Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-02-15

Washington, Feb. 1.-THE indian
Ii changing hfs blanket for a silk shirt.
The younger Indians particularly are
turning with avidity 10 this garment
and the accompanying haberdashery.
Lots ami lgts ~ these original Ameri-
cans, once termed poor, scorn wearing
~ anirt tnat costs less than xiJ The
shirt must be sufficiently colorful 70
please the Indian eye, and the makers
cannot 60 too far In this direction.
Recently members Of tho House
Committee on Indian Affairs visited
various Indian reservations In the
West, ana found men and women Of
the tribss developing n ntrong taste
lbr personal adornment, affected by
be white rhce, but going beyond the
Preference for subdled tones general
~ observed among Caucasians.
Officials OF the Indian Bureau here
look with favor upon substituting the
habiliments OF the white man for the
> blanket and nondescript Indian cos
, tune Of old. They do not discourage
these wards OF the nation from dress
/, ing themselves In up-to-date gar
ments, even IL in doing go they spend
much OF their money on personal
adornment instead OF on more sub
! stantial things which would tend 70
show great progress. The Bureau
3 officials look upon the change as show
}, Ing u tendency. particularly upon the
} part OF the younger generation. T.
: abandon once and for AL the old In
d dian regalla. which has been the tri-
0 bal costume for centuries. The blanket
;, Indian has been difficult problem
I for the Indian Bureau for some time
: Indian on MnlIonn!res.
III. r.. Devendorf. fer more than q
, years clerk OF the Indian Affairs Com
) lmittce OF the House OF Representa-
n ltivcs. fs authority for the statemen
q that IL is chiefly among the rich Osag
II tribes in Oklahoma that the colcrfu
= silk shirt is seen I'm most profusion
4. The osage Indians are wen able % I'm
Ie dulge this or any other extravagan
n taste they may cultivate. There ar
h from 200 20 1900 OF them with in
r comes varying from $1,000 20 $40, 90
B month, derived from royalty pay
re ments on oil lands to which they mol
title. Like Indians throughout th
g country. the Osages are not exernr
e from the general Indian convictio
y that money Is meant to spend The
n spent It Ger anything that will brin
10 them pleasure. Indian Bureau of
W cials say that the mere act Of epen<
Ing money Is a source Of Joy to man
indians
u. Automobiles are in great demar
among the newly rich Indians, or
they like speed The Indian is goo
driver. too. In the level pretr
country Of Oklahoma there are mar
!ong stretches Of good roads, whcr
t5e Indian driver can step on el
and indulge his craving for speed
nis hearts content There are notab
,r- few accidents In which Indian motto
&c lists figure. However, where whist
~, enters into tho equation. the India
nd like his white brother, seens 70 cou
~ trouble on the high road, and has ]
itc trouble in finding plenty OF 81.
We We Hundred Mile Pari Ride.
AL An, instance Of indian disregard
money is shown in the story OF
~. trip 10 Colorado Springs taken Ia
= summer by q party of rich Osag,
10 They chartered six Pullman ca
of spent most OF the summer in go
for hotels. and returned in private Pu
in mans. But about 100 miles from no,
% one of the Indians. who enjoys an
come from oil lands amounting
y, several thousands OF dollars a mon
~ set tired OF riding on the train.
I'D alighted, hired a taxicab, and drc
? a The rest OF the way In It. His {.
Ms bill amounted to $3.50, which he d
mir without n murmur.
-, Legislation is before Congress
=, signed to give full citizenship 20
- Indian. DIR. Joseph Kossuth Dixon
,,ss Philadelphia has been active bef
ba,, the Indian committees OF Congr.
and pointing out that although citiz
ship appears 10 be given 20 the
!, dian with the allotments OF pul
- lands, there is a string to II. A pat
n 30 the land in fee simple is not gra