Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-07-28
THE RED LAKE INDIANS
INTERESTING LETTER FROM
MRS. RUSHA HISLOP.
A Description of the Wild Country
About POnemah, Astounding
i'm Indians.

Dear Friend:-I have thought of
you so much since have been here
on account of this beautiful lake
and the good fishing here. A day
like today, when the lake is rough,
would make your launch rock good
deal, but many days the lake is
quiet and line from a boat or the
nets the Indians set bring in the
shining beauties. / know you would
enjoy the sport. 1t makes me want
to fish, but was foolish enough not
to bring hooks and lines and we can
not buy much of anything here.
Ponemah, meaning hereafter" is
more of name than place for it is
only the school buildings, two little
stores and few huts and wigwams.
The postoffice is in this building and
when the mail carrier arrives Tues
days and Fridays there is scramble
to get our letters. l get the Public
Opinion on Tuesday and although it
is nearly a week old it is very well
come.
Just a narrow strip of land along
the lake shore was cleared for the
school and back of US is heavy tim
ber, mostly elm, poplar and pine.
great giant trees and much under
brush, and ferns as tall as / am. We
of oil
, thoroughly enjoy it if the mosquitoes
were not so fond of us. The birch
is also plentiful and with it's tough
bark the Indians cover their houses,
build canoes. and make many useful
articles.
In front of us is Red Lake. and
about all the amusement we have is
watching its waves or looking for
the boats. This half of the lake is
about 12x30 miles, it is connected
with a narrow neck to North lake
There are three steam boats on the
lake, two owned by lumber compan-
les and used for towing logs to the
outlet. The other is the Government
boat. They keep it over at the
agency, 5 miles across, but manage
to get over to see us about once a.
! week. There is also a gasoline
launch that is supposed to make
regular trips to the North Lake.
stopping here each way, but they
often forget us. So we see very lit
tie of the outside world.
During school time there are seven
employees and 65 scholars here. but
during vacation our family is small.
At present there are but six Three
white folks and three Chippewas.
The superindent tells me it is very
hard to keep employees here because
they get so lonesome, and | believe
him.
The work here is not very hard
and 1t is very interesting / have
met number of the Indians. There
are about $50 or 400 in this band.
living on this point of land between
the lakes. They are so isolated from
the world and the other bands that
they still keep up their old customs.
They are pagans and seem proud of
it. 1t is interesting to attend their
pow-wows and hear them sing. Their
dances would be tame if it were not
for the dress and paint. The men
as rule are betting looking than the
women, they dress good and look
young. The women are very care
less about their dress and soon look
old. The children are bright and do
fairly well at school. They enioy
singing and have good voices. The
boys are very fond of base ball and
play good deal. The girls do not
play much, but they dearly love to
chew gum and can do it to perfec-
ton, having had much practice at
nome in chewing tobacco.
Now, did not intend to write so
much, but / am interested and for
get that perhaps others are not. Il
still wonder how everything is at
the office and hope all is well. Give
my regards to the office folks.
With kindest wishes, | am.
Sincerely yours,
RUSHA HISLOP.
r. 5. BY the way. have not seen a
daily paper since ! came here. Where
are the "Cubs?'
The French fleet, according to a
parliamentary commission, is In rot
ten condition, though 100000, 900
has been spent on it in 10 years.
They seem to have taken lessons of
the land of the free and the home of
the brave