Evening star., 1909-01-17

Indeed, l could gather from his words that he had
gone we'll into details and-still had my doubts
IN San Francisco all stopped at the Palace then
the famous place, and i'm began his round of
buying. Poor Jim! How uncomfortable he ap-
peared in his new clothing, how changed when
stripped of his splendid beard, and how clumsily
he walked in the shoes he must forever! /
caught him in the act of sadly folding his mocca-
sins after he had given his mnknks to curio seeker
And Peechecan! Heavens! it was awful! In her
native garb, thousands of miles from white women
and in the freedom of the great North she had ap-
peared beautiful; but now! Well, you can imagine
how difficult it was for her to fit in She tried hard
enough to assume the bravery of the city, which
terrified her with its noise and strangeness If it
hadn't been SO pitiable, it would have been laugh
able
For rinstance, saw a crowd snckerng in Market-st.
one day, and looked for the cause Here came the
Big Chicken and Jim She had selected and he had
probably intended for evening wear. A yellow hat
with plumes had also pleased her fancy. Round
her neck and dropping far below her belt, which
was made of nuggets, dangled heavy nugget chain
which weighed few pounds and swung pendulous
she walked. Her hair still in braid, but
was tied with pink ribbon of enormous breadth
shoes, so she was wearing moccasins, and the pave
ments caused her to lose her lightness of foot until
she appeared to lumber rather than to walk And be-
side her lowered Jim with frown on his face and
glancing fierce challenges from right to left evil
IDENTIFY hoping to find who questioned
Peechecan's right to wear what she chose.
them back to the hotel.
TT the next night, believe, that with native
= art1essness and innocence she to my rooms
while Jim for some other was away She
entered softly and with unusual timidity. Her
eyes were vaguely troubled
"Killsnush," that is what she used to call me-
meaning the Father of Killisnu,- =" Killisnuish why
do the white men and women laugh at me?"
1t hard to answer; but her question was so
direct that had try to tell her the truth l did
IT gently
which l thoroughly familiar, so that she might
better understand. l tried to encourage her to
spend the remainder of her life She had seated
herself cross legged, in all her nery, the floor
with the points of her little beaded moccasins stick
ing out from beneath the awful rags and flls of red
When l stopped for want of words, she silent a
moment and then her voice came coldy, though
my people trial before her sense of
Justice. | interpret her words but lamely, and
in spite of me the arraignment is partially lost.
This then, is the white mans civilization! The
thing that makes him despise those not of his
while obsequousy taking their gold dust for goods
he has to barter that makes the white women of
the street who more beautiful than the shamans
daughter deride her because she is not clothed to
their taste and laugh at her endeavor; at her
affections and, where she is known, scorn to have
her in their homes, as if she unclean beast,
unsouled and not herself they womanl:'
For the first time | learned that the barb of
northern ostracism had with refined cruelty wounded
her, though till then she had uttered moan;
discovered too that she had been more observant
after arriving in San Francisco than | had thought.
Poor little woman! brought up in the woods and
the SHOWS to revere the wonders of that outside
world and disiusoned!
we will go back she said, as if pronouncing
final decision 'Peechecan would die here. We will
60 back"
1t was necessary for me to reason with her; Pee
checan' l said, what of Jim? He is still young.
These are his people. He is rich and can become
great chief among them. Is it fair to ask him to
give all up and go back to the North where there
is nothing more for him to do? Is it fair him."
Her answer long in coming and quite unex-