The Washington herald., 1910-08-03
THE INDIANS BLANKET.
Great Care IL Exercised In the Choice
OF Design and CoIOring.

or Design and COiOrluE.
From the Seattle Post-Iutelligenoer.
Pendleton. Oreg.--There are two impor-
tant factors that. in the mind OF the
brave, must be present to comprise a
genuine Indian SSlsnket. and the skill and
judgment he exercises in making his Sc
lection is worthy Of mention. Whether
no is 70 possess one or twenty blankets
has nothing 10 do with the great care
used in selecting them.
His first demand Is that the robe con-
tain three colors-red. yellow. and green.
usually one OF the three being the pre-
vailing shade.
Secondly, he demands that the blanket
have three bold stripes-all the same
pattern and carrying the same colors-
two being ten inches from each edge OF
the robe, while the third and center
stripe is trife wider and also runs the
entire length Of the blanket
When the blanket Is worn by the In
dian the center stripe falls In the middle
OF the back, giving the tall and stately
| effect so much desired.
II. perchance, the Indian is in mourn
ing the pattern is not changed, but the
blanket contains only dark blue and
black as eOlOrs- The manner IN which
the Indian wraps his blanket about him
denotes very often the stats OF mind
Grief or sorrow, for instance. would be
marked by the blanket being drawn over
the lower portion OF the face. leaving
exposed the nose and eyes only.
There is no article Of wearing ap-
! parel as much used as the blanket by
the Indian. AS a saddle. while riding
his pony. a shelter. or bed while hunt
ing or fishing. carefully hung about The
sides and bottom OF his tepee during the
winter, and an indispensable covering the
entire year, the blanket IS ever in use.
Even on the hottest summer DAYS az
/ Indian would be laughed at by members
/ Of his tribe should he leave or wearing
/ his blanket. His theory is that II Il
keeps out the cold in the winter, II vii
/ keep out the heat in the summer" Whill
he might not care 20 buy anything els,
! expensive, the price OF a suitable blanke
is never questioned, but It would be diff
/ hcult indeed to deceive him as 10 tn
texture OF any robe.
squaw will initiate almost anything
that pleases her fancy, but IN the matte
OF her blanket or shawl she exhibits al
unusual amount Of individuality. Wit
/ great care and patience she designs he
blanket, and when she places the orde
with the mill man he does not dare du
! plicate il until she has had an oppor
/ tunity 10 wear Il. II she makes the re
! quest that II shall not be duplicated he
wishes are regarded. because II is tn
one article she possesses IN which ex
| clusiveness is much coveted. And ais
because what would please one sQuay
would not appear at all attractive Z
another.
The lightweight blanket or shawl /
thrown over the head OF the sQuaw, an
unless she is able 10 purchase a bright
/ colored silk kerchief. II VIII serve a
her only bonnet as well Il is Just a
common a sight now 10 see the pappoos
securely bound on the back OF II
mother by q portion OF her blanket a
I II used TO be TO see the wee head OF IN
Indian babe peeping from the texas.
or frame cradle, which was carried q
I the back Of the mother.