Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-04-12

Araphed while brimming over with
their proverbial stocism.
"All OF the Indians whom | have
photographed are exceedingly vain.
shey Invariably ask for mirrors.
1.-TWO old Otoes came up to be- pho
tosraphed some time ago. The first
that posed wore bear.claw necklace.
The other, VIXEN his turn came. want.
ed to borrow it. The owner held on to
1t like grim death. but the coveter
pulled and hauled the precious orna-
ment till / feared that It would be
crushed to bits. A furious struggle
ensued and l held fast to my tripod,
fearing that the instrument would be
kicked over. Finally the troubles
were arbitrated, but the owner Of the
necklace won his point.
Another day an old Ponka chief
came In ostensibly to be photographed
He brought an interpreter with him
and the two hemmed and hawed for a
while. Soon it came out that the old
fellow wanted to make bargain with
me before he would be willing to sit.
evaded these advances and busted my
self preparing the apparatus. The old
chief sulked and refused to be photo
graphed until assured him that he
would be given something for posing.
explained that would give him one
print from each negative. This would
not suffice.
1.-THE interpreter, after digesting sew
eral minutes of pow-wow, explained
that the chief wouldn't sit unless
made him life-size portrait in colors,
put handsome gold frame around 1t
and gave him $3.50 to boot. pointed
to the door. This brought the old
man to time. He sat for his picture
with most benignant smile on his
face. This was about the only smiling
Indian portrait ever made.
when the Indians come to Wash
ington they almost always bring their
most elaborate regalia to wear while
calling upon the president. Some Va
kima braves who appeared at the last
New Year reception at the White
House stopped by here on their way
to see the Great Father and asked me
to have them photographed just as
they would appear before him.
IF there is anything which exceeds
the Indians vanity, it is his curiosity.
1t is customary for our sitters 10 FUN
Bile through all of the desk drawers,
look through all of the books and even
penetrate the mysteries of the dark
room before leaving the building.
so far as steadiness is concerned
the Indians are the most remarkable
subjects have ever seen. Once hav.
ing been posed, they will stand as
still and firm as rock until l have
focused and made the exposure. On
dark days, when have been focusing
for detail, l have had them stand firm
for fifteen seconds or more without
causing hairbreadth of movement on
the plate-something a white man
couldn't do If he practiced year.
Indians usually expect to receive
their finished portraits Immediately
after sitting. 1t is common for them
to gaze into the lens, and, seeing their
image reflected upon it, to make va
rious gesticulations.
I'VE have photographed practically
all Of the notable chiefs-Geronimo
Sitting Bull, Red Cloud, Spotted Tail
Washake, Chief Joseph and Capt
Jacks band, which latter massacred
commission sent to treat with them.
Chief Joseph was photographed in
Washington in the early eighties. A
year ago, while he was in the city we
photographed him again. A compari.
son of the two portraits shows that
he does not look year older than
at the first sitting"