The Bozeman courier., 1927-07-15
OUR WOMEN--Exercises at the
Montana State College Witnessed
by Natives


served for those taking part in the per-
formance. There was nothing left for US
to do then but climb several pairs OF
stairs to the gallery, which we reached
in a breathless condition.
Scarcely were we seated when the ush-
ers, handsome young men in white suits
unrelieved in color, except for the blue
and gold bands of their sweaters, ap-
peared on the lower floor preceding the
entrance of the graduates.
The latter bore silver wands hung with
garlands, and were quickly assigned their
seats by the efficient ushers, as were the
rest of the girls who had taken part IN
the procession.
ON the platform were seated those who
announced the awards later to be be-
slowed for athletics, etc. This portion Of
the show ceased to have interest Tor me
my deafness preventing me from near
ing a word The spectacular part OF the
ceremonies was ended, and I sought for
other entertainment, not dependent on
ears that functioned properly.
did not have long to look. Near me
was seated a delegation Of Crow Indians
who had come into town to witness, or
to take part in the Absaroka masque.
They formed a dingy-looking crowd, all
dressed in the prescribed garments OF
civilization, with the exception OF Two or
/ three women who, true to the conSerVa-
tiSm of their sex, were dresses, TO pe
sure, but of brilliant colors, e1d covered
/
kerchiefs. One girl had bobbed hair and
hat, the former marking a decided ad-
vance in concession to white womens
ways, for an Indian is passtonately de-
voted to long hair.
The male members of the crowd still
clung to the long braided sidelocks. 1t
was a strange sight, these but yesterday
wild men of the plains and mountains
gathered here to view college exercises.
I wondered what they thought. They
i inf fn1V n
character, had they come in native dress,
their heads adorned with feathers.
On the front seat was dtgnthed old
man, the side locks Of his hair braided
and tied-his ears hung with shell or
other ornaments. Beside him sat small
boy, his round, fat cheeks rouged like a
fiapper's. He was dressed like any other
white boy of the same age, in good shoes
and stockings, knee breeches, and
sweater horizontally striped Evidently
the exercises did not attract him enough
to command his attention, for his black
eyes roved hither and yon until he had
exhausted all that was to be seen.
1t was then he became restless, sltc
down in the seat and put his feet on the
chair in front of him. But not for long
Quietly, and unostentatiously the ole
mans dark hand with its large silver
ring was extended, and the offending
feet returned where they belonged.
Up in the gallery the heat was opres
SlVe, ana Ine llIJl6 ISllOW saw LObl1AuS II
the strange performances going on dow
below that served to fix his attention
Why should he sit still? Out Of doors
gentle breeze cooled the air. Many NOR
things were there to see. Anyway hi
D sweater was uncomfortable. It made hin
= wriggle and twist until again the hant
d with the silver ring, accompanied thi
: time by a mildly reproachful glance
quieted him for a brief interval.
AS I watched the child, could no
49, L NTm1I NeWT
Hooked in days gone by. His face Woul
have been painted then as now, in or
der to protect the tender skin from tn
!. too ferVid rays Of the sun and the ferc
= winds which lash our pratries. Unim
% agined would nave been the gay sweate
- and the knee breeches. Naked but for
breech cloth, his body shining from tn
grease used to ward of insects he woul
not be an unwilling prisoner in stuff
gallery, watching white women doing un
explainable things and talking grea
deal about it; but out on the open pral
rie, bow in hand, shooting at bird
gophers, or whatever small animals b
ran across. Or tiring Of this Amusement
he might seek the river bank, wheI
prone on the bank, he could watch tn
: stream go by.
Once more, with no consideration fc
time or place, the small victim of civil
zation sought relief from his sufferin
The old man beside him at length real
izing that the boy could not be made
observe the prOprieties rose, and togethC
with most of the other Indians filed OF
Of the gallery, down the flights of stair
and into Natures vast auditorium.
1t was intimated to me later that til
old man Of the silver ring was Chic
Plenty Coups, the head Of the Crow ns
ton.
Another Crow of note who may hay
been present at the exercises on the a.
ternoon Of which I write, was Max Biz
man, the artist. It is we'll known tn;
of all Montana Indian tribes the Grow
excel in artistic ability. In furtradiI
days their buffalo robes were valued IL
highest on account Of their superb
preparation, and the paintings whiC
decorated them. Max Bigman has taller
and his productions find ready sa
among tourists and others. He does n
use canvas but heavy pasteboard or We
board for his work. Although he h
had no instruction, some Of his paintin
are really fine.
During the masque, several of the lea
ing Bozeman mercantile establishment
had on exhibition specimens of the prir
tive art Of the Crows; implements Of v
r1OuS kinds, and robes trimmed Wi
shells or elk teeth. All Of these were 4
teresting and some were beautiful.
For three years the domestic scien
department of the Butte high school b
held an annual style review Of carmen
made by the pupils. The Anaconda Sta
dard says of it: "This idea was CO
ceived and brought to execution by M
Mary Baldwin, and since the time Of t
first review, Butte high schools style ]
view has been an event looked forwa
to with pleasure"
Completion Of a seven-room fireprC
stone house built by students and alum
Of Brokwood Labor college was celebrat
at the recent annual meeting Of t
Brookwood corporation.