The sun., 1919-07-23
CHEROKEE PRINCESS
HAS MUSIC IDEALS
Here to Study Teaching So
She Can Train Her Coun-
trywomen.
PROUD OF PART IN WAR
Says Her Nation Sent $3.50
Ovcrseas-Her Two Brothers
Killed.

her apartment at tho Hotel Majestic,
In a modish II bizarre gown OF black
velvet and red silk and earrings and
high heeled pumps and a necklace and
all the rest Of the fxings, that until
she was years old she never wore any
thing but a breeoh clout.
But she says herself that she didn't,
and Furthermore that she tried to toma-
hawk the old grandmother who put her
hrst shoes on her. She hates clothes
now. and the minute she gets back to
neT ranch In Oklahoma she tears of her
New York finery and puts on her moe
casins and the long leather jumper thing
that all real Indian women wear No
fancy beading to make II heavy, either.
though she is the Princess Chunkss
Champ Pu La, oil queen and leader and
pride Of the Cherokees. one of the 1--WE
civilized Indian tribes.
Though why the whites should use
that word civilized about just Ave tribes,
when all Indians belong to the very
Oldest civilization, and could count thejT
ancestors far back at the time when the
white people were just landing here in
the poor Mayfiower. is more than l can
understand" says the Princess Chunkas
Champ Pu La, whose name was given
to her. by an old Creek chieftain when
she was Ave weeks old, its meaning
being Sweetheart"
The Princess Sweetheart has another
name which che signs on the hotel re-
gister and other documents--Miss
Georgia Lee Medlock. But It's her
Indian name that she puts on her con-
cert programme. Yes, Chunkas Champ
Pu La is a singer, having. as she her
self confesses, a fine dramatic soprano.
though SO naturally initiative that when
her teacher sings something In bass or
BARITONE she goes right along with
him In bass or BARITONE too. But to get
to the point. which 1t takes time to do.
the Princess being chatty. her aim in
life Is to sing the real American music
No Italian or French or German things
for her.
Wants American Music.
why should we cater TO those for
eigners?" she demands. mo, stand
for American composers and who
should sing American music IL not we
Indians, who are the true Americans?
All the white people came from some
other country, or their ancestors did
We are the original Americans. / can
reckon my own forefathers back four
hundred years and all that time they
nave nhaDitcd the plains OF America
THE Oklahoma Indians sent $3.50
men to the war and every one OF them
was a volunteer. An Indian would have
thought 1t a shame to be conscripted
They burned to go and fight for our
country, for 1t Is our country. the In
dams country, though It is populated
by the whites. myself lost two
brothers in France and had thirteen
other relatives fighting there. My old
est brother was both father and mother
to me after my parents died, but he died
as he wanted to die. fighting. and you
won't find An Indian woman who is not
reconciied to the death Of her men In
the war
10 get away from these sad thoughts
the Princess Chunkas Champ Pu La
turns to telling of her childhood on
the ranch near the Cherokee village of
Tahlequah. in Oklahoma, where she was
brought up with 347 men, and she the
only girl child. She rode horseback
when she was two years old, and her
favorite game was to be lassoed by the
cowboys and swung around them in
circles as they galloped over the plains.
Until she was IS and went to a con-
vent in Memphis. Tenn. to be educated
she spoke nothing but the Indian tongue.
Though am one-quarter French" she
says. Some time ago a Frenchman
named Sinclair came over here and mar
ried into our family, and you will find