The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1915-12-22
2rGR ;; s 3 3 3
Indian Children at
ChTistsnastide

TIT TITLE Jimmy Red Eagle anu
n his brothers pecpcd from un-
b/ der their red blankets long be-
fore daybreak OH Christmas
morning. They Gust an eye about the
tepee, but not for stockings filed with
presents, for Jimmy and his brothers
learned many years ago that Santa
Clauses never came to tepecs In the
first place, there is no chimney in the
tepee, and, secondly. there is no fire.
place. The teacher was responsible
for this, Of course. this tale which
Duzzcd In their little brown ears and
made them sad. But the Red Eagle
boys and girls were not discouraged
because Santa had not come to their
tepee and forthwith made arrange
ments to go to him.
On tho Indian reservations of the
southwest Santa comes to the little red
schoolhouses dotted here and there
along tho trail. The teachers have ar
ranged for his visit there every Christ
mas, and that day is spent under the
roof Of plenty distributing the pres
ents that have been left there by un-
seen persons. 1t Is n day OF good cheer
for those little brown people. who do
not know much pleasure anyway. The
boys forget their bashfulncss min.
gle with the girls In their an. ty to
show their presents. At noon the
teachers set out dainty lunch. such
as Is not known In tepee life. and the
little fellows and their sisters gorge
themselves The afternoon is spent In
entertainment. partly by the little fell
lows and partly by the teachers and
tho older girls. a neat program IS ar
ranged. and songs. recitatons and
charades follow. At cvcntidc tho little
ones nrc cartcd home In buggics and
there go to sleep and dream Of great
things that are to come into their lives.
The holidays are q continuous round
OF pleasure to the reservation Indian
children OF the southwest They play
their rough games and cat the candy
and chew the gum. Their principal
play Is going on the warpnth. That Is
for the boys. while the girls play Mt
jumping the rope, making mud pies
and cooking. Indian girls OF late years
have been elevated above their former
position, Of waiting on bucks, to lace
N-''-Ni'S' bs'iiiiiiS anu StuON lIS anu
teaching music. until some Of them are
quite proficient in this line. The little
girls arc not allowed to play with the
boys on the same playground, although
the teachers advocate their association
In tho classes and schoolroom.
1t has not been until within recent
years that Iiowa, Comanche. Apache,
Arapahoe. Cheyenne. Wichita. Tonka-
wa. Ponca or Usage children knew the
slightest thing Of holiday, the birth
of Christ, or even that there was such
person rs Christ. But when tho res
ervntion schools opened nll Of these
things were taught. much against the
desire Of the old Indians. who did not
care to have their offspring reared in
the path of the palefacc. whom they
SO dcspised. The mothers used to move
their tepecs close to the reservation
schools. and every night they would try
to worm out Of the child everything
the teacher had taught her during the
day. Progress with tho red children
was thus delayed until an order against
the women coming near their children
during the school season was issued
and enforced. The little girls are quick
to learn, and the boys are apt and
witty.