Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-11-21
LEADING 10 TO THE ALTAR-By Frederic j. Haskn

7etcly the traditions. superstitons and Gus
toms of the tribe. When it thunderS he no
longer thinks that the Great S0irt is humping
around on the roof of the heavens. hut he
hopes it will not rain and spoil his new G4rby.
And he again Will marry a white woman or
a mixed blood, in all probability Thus tao
process of absorption gees rapidly forward. O.
course, there are WhOe tribes that still i've on
their reservations and keep their " BOD reason
ably pure. These will resist absorption fer a
long time. The ten thousand MAYA oS in New
Mexico and Arizona, for example. will enain
NavajOS tor many generations. vi other tribes
there VIII not be a full-b!ooded specimen left
in three or four generations. BIT whether the
process is fast or slow, it is sure.
MIR. La Flesche believes that this infusion of
Indian blood is coed thing. He says that the
people. of m.xed blood are generally peorIc OF
excellent qualities.
The Indian who is given his aIlotm mt and
turned loose to shit for himself usually sue
ceedS well, according to Mr. La FieSChc. He
says that tie Indian has not the white mans
business ability but tina he usually has sense
is generally the educated Indian, he says who is
cheated. This individual ten thinks he is a
match for the white man because he his the
same training, and he often loses his wealth
Will be cheated if he ventures uHOn the rerilG
OF business, SO he sticks to his land and plants
corn
Fir. La Flesche believes that the Indians
great lack is power of organization. TIE Indian
is intelligent and often has the highest quail
ties of character, but he cannot form an eabo-
rate plan and carry it out That, in the opinion
of Mr. La FleSche, is the reason he was de-
feated by the white man, The Indian held the
white man east of the Mississippi for two cen
the advance of civilization would have Leen de-
layed for centuries, if the Indians had been
able to combine under one leader, Mr. La
Flesche thinks. He does not regret the defeat
of the Indian, however nor his impending dis
appearance as distinct race. H thinks both
were inevitable, and that the Indian fulfillS hie
destiny by in:uSing his alb ':ignal blood with
its distinctive qualities of mind and character
into the blood of the American people.
Mr.. La FleGche has had picturesque career
He was bern in the Omaha tribe about 1867
when it lived on a reservation but lived in tie
aboriginal way, hunting buffalo and trapping
In 1875, as a boy OF fifteen he was Sent out
as runner to locate herds of buffalo, and
hundred miles in eighteen hours on foot. That
was the last buffalo hunt of his tribe.
Several years later, Mr.. La Flesche was
called upon to act as an Interpreter before the
senate committee On Indian affairs, which was
| investigating some injusticeS dcre the 7onka
! tribe. Senator Kirkw cd, of Iowa, became in
terested in the young Indian and secured him
! position as co?yist it the bureau of lndar
affairs. Mr.. La Flesclle remained there mony
| years, adjusting himself with some difficulty
| 10 the humdrum lie of civilization.
Wh.le employed in the indian Office, he be
came interested in STUDYING the history, re-
! ligion and folk lore of his tribe, the Oi12Aas
and collected great amount of material Oh
, the subject. The merit of this work was rec
ogniZcd by the Smithsonian, which pub!iehcd
MIR. La FleScheS researches, and employed him
to do similar work for the Usage Indians. Upon
this he is Sill engaged. HIS knowledge of the
language, and the great confidence which the
Indians have in him. qualify him excepticnally
for the work. He says that of the 21oo Oa2g!
Indians there are only 500 OF pure blood, and
I'll in few more generations it would be
Impossible to gather thu story of aboriginal
t., which he is now 1ritinr