Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1922-02-15
Indian Wigwams a Memory
of the Past.
Dear Advertiser:

of the Past.
Dear Advertiser:
The best laid plans of mice, men
and governments "gang aft aglee."
.d The United States government, not
satisfied in the early days, with send
ing the Indians to the state with per-
'haps the most embryonic civilization
in the country, also placed him in the
rockiest, most barren part of the
state, which grows small scrubby
oaks as vegetation. You may see the
irregular spot on the map. think it
is usually yellow in color.
S Thissrocky spot, about twenty miles
east of here, is known as the Usage
country, They thought; those early
schemers, that nothing, good could
come out of the Usage country, for
the Indians or anyone else.
s But 10, from among the very rocks
that made the soil poor farming land
bubbled oil in streams. To me it is
proof positive that truth is stronger
than fiction. l know nothing in lit
erature more paradoxical. The Indian
did not need to plead his own cause.
He became rich, fabulously wealthy
overnight and still the oil wells yield
and still the rich Indian possesses the
gold of Croesus. I was about to say
that he boards it, but that is just
what he doesn't do.
y The money is .supremely the means
of exchange which he uses to acquire
brilliants blankets, such greens and
reds and yellows as you never saw
combined before.
III The Indian likes automobiles, new,
cleaning ones, and fire water. His
needs are only material, and he lives
in the present. For the Usage, the fu-
ture holds no menace Of poverty, and
why should it he thinks; the oil wells
do not yield for night then cease to
flow.
The other day, I saw an extremely
well lTappointed car, elegant in every
way, and very eyide new, drive.
spinning down the main street Of.
Ionkawa It would have graced Fifth
Avenue; e and thr rorgh the glass, i saw
the unmistakable rainbow hues Of
brilliant shawl that. cloaked an In
dian squaw.
At first, when saw these so-called
red men on the streets, l thought in
general terms of their appearance
and manner, but now observe indi-
and find them fascinating in
the extreme.
It never occurs to me that we are
superior race, and 1 think it is be-
cause they are so honchalant, SO
nanifestly enduring the sight. of you,
instead of admiring your American
modernism. Solomon in all his glory
was not arrayed like one of these"
and no one could convince me that
Solomon had anymore poise and dig
nifty, any more perfect assurance OF
manner.
Sitting in a drug store the other
day, 1 looked toward the door, and
there blocking the entrance, stood
specimen of middle-aged Indian man
hood that could not be surpassed. He
must have been six feet two. A huge
hat and a brilliant tie were the parts
of his apparel Enthusiastically In
dian. He continued to stand in the
doorway. 1 watched him, and he con-
tinued to gaze around as if he were
conferring an honor upon the store,
and on the occupants to move among
them.
It is almost contagious, this self
appreciation, at least it makes me
wonder what there is in his soul so
big that he dares defy the world with
his glance.
Finally he came in and we passed
out, as he posed beside the door,
lordly and commanding figure. l
would have given anything to have
known Just what thoughts arose in
him, as taller than most of the citi-
zens of Tonkawa, he paraded down
the streets.
And yet, they are savages, each
and all, by nature. They love COM
forts and luxuries for their showi-
ness, and not for their refining effect.
Sufficient unto them is the fact that