The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-02-28

1 hold higher rank than Geronimo, and wore soldier clothes with epaulettes upon his shoulders. Nannay was an- other chief, superannuateds one, with harsh guttural voice. and Loko, still another chief. was also an old man. and had only one eye.
 Geronimo was very heavy-set. and doubtless weighed over 200 pounds. His face was round and full, his cheeks-Aeavy, and his face was rather of the ,"dished" kind. An extract from The Kansas City Journal, copied in The Advertiser of February 21. says Geronimo never softened in his hatred toward the whites, and in all the years of his captivity he resolutelf refused to learn 8 word of English" He may have felt hatred. but If so. he certain ly concealed 1t well. for he was about the most friendly Indian there in sew eral ways, and he certainly knew some English words.
 He was far from being a recluse. but loved publicity very dearly. His lik- ing for being noticed" was indeed very pronounced and time and again has the writer seen him. at the train with supply of his wares. holding them aloft to the passengers. who often crowded out on the platform and steps, and if they did not seem in-
 
 of the train he would hold them up in an inviting way and exclaim. Me Geronimo, me Geronimo" which often accomplished his purpose of making a sale.
 To see him at his best" however, was when some excursion was coming. and he kept informed about these. Hc was sight to behold when in the full dress" of his gaudy. face paint and other frillS he went forth fn mo ha excursionists. He knew that many would ask for him. or about him. and he evidently wished to do full honor to the occasion--aiso to dispose of his wares. He also had some tin-type pie lures of himself made, in all his full dress regalia. and these he would ped dle out with great unction of de- meanor.
 Geronimo in New Role.
 When the excursionists came. if they did not seem very anxious to make his acquaintance, or transact business with him, the writer has seen him go and stand near them. in all his panoply. like some actor waiting in the wings. He evidently had an itch ing for the center of the stage, and instead of refusing to have anything to do with the white man, as he has often been misrepresened. he was quite friendly. I.e seemed to realize that any resistance would be entirely vain, and to accept the result philosophical ly. He knew more English than the chance visitor might imagine. for like the others it was characteristic of them that while some could understand it very well. they would pretend. es- pecially before strangers, that they did not.
 Two young white ladies taught Q school for the Indian children. in the edge of the village. and Geronimo was of great help to them in that work He would visit the school and woe unto the young Indian who dared to infringe the rules If Geronimo found it out In fact. so great was his ser inscribed. '"ro Geronimo. for services in the school" and that medal was a part of his taking outfit" whenever the excursioniSts were to come.
 More striking still was his part in the Sunday school for the Indians The writer has seen him, on Sunday afternoon, out near the school building. making the "welkin ring" with a cow bell. as he thus called the Indian children for their study of the Bible and he also attended the exercises and in the matter of maintaining dis cipline he was ever on the alert. It is said upon what is considered good authoriy, that after he was taken west again, he himself embraced Chris tianity. and even did missionary work among his people. Considering his career at Mt. Vernon, 1t is very likely that such was the case.
 GerOnimo's Signature.
 Not only did Geronimo have his name on the articles which he sold but he himself put 1t there. One day as the writer approached the station, the old warrior was standing there alone. awaiting the coming of the train. and as the former came up and spoke to him, he returned the greet ing. and then the old chief reached over toward the other and took from which he saw there. and he made signs for a pamphlet the other was holding. It was given to him, and then the man so long accustomed to the wild. free life, proceeded to write his name. He was immensely pleased when 1t was read off to him and com- pared with the hame on his silver medal and on the bows he was carry ing in his hand.
 So much did the writer value 1t. that he cut out that part of the pamphlets back which contained the signature. and pasted 1t upon "a card. It Is inclosed with this communica- tion. exactly as he himself wrote it, and if the editors of The Advertiser desire. it may be reproduced in their columns In order that their readers may see this specimen of writing by one of the most celebrated chiefs who try, and whose death has been herald ed so widely throughout the United States.