Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1921-09-14
Wednesday, Sept. il.
Miss Florence Minis Witnesses
Annual Powwow on Fa-
NOUS Oklahoma Ranch.
Dear Advertiser:

Oklahoma means "home of the In
dian" 1t is indeed the home OF n
type of Indian, but so differen. are
the deserts, the mountains, the pra'-
ries and the lake country of Amerl-
ca that they produce each a different
type of being.
We are accustomed to thinking OF
the American Indian as having slen-
der physique, high cheek bones ard
a broad brow, which facial character,
istics denote mentality. We have
come to believe from literature that
form of written civilization, that the
Indian is a creature of romance and
brilliant ~barbarity, that the lnd.s
maidens are fit to be described by the
pen of Longfellow. / do not mean
to disillusion you, only to state that
that more desirable Indian lived IN
the North and East where the cold
and the forests made him exert him.
self to keep comfortable and combat
the wild animals for existence. Those
circumstances have produced a little
finer type than the Indians of the
Great Southwest.
A few days after reaching the town
of Tonkawa a group of the faculty
made a trip to the famous "101"
Ranch, situated about twelve miles
from Tonkawa. This ranch has been
Photographed in the movies, and in
former years sent over the country a
truly wild western show.
Every year an Indian Pow Wow is
given at this ranch, and I was for
tunate enough to reach Tonkawa in
time to see it.
AS we rode over the rolling plains
of the prairie, suddenly, over the
brow of a hill, we saw an Indian viii
lage. The tents were arranged in or
der over the prairie to show US how
the typical Indian encampment real
ly looked. 1t seemed as if the pages
of the "Last of the Mohicans" had
suddenly opened and the Indians
had fairly spilled from its pages.
There were the Pawnees, the Chey-
ennes, the Poncas, the Seminoles and
the Arapahos in. their robes of Gig
gag ~barbarity."
The program began at two o'clock,
when the sun beat down at about one
hundred and two degrees. Nothing
but the sheer amazing splendor of the
dances could have kept me standing
in the sun which shone with mer-
c~ilessness that I have experienced no.
where this side of the Arizona desert
itself. There were squaws with their
papooses strapped on their backs;
there were warriors whose costumes
were little more than their bronzed
native skin, and there were little In
dian boys, in feathers and beads and
royal c%olcrs; and best of all, there
were chiefs on horse back who wore
a halo of black tipped feathers
around their heads and a long band
of feathers that extended to the
ground when they walked, trailing
in a cloud of glory behind them.
The intenseness Of the heat fitted
the place. 1t was vivid like the cos
tunes were red. 1t burned like u
wild enthusiasm for these things of
which all of our lives we had dream
ed. 1t flashed on these primeval cit
liens until the savage colors seemed
each to catch fire with the others and
blaze in one triumphant light. 1t was
appropriate.
The Indian is intense IN his hatred,
intense in his friendship, extreme in
his mastery use Of the bow and ar
row.
Four little Indian boys, the small
est being about five year old, gave
a solo dance and after they had fin
ished each was led in turn before the
grand stand to determine by tie APP
piause, each received which one
should get the prize. The little five
year old boy was carried last before
the large audience. For him the
plains resounded with cheers, and to
him the prize was awarded.
1t is strange that all real art looks
so easy and that is one proof of its
greatness, that the dancers or the