Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-07
COLONIAL DANES
PRESENT PORTRAIT

Continued from Page one)
10 a friendly chief Of his tribe. and they
have rendered a great public service TO
our state. The spirit which prompted the
gift is truly colonial and patriotic, and
worthy Of the women who have made the
presentation possible.
"L.ongon Fontenelle was an important
factor in the early history Of Nebraska.
II IL well that his name and fame should
be perpetuated. This picture will prob
ably hang I'm the Hotel Fontenelle long
after we have passed away. and most OF
US have been forgotten. II will serve as
link between the early pioneer days
and the later growth and prosperity OF a
great commonwealth. II will do more
than that. II will teach the lesson that
human life means progress in the arts.
science and civilization. The race or
nation that cannot go forward will in
evitably be overcome by the onward
march OF men. stimulated by ambition
and the higher ideals Of life.
The history OF the Indians is pathetic.
We have not always treated them with
kindness or consideration. and at times
We have been faithless 20 our treaty
obligations. solemnly entered into with
them. As we look upon the picture of
this great chief we must REMAINDER that
II we are to preserve this great country
for our posterity we must cherish our in
stituiions with patriotic pride and keep
step with the progressive spirit Of this
wonderful age In which we live.
Un behalf OF the company which
have the honor to represent ] thank the
Colonial Danes for their generous gift,
and as a citizen OF Nebraska I wish to
express my profound appreciation Of the
contribution they have made to the early
history OF the state"
KimbaII Explains Pasntins.
Thomas r. Kimball. in explaining the
portrait. read several tributes to its artis-
tic worth from we'll known artists. He
said also;
Il see in this picture an Indian brave
noble and dignified enough to warrant
the claim Of descent from Rameses the
Great. draped in a robe with lines of
/ Greek simplicity and Of exquisite tex
turo. yet truly the regulation garb of
the Omaha Indian Of a half century ago.
The face. while preserving distinctly
French character, is still sufficiently true
to the Omaha type to justify the paint
er's effort TO securing the actual skulls
of several Omaha Indians on which to
base his Interpretation OF that time.
Il see. or think l see, a glowing sunset
sky beautifully typifying that prophetic
sunset which so soon shall finally usher
out the hereditary sovereigns Of these
4 United states. who. through no fault OF
theirs. are destined to go down to pos
terity In a light as false as It is cruelty
tpnjust-a light wholly of the white mans
making.
Missouri I'm the Background.
II see too. an accurately drawn back
ground showing the Missouri and its
banks as they were when the Fontenelles
called the place ''home:" and. as. through
the most fortunate of chances, they stil
are today. when the Fontcnelle Forest
lassociation hopes to secure the region for
a permanent park--where under state
protection II may be assured continu-
ance of INTELLIGENT care for all time.
II see, too, sylnbolized in the small
Enaried oak at the right OF the picture,
the cl'nEing protest of this most unfor-
tunate of the races OF men-agsinst its
wholly undeserved fate.
And / trust j see. too. what shall
prove a lasting historic protest against
1 the propaganda OF those who would have
us believe only m Of the aboriginal races
whose rnvished lands we occupy"
The members of the society made the
"salue 20 the flag In these words:
To the Glory OF God: and in gratefu
remembrance OF those, our ancestors
who through evil report and loss OF for
tune. through suffering and death. main