The Republican journal., 1916-10-12

nothing doing. The suffers store wa s
naturally The general rendezvous and it
contained almost everything to eat,
drink or wear. AS ever thing had to be
hauled by OK teams from the Missouri
river ii may be imagined mat prices
were high. My recollection is that the
government paid &c cents a pound for
freighting from the Missouri. The In
dian custom with regard to gifts prevail
ed among the whites; that s, an Indian s
possessions are all valued at so many
blankets, sugar or coffee or other arti-
cies, and if you received a gift from one
you were expected to make proper re-
turn. was well supplied with clothing
and other accessories of civilized life
and these gradually left me and had In
their stead large trunk filled with In
dian goods and chattels, including a
peace pipe. bow and culver of arrows,
moccasins, a buffalo hair lariat, ETC.,
some of which have today.
| found the other day among some old
papers the following letter home, which
gives certain phases of life at Laramie
better than ] could recall them today:
Fort Laramie, Aug. 6. 1858.
Dear Sisters: | must write a letter to
you both so that can tell you both one
thing; that is to take your feet and put
them on some thin paper, then mark out
the shape on the paper with pencil, cut
them out and send them to me. Or what
would perhaps be better, take the shape
of the sole of one of your old slippers
ard | will have some buckskin embroid-
cred slippers made for you. have got
a beautiful embroidered whip sling for
En- as she seems to be the equestrian of
the family 1t is to be attached to the
whip handle SO that it may be hung on
the ann. 1t twas given to me by a squaw
, Zone who talks French and English as
well as lrdiar) for my sister. There is
quite large Indian village here and the
garrison is thronged with them at all
| times. | have lost my beautiful little
pony that | thought so much of; he was
stolen few days ago. A months pay
has thus taken wings, | ride every Sun
/ DAY up the river Laramie, which you will
see on the map, through beautiful noun
! tain scenery; sometimes riding through
/ grass so tail that it sweeps over the
horses backs. while gigantic suntloWers
sweep in your face on each side; at other
/ times clingirg to the side of some rocky
hill with just room for our horses feet,
while the river winds :long the valley be-
meath US. Then when the clouds gather
round the rugged peak of Laramie Ia
sure storm toker) we put spurs to our
horses and come home on gallop.
lay down in my lodge and take nap
with the rain pattering away on its
smooth surface, and then over the river
to supper. The 4th Artillery moving III
turned all US little folks out of house anC
home, ard the quartermaster having
some Indian lodges | had one pitched tc
live in; prefering it to tent, for it is
both cooler and warmer. A big stone
left on the lodge door is better than 6
| white mans lock no one dares to move
it as it is sign that they are not Wantec
there.
| | recall going on an elk hunt in the
Black Hills with one companion and E
g ice. Iatk mule carried some of oul
GU tfit. We had 70 tent, but picked out E
| place to sleep under the trees, with 6
saddle for pillow, while the horses were
picketed out. enjoyed cruising about
in the hills, but we did not even get sigh
of an elk, and do not recollect that We
brought home any game.
Troops were arriving and departing al
the time and the 9Th Infantry q think
that was the regimenD had its band
which was said to be the best in the
army. One evening they gave a con
cert on the parade ground, and, music
lover from childhood, don't think l was
ever so moved by it. had been hearing
the best music, attending concerts ant
operas, and to hear the familiar airs de
lightfully rendered in this frontier pos
so remote from civilization affected m,
as music never had before. C. A. P.