New-York tribune., 1909-04-04
BAD INDIANS FEW
COMPARED TO GOOD
WHAT THE LITTER ARE
DOING.
Raising Prize Vegetables for Red
Mans Far and Giving English
Comic Opera.

Friends Of the Indian refuse to be discouraged
oy last wee2's outbreak Of Creeks and Senninoies
III pAlahoIna They say that enc uprising after
many Ped'eIu years does not prove anything
"Sa!hst the red man, who has been steadily pro-
crossing In MS practice Of civilized ways The
groups OF intractabe aborisiues are insignificant
compared to those tribesmen who are industrious
farmers. mechanics and useful members OF so
clety. While Crazy Snake leading his braves
on the warpath the other day students OF the
Carlisle Indian School were holding graduating ex
eTclSes ard presenting a three-act comic opera
AT the same time the Crows OF Montana were
getting ready for spring pIoughing. and other red
men were engaged in host Of Industrial pur-
suits.
The old theorists said that IT was hopeless To sx
pect the aborigine 10 work at anything. and espe-
cialiy at farming Major 5. G. Reynolds a young
banker who was appointed government agent OF
the Crow reservation in Montana disagreed with
this view. He had notion that the Indians could
be induced to labor If they were handled properly
and he set about proving the correctness OF his
notion with subtIety and hnesse equal to that OF
the savage mind The agent did not frighten his
charges with the naked statement that work was
wanted He called them together and told them
a beautiful story about the county fair held every
year oy the white men of the East-hOrse races,
games. prizes for big pumpkins and fat hogs.
Plenty fun. heap big time Wouldn't the Crows
like to have such annual carnival? The idea
was taken up with enthusiasm. Young braves and
old bucks went back their allotted farms and
began to raise exhibits for the fair. most happily
unconscious that this required work They thought
II was game The first fair held four years ago.
was a mild beginning. but the last one celebrated
In October, showed that the Crows have been
thoroughly weaned from tdleness to agriculture
The fair ground the Big Horn River was
crowded with four thousand Indians, many OF
whom had trekked hundreds Of miles overland to
eat. drink and be merry with their Crow brethren.
There were Cheyennes Sioux, Nez Perces Black
feet. Fatiheads, and Indians from the Una
ulla reservation in Washington. a COMMITTEES OF
red farmers managed things in approved white
style. Prize horses cattle chickens and other farm
products were exhibited while there were special
rewards for the best kept tepee and housewifely
accomplishments. 4 fine assortment OF largest
vegetables shown. The "squaw man" or
white husband OF an Indian. received a special
premium for agricultural merit.
Next to the horse racing and athletic contests the
feature most popular the nightly dance held IN
big tents or out IN the Open with bucks. squaws
and children enthusiastic dancers. Formerly the
Crows did nothing but dance: now The revival OF
the ancient ceremony Is the reward Of midsunrner
diligence. The climax Of the fair big sham
battle. in which mounted warriors enjoyed them
selves in full feathers OF battle and temporarily
forgot that they farmers
The Captain OF Plymouth a comic opera pre-
sented by eghty-four boy and girl Indians at Car
Isle School the other day. revealed the fact that
the educated descendant OF sayages has keen con-
ception OF the white mans hurnor and even ap-
Among the characters presented were Niles Stand
ish. John Alden. Priscilla, Puritan elder, CHEZ
Wattawamut and "a sextet Of Plymouth daisies
4 young Indian named MontreviIle Yuda played
the comedy role OF Miles Standish with great sue
cess. while Michael BaIenti the football quarter
back, who starred throughout the country on
the gridirOn last year, laures as a too
modest lover, John Alden. The dignity OF the
white mans fOrefathers upheld IN the stern Old
figure OF Elder Brewster. and well opposed to
this type was the stately chief Of the Pequot
Indians
The Priscilla OF Miss CarIysle Greenbrier was
not only fetching in looks. but exhibited So
pranO voice that scared Up to high c with ease.
A chorus Of lusty lunged youths and Inaideus
numbering sixty-three. at times rather overbaI-
anced the school orchestra Of seven pieces but il
was mighty good to hear the singing. Several
dances made hit with the Carlisle townsfoIk who
were permitted TO witness the show unique
novelty was the Indian lullaby given by twelve
cOmeiy Indian squaws, each OF whom carried a
pappOOse board containing a ufesize Indian doll
The squaws made their entrance on the scene much
IN the way a crowd of Indian women 7vouId walk
through their camp. chatting together their ua-
tive language and, working the front of the stage
they gradually swung into odd lullaby while
they rocked their pappOoses. II was very pretty
picture Every person interested in the production
Indian. from the scene shifters to the work
ers in the f1y loft gallery OF the school theatre