Milford chronicle., 1919-09-19
SUSSEX BOY IN OKLAHOMA
The Editor,
The Milford Chronicle,
Milford. Del

/ The Editor,
The Milford Chronicle,
Milford, Del.
Dear Editor;
1 want to thank you for the good
paper you are putting out; it is in
valuable to one far away from Sussex
county because it is full of interest
relative to Sussex county and equally
so from the State.
My mother and father, Mr.. and Mrs.
John E. Harmon of Frankford, are
spending the summer with us, as well
as my wife's mother, Mrs. John w.
WOotten of Laurel, Delaware, and ev-
cry Tuesday evening the Milford
Chronicle, Sussex Journal" and
Laurel Register" reach us through
the mail and it is very interesting to
see the whole family digesting the
news from Delaware.
Judging from the conversation of
our summer-welcomed visitors, we in
Oklahoma have gained the impression
that people in the East look upon Ok
lahoma as a place in which the In
dians of America have crammed and
jammed, leaving a few crevices and
vacant spots for white men, and if it
will be of interest to your readers.
would be pleased to set them right
concerning our State in this respect.
1t is true that the majority of the
tribes of Indians have Reservations
in this State but these Reservations
ocupy about one-hundredth of the area
OF the State, and these Indians remain
on their Reservations, and in cases
where the Government has built them
small cottages, they will house their
ponies in the cottages and will sleep.
eat and live to their hearts content
in the typical old-fashioned Indian
tent.
The majority of these Indians live
a life of ease and Incidence, resting
on monthly pension from the Gov
ernment. They rarely leave the Reser-
vatiOn and absolutely do not bother
white people. They appear to be
lazy and helpless class of people and
extremely inferior to the negro as a
race, except where they have taken
advantage of the Government schools.
when in many cases you will find an
Indian business man of rare qualities
and integrity. Occasionally during
court times when the Indians are call
ed as witnesses in some Government
case, you will see the Indian coming
into town with the little baby slung
across the mothers back, the women
wearing blankets and the men attempt
ing to wear the white mans clothes
The Government protects them from
whiskey and intoxicating drinks. and
it is safer to steal an automobile or
rob an Oklahoma bank than to sell a
drink of whiskey to one of Uncle
Sans wards.
These Indians, a great majority of
them, live a life of Incidence and in
action except when they have the war
dances. On these occasions whole
tribes Of Indians will leave the Reser-
vation and will go in wagons and on
ponies to visit a neighboring tribe
and on such festive occasions they will
wear the old dress of the American
Indian.
During the great war over twenty
thousand young Indian men answered
the call of their country, either by
volunteering or by draft service. and
it is interesting to learn of their re-
turn, worshiped as heroes, during the
occasion discarding the khaki for their
AOA AANA III Noos ACAhA 4AAA6 do ANA OI6 ~
take up old customs in victory dances.
During the month of August is the
visiting time among these tribes and
the war dance was a favOrite this year
and every tribe gave these war dances. /
1t is the highest mark of honor that
can be shown by the various Indian
tribes, which have been given to cell
ebrate the return of red-skin warriors
from oversee service. 1t is an ancient
custom among the Indians, followed
by generations and even centuries,
dating back prior to the coming of the
white men to America.
All members of the tribe participate
in some manner and it is an occasion
for general rejoicing. In the present
day celebrations, however, there is al