The Washington herald., 1909-01-25
Nature an Inspiration.

N0SaAN I'll AIS kAA0s-SA
Editor The Washington Herald:
Daylight surprised ne this morning
with a memory Of Goethe's Fairy Tale
about the green dragon who ate gold
pieces until she became transparent. then
lung herself at noontide across a stream,
spanning It from shore 10 shore IN an
arch OF unspeakable beauty. providing a
bridge OF her body. across which people
walked 10 and fro In the sunlight. until
some one. forgetful Of the command not
to touch her, did touch her. and instantly
she fell to pieces. all the golden hlling
dropping around her. for the people 20
pick up, which they did. But the beauti-
ful green dragon and the glorious archsd
bridge were no more-only gold left
one may fancy many meanings into
this story, o: none at all. but Il surely
must mean that nature is a source Of
wonderful inspiration to the true poet.
and a solace for leisure hours not ap-
preciated by any but her students. Goethe
was fond Of light His last words were
More light.
While discussing the African missions
my mind went back OF forward TO our
own native ssvages, so called, the IN
dians, in their desolation and poverty. and
/ the question would intrude as to the
benencence Of The white mans policy
( and cruelty TO them. William Penn
/ clearly demonstrated that they could deal
with white men hcnorably and be civil
/ ized. They were vastly superior 20 the
/ negroes: indeed. superior IN Orat0ry and
I poetry 70 the white man; only poor, that
was ALL Consider our treatment Of
/ them-OUr Outstanding Of them. They
nave sumply bsen eXterminated. and a
weapon most effective against them has
/ been. and IS. whisky. II IS often the
! solace Of despair IN the hands OF tyranny
I can not understand, never could IN
/ Gerstand. the white mans diabOlical pUr-
suit Of the Indian and his equally JEALOUS
/ propping up OF the negro. There IS no
sanity in Il: no reason, no sense.
We could not afford. and can not now
afford. 70 extlnguish the poetic genius of
/ the Indian. u is rare. II cannot be de-
/ veloped IN centuries again. II IS a vein
/ Of purest enjoyment not 20 be purchased.
not 10 be compelled. and yet We have
I bligher II with aichol. killed II with
/ bullets. and tricked IL out Of its own
I domain
/ There Yet remains only fast vanishing
I remnants OF indian lore, and this little
ought 10 Be conserved for the sake Of
/ literature. that trust fountain OF pleas
/ ure. Reservations FOR trees and for buf-
faIo are needful; why also are not Indian
/ reservations, IL which the Indian IS pro
tected in his rights OF life. liberty, and
property We know that his property IS
taken BY fraud even after he has &C
quired and cultivated Il after the manner
. OF civilization.
OF course a drunken Indian Is q bad
Indian: so is a drunken white man bad.
Why not destroy the evil and save the
mantle higher type OF man. To do
good al hore first should be the way.
The Southerner is afraid Of negro
domination. HeSneed not be. FOR he
already has T. The very accent OF The
! SOutherner IS modified by long assOCia-
ton with the negro. whose imperfectly
developed vocal organs hinder finished
speech. Every Chsrlestonian says rum. p
when he should say room. and Sc
on through the vocabulary. There Is q
whine in the tones and talk OF Charles
tonlans. caught from the object in is
major population The city Itself Is q
monument OF negro domination; bad
water from Goose Creek. filed with
chemicals in the reservoir and turning
red when heated; sewers in g 1rightfu
condition; CesspOols. owned by grea-
churches. near tenement houses. fuiI Ot
disease: graveyards all through the CITY
and widows IN long bombazine veis
4 trailing twenty years OF mourning Ovel
cObbIe-stOne streets, grass-grOwn: beg
gars. well 20 DO and very poor. al wh.n
ing after something not earned, and a.
dominated. past and present, by that ig
n0rant majOrity-ths negro. He does no
vote. but he rules Charleston For hin
she went 70 war. and for him she wen
20 Africa Would Il not have been wise
/ 10 have been honest. and 10 be homes
even now, with our own natives? Their.
IS literature and poetry and sense still Il
the Indian Just as there Is in the VII,
Arab Of North Africa I have been &
Africa and fallen in love with its vii,
! Arabians for their very splendor OF form
b like turned ivory. clad only IN a shirt
; with girdle and no hat. tossing grea
} bales OF hay from boat TO boat as
they were playthings Not men Of gian
, muscle but vital and condensed. novini
Ike ostrIchss. And who could not !magin
a fairy team OF Ostriches? A fight afte
them into regions Of poetry with Mrs
= Hemans Or Mrs. Sigourney? I do no
: know much Of missionaries. but II seem
r as II lot OF them could find work a
, home. especially rich ones.
J / Oh. Why does the white nan follow nv path
, Ike the hound the tigers track
DOES the fush on nv dark cheek waksu MS wrath
Does he cGTet the bow 2; nv back
-rnaHET