Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-10

arriving just as I did. The mother had
fondly hoped as she worked that the
f1neness of the boys Indian clothes, in
contrast with the miserably fitting Gov
eminent clothes and brogan shoes,
would appeal to any eye, and win for
her. She had seen the children of her
neighbors so changed in looks by the
change of clothes that one hardly
knew them.
Give the Indians credit for knowing
how ridiculous they looked in the
eminent. They had pride and resented
the change. To the mothers 1t was
akin to losing their boys by death to
see them thus Inundated In spirit and
forced to act the part of scarecrows. ~
With these feelings, mother and
father had stepped into the room with
their bright boy looking his best. They
had asked at once If the boy might not
study the new ways clothed in his
lovely native dress. They were told
there was no hope Of their desire being
fulfilled. Realizing the futi1ity Of further
entreaty on the point, feeling she would
now lose her boy, the mother took one
last look at him and fled the room,
wailing as for his death.
Thus, with everybody else happy on
Beef Issue Day, feasting and dancing
all about them. this family faced what
was to them real tragedy.
A MOTHER tragedy came to my notice
I = while at the agency, although it had
its inception at Red Fork Ranch, where
I lived
One Summer day of 1883 a large
delegation of Indian freighters passed
us, going south on their way to OAR
lington Agency. Among them was an
Indian youth dressed in the Army uni
form, indicating that he came from
some Government school, He was of
my age and we soon struck up an
acquaintance as the party tarried for
a time about our store. He told me
Of having just completed five years of
school at Carlisle, Pa.
We two boys began to compare notes.
Obtaining piece of paper from the
store, I started to write words to show
my writing ability and knowledge of
spelling. For every word I wrote the
Indian put down another in his own
handwriting. His penmanship was like
copper plate and better than mine,
and his spelling was without fault.
I was so interested In my new friend
that I accompanied the party to the
ford OF the Cimarron River. AS the
river was high, the party was delayed
for an hour or more in crossing, so we
were able to continue our mutual ex-
aminations. These were typical boyish
attempts to stump" each other. 7
led off with examples on paper. The
trail OF learning led all through addi-
ton, multiplication. subtraction and
division. In every. branch this Indian
youth was ahead of me. He was proud
OF the fact. and used every word of
q thorough working knowledge of it.
We parted with the best of good fellow
ship. and promised to see him in
Darlington.
was In Darlington the following
May and there heard an Indian crier
lntoning the news of Hoch-e-a-yum,
or Sun Dance. Many Indian youths
were watching and listening.
AS started down the street I could
see some boys who had signified their
intention to enter the tests. They had
thrown off their blankets and were
dancing in a circle. calling out their
intentions, and uttering cries of exalta-
ton just as have seen old-tine Metho-
dlsts DO at camp meeting when they
were filled with 1.-The spirit"
Passing along, 7 glanced at others
standing crane fashion to learn whether
any of them felt "the skirt" moving
them. AS peered into eyes above the
blanket shrouds, one pair was suddenly
hidden by the blanket as I drew near
reached up and pulled the blanket
away. There was the face of the boy
who had stumped me in learning on the
bank of the Cimarron.
He cast his eyes down as he saw
recognized him, and would not speak to
me. I saw that he was now in full IN
dian dress and that his hair was long
once more, done in the conventional two
braids. To all my queries he shook his
head and said mo sabe." was COM
PEELED to revert to the Cheyenne tongue
and sign language. I thought could
divine the cause of his reversion to type.
Returning to his people. he had not
been able to endure the jibes Of his fell
low tribesmen, and the insistent cry of
boys as he passed by. "Ayah. paleface.
Ayah, hair cut like buffalo soldiers" AS
soon as he could, he had his mother and
sisters clothe him In Indian dress, and
he let his hair grow. BY the time
saw him he was Indian again, and
would not even acknowledge knowing
the tongue of the white man.
I did not blame him as admired the
symmetry and elegance of his clothes,
the fitness of his apparel, in contrast
with that which he had worn home.
The brogans of the Government with
two buckles in lieu of buttons clumsy