The Ward County independent., 1921-09-08

i've ball kept interest at fever heat at
all times.
Finally came the dance. The In
dians always deliberate, marched
solemnly into the arena in front of
the grand stand and following them
came the squaws. Right here let
US explain, it is forbidden by Uncle
Sam for the Indians to give public
exhibitions of their dances, but Major
Welsh, to whom nothing seems i'm
possible, took the matter up direct
with the Interior Department at
Washington and secured permission
to allow the old braves and their
squaws to participate. The braves
were dressed in all the finery which
the primitive heart holds dear. Their
faces streaked with paint and with
war bonnets decking their heads
and strips or streamers Of eagle feath-
ers down their backs, some with wands
Of feathers of various colors, few
carrying bows and arrows, made the
scene one never to be forgotten None
the less interesting were the squaws
appareled in some instances in most
gorgeous raiment. The drummers
securing the big drum from the band
stand, placed it in the centre of the
race track and IL or Is of the Indians
knelt about it and began to play
what sounds to the initiated like
dirge and at the same time singing
in sharp strident tones. The dance
was on. One of the bonnetted fig
ures jumped up and began to dance
about the drummers and soon the en-
tire number were initiating his per-
formances. Provided with large
megaphone, Major Welsh interpreted
the various dances and explained the
significance of the costumes of the
braves. Each feather and each col
ored feather has a peculiar meaning
to an Indian The dances are very
graceful in themselves and none could
take the intricate steps more grace
fully than Major Welsh and his ac-
complished wife, who was there Rs-
sisting her husband in the entertain
ment of the guests. Finally after
several dances had been given, the
Indians asked the Major to invite the
Criers into the arena with them.
This, indeed, was marked favor, as
the privilege is seldom accorded even
the most distinguished guests at In
dian ceremonials. When we had
gathered about the dancers, the
SquaWs chose partners from among
the Criers and the dance increased i'm
measurably. The tumult and the joy
continued for fully an hour. You
could see that the Indian ladies were
pleased but their faces remained sto-
lid and Indifferent, but this of course
is characteristic. Here, we might
violate little confidence and say that
we observed one certain squaw choose
F. B. Lambert two separate times
as her partner, elbowing her way
thru the throng to get to his side.
We were not SO fortunate, naturally,
but we had the pleasure Of dancing
with one good old squaw, fully 100
years old who wore mantilla or
cape covered with Elk teeth. Around
and around the circle we danced until
l felt sure she must be exhausted
but upon asking her if she wished
to rest she indicated no desire to dis
continue. We, however, was played
out and quit. l verify believe the
old lady would have danced on for
several hours had kept going-and
| there l thot she was decrepit.
After the dance the Criers repaired
to the club house"of the Country Club
which is located out near the State
Industrial School. Here the joy was
unconfned. Some natives Of Ha-
waii furnished the imported talent for
this entertainment and when their
dancing had reached the climax. Ma
| jor Welsh, solemnly rose and with
the most august be0ring proposed
that all in favor of the motion" say
"aye".
1t was getting rather late when we
repaired to our cots at the Lewis l.
Clarke and when all were safely ems
consed beneath the sheets, the ter
rife onslaught of heavy artillery, rip
saws, buzz saws and various other
phases Of nightmare antics made the
small portion of the night remaining
a specie Of phantasmagora.
Like the lark the boys were up
and doing bright and early next
morning. Bill Jones has the repu-
tation of being the hardest working
Crier west of the Father of Waters.
Bill always gets up a few hours be-
fore sunrise. Bill likes to get all
the machinery oiled before the throt-
tie opens.
| Our new president, Bill Holbein,
presided at Cne meeting IueSudy
morning Walter Gushing, veteran
newspaperman of Beach gave an in
teresting talk on Community Spirit
and told how his people at Beach had
provided rest camps for tourists, and
miniature park and other attractive
features. He was followed by F. B.
Lambert who gave an exhaustive ac-
count of the Minot Park systems and
outlined the future policies of the
Board in relation thereto. Even, we
Minot Criers were interested audit
ors and greatly enlightened by Mr..
Lambert's address. Bill Smart gave
one of those talks of his full Of
"punch" and "pep" followed by Mes
tos along the same line and Kitchen
of Sentinel Butte, candidate on the
!. V. A. ticket along with Nestos, made
mighty effective speech. Politics
were taboo. The only mention of
politics was when some mischief low
ing delegate would throw out some
quip or turn, quite impromptu,
c. G. Ferguson of Minneapolis, was
the last speaker and his remarks
were brief and to the point. He
reiterated the promise Of President
Mcintosh to visit each Club some time
| d,1rinp thn war and II iS IN he honed