resumed his attitude of
stolid indifference.