Evening star., 1926-11-19
THE WILD" WEST.

lHE WILD WEST.
November first was more or less
spent on the train, but my helpers had
arranged for me that l should meet
some of the plain people. for it was
my great desire to have some gooC
talks with farmers and agriculturists
of this mighty North Dakota land
Their interests are very much the
| same as ours at home. and I wanted
to hear them tell me how they cul
tivated their land. when and how they
got their crops in. and If they had
to fight with the same sort Of diff
cuftieS az We have in Rumania.
We had that day two. for us Flu
ropeans. interesting episodes: The
Indians and the cowboys.
II was at Mandan. y. rak., that
a deputation of Sioux Ind.a rs came
to admit me into their tribe.
Revives Olden Memories.
All the thrilling stories Of my child
hood. The Last Of the Mohica ns. u
etc. came vividly hack to me as
stood in the midst of these warrior.
like people. decked with feathers and
paint. They danced their dances
around US and uttered strange cries
whilst one. whose face was painted
bright yellow. heat necessarily upon
tom-tom. The chief, Red Toma.
hawk, then stepped forward, and, in
a laundering voice. began to say
something to me whilst he seixed
hold cf my hand with an iron grip.
During all this time his followers
were dancing around us in weird cir.
cles. which became narrower and mar
rover. till we were entirely closed in
by feathers and paint. Maj. Welsh
was within the circle with us and
translated to me what the noble chief
tain was saying.
He was declaring that | was war
woman and therefore worthy of
wearing the chieftain's headdress;
was a war woman bsanuse l stood at
the head Of nation. My red toma-
hawk had sent many Of his young
men across the ocean to fight the
enemy. and that | had been active
and made sacrifices In war, and he
knew that many of my braves had
heen buried far from home-no
woman wears an eagles headdress
unless she has performed some splen-
did act Of heroism-that my part In
the great war had endeared me to
them who were Of the prairies. They
felt that they had comrade of the
war trail in me. Therefore ne was
presenting me with his honorable
badge Of bravery, giving me the name
Of "NVinyan Kipanpi Win" which In
our language means "the woman they
have been waiting for, or something
to that effect.
/ then had to participate in a
strange ceremony. Red Toma hawk
lifted the featehered sign of distinc-
ton from his own head and placed 1t
on mine: then he seated me upon a
spread-out buffalo skin. which was
then lifted ny his braves. and | was
solemnly carried to his wigwam. 1t
was not an easy matter to enter his
tent with my enormous crown OF
feathers. 1t had almost to he done
on hands and knees. and once within.
nv somewhat forbidding host having
followed me. we had to proceed to
mixing our blood in friendship. which
used to he done by slashing the skin
with knives. hut now was performed
by being mutually pricked with the
"a me needle so that our blood mingled
in a brotherhood that nothing could
tear asunder.
Gifts Are Exchanged.
This ended the ceremony and it was
also time to depart. We exchanged
Gifts. His womenfolk presented us
with head necklaces and bead en-
broidered bags. whilst l gave them
bright embroideries brought from Tar
Rumania, worked by our yea sa nj
women's hands. Then into the tram
we got and away we sped.
IT was towards evening that we
came to Medora. where delightful
corpary Of ranchmen and their lam
,lies were waiting us on their shaggy
.teeds. they had brought saddle
horses for us also and we mounted
them then and there. proceeding IN
solemn procession amidst much dust,
noise and cheering to an inclosed nelo
where we were to witness rodeo.
This was indeed a picturesque on
,.rtainmert There we all sat on our
unkempt horses, surrounded oy
troure of cowboys. laughing and jolly
brave fellows. full Of fun and evldentiV
very pleased to play host 10 tnis
Queen who had come from SO far Win
her children to take part IN cere.
mony she had so often read apou' ~,
that literature of the Far west sc
a..r tn Furope's imagination.
We were shown the most hucklne
hronchos and the widest steers, aa
,,,;ra ble lasso play, all accompanied by
r;xtol shots and loud screams, dust
turr,oil excitement--a glorious time
indeed. ~ -
As though to add to the charm OF
that extra ordinary evening, the sun
went down in blaze, painting 'ne
skv fiery pink, whilst the ROCKY
cliffs which surrounded us became
darker and darker as dusk came on.
Indeed. that was delightful hour
srent amongst these cheerful fellows
With their huge sombreros and color.
ful banda mas. their many-tnted
shirts and silverincrusted saddles
hairy chaps and mighty spurs.
was offered a real cowboy hat TO
take hack with me in sign of friend
shin and as a souvenir of this evening