Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 311, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 January 1918 — Page 3

AN EXTINCT AMERICAN RACE

By R. W. JONES.

Gradually the life of the Arickara Indians of the Dakotas is being

W. H. Over.

and village sites, burial grounds and battlefields of the Indians, collecting and studying the relics of these first settlers —or were they first, after all? A find of hammer stones, arrow heads and charred hearth stones in an old soil layer two to six feet beneath the surface last summer indicates earlier Inhabitants than the Arickara.

When the Indians followed the buffalo over the Dakota prairies, long before the white man came, there were fifty or more populous villages along the Missouri river. The early tribes of Arlckaras in the Missouri valley, like Dakota farmers today, grew corn and pumpkins, for the Arlckaras were farmers. They built lodges of poles and willow thatch, daubed thick with mud to keep out the searching fingers of the blizzards. Their clothing was made of buffalo skins. The shovel with which they dug their fields and the trpwel with which they spread the mud plaster on the walls of their bouses were made from the shoulderbjafoe ..of the buffalo. Their arrow points and knives were of flint or bone. This was the life of the Arlckaras before the first white traders came, before the Sioux (or Dakotah) Indians pressed by white settlers from Canada, poured in from the north and east. It was the stone age, when to make a hammer required days of grinding and working on some boulder found in the creek bed, with an outline like that of the tool to be made.

Fine Collection of Relics. More than sixty skeletons of the Arickara tribe have been unearthed and are in the university museum. Hundreds of hammer stones, arrow heads, beads, bone tools and bone ornaments are also in the university collection of the Airckara relics. Even the national government has not nearly as good an Arickara collection. The only two Arickara tobacco pipes evfer found In a grave are In the university collection. There\are many fragments of the earthenware pots or bowls used by the Indians in cooking, and two entirely undamaged bowls, which show the kind of pottery work the ancient Indians made. The age of much.of the material found is problematical, but that a igreat deal of it dates baapk to the period before 1750 is certain, for at about that time the Sioux or Dakota Indians ibegan driving the Arickaras relentlessly up the Missouri and to the westward. The other Arickara village sites (Show no trace of contact with the whites. No article of metal can be found in the most ancient locations. Farther west, and up the Missouri river, the excavations yield scraps of copper obtained from the first traders, from which the Indians made ornaments and, hy twisting the thin sheet copper into cones, arrow heads shaped Kke funnels which slipped over the end of the shaft of the arrow. An occasional blue or red bead comes to light, or a brass bail, or bits of look*

traced out and studied in detail by W. H. Over of the University of South Dakota. What sort of people were this now extinct race? How did they Jive? What was their religion? What degree of culture had they attained? During a period of years Mr. Over visited camp sites

ing-glnss, or a knife. One old knife, found in a cache hole where it had been placed a century or more ago, safely wrapped in a buffalo robe, was made in Sheffield and was one of the knives sent out by the early Hudson bay traders. The Indians sharpened a steel knife with a file, on one side of the edge. The whetstone was tod slow. The village sites farther west .are more recent. On the Missouri river, at the place described by Lewis and Clark in their diary of the exploration of the Northwest in 1805, “at the bend in the river where the river flows, west,” was a large village with more than one hundred lodges. In these more recent villages are found brass arm-bands and bracelets, ns well as an occasional steel ax or flint-lock gun. Their Domestic Life. The bones in the refuse heaps show the Arlckaras. lived on buffalo, -deer, antelope, elk, rabbit and wild fowl as well as on corn, beans .and pumpkins. Tarclied corn has been found in the lodges at every village site. Only a sunken circle of ground like an abandoned, circus arena, but far smaller, shows where one of the lodges .stood. A five-family lodge, built with big timbers, may yield part of a cedar post almost rotted away, despite the comparatively dry climate. Each family had its cache-hole, or primitive safety deposit vault. This was a jugshaped hole four to six feet deep, in which valuables were hidden when the family left home to avoid hostile Iro dlans or to go on a hunting trip. The mouth of the hole was cover<d with sticks and leaves, so as not tc be distinguishable from the surround ng surface.

The burial customs of the Ailckaras differed from those of the Sloe c. The Arlckaras buried their dead in the ground, while the Sioux left tile bodies of their dead, wrapped in skins, on scaffolds or in trees. The Arlckaras buried from one to six bodies in a grave, the body lying on the right side, with the head to the north. Digging was hard with the primitive implements these Indians had, so the graves were small?.and the bodies placed the knees* drawn up.‘ Scarcely any grave contains anything but the skeleton. Little or no paraphernalia was ever burled with the body, except an occasional bead or band of brass or copper, showing the contact wilh the fur traders. The earlier burial sites yield nothing but bones. The graves were three to six feet deep, and above the upper skeleton were placed slabs of cottonwood or ash or bundles of willow twigs, to keep wild animals from digging injto the grave. Other Indians used flat rocks for the same purpose. There are thousands of objects in the university’s collection of Arl-kara relics. The collection was begun in 1915, and as it grows the exact knowledge of the life of these early Dakotans increases.

Kind of "Creature" He Was.

Donald and Charlie, boys of eleven, had seen an old-time thrilling melodrama and the next day were repeating it for the benefit of an audience of small boys in the garage of Charlie’s father. Charlie was the “villain” and Donald the “heroine.” After Donald, with the villain cowering-and shivering before him had denounced, the other he thrilled his small audience with the shrieking climax, “Out of my way, abdominal creature!”

Oldest Inhabitant.

Lost Soul—Why did they send that monkey down here 7 Old Timer—Don’t you know who that is? He’s our ancestor.—Cartoons.

THE EVENINfr REPUBLICAN. RENSSELAER. TNP.

HOME TOWN HELPS

SOLVING PROBLEM OF PLAY American Cities Are Beginning tt Meet the Needs of People for Outdoor Recreation. American cities are beginning tc solve the problem of- play. It is onlj In the last few years that the United States has become a country predominantly urban instead of rural in its population, and this urban populatioc has had a hard time getting the outdoor air and exercise it needs, writes Frederic J. Haskin. The solution oi the problem seems to lie in the municipal playground and ‘athletic tield which has come to be a feature ol the parks of almost every progressive city 'in the lust few years. The federal census bureau has just completed an investigation of the parks and playgrounds of every city in the United States, which contains some interesting facts. For the purposes of this work, the census bureau takes account of all cities of 30,000 inhabitants or more There are 213 such cities in the United States. —a measure of the rapidity with which the balance of population is moving from the country to the city. Neither the country boy nor the coun-try-dwelling man needs any outdoot rgpreation facilities; he has only to step across his threshold to be in an out-of-doors that affords the sports foi which games are only a substitute. Much attention has been given to the problem of furnishing' country dwellers with intellectual and artistic recreation, in an attempt to keep 'them from moving to the city in too great numbers; but there has so far been little attention paid to providing them with outdoor sports within average rneuns after they arrive in the city. But the movement is under way, and it.is growing steadily.

SHAPE COURSE, STICK TO IT

This Is Only Effective Policy to Be Pursued by Commercial Club, It Is Declared. Community building, in its final analysis, resolves itself into a question of energy directed by will. If we want a thing we can get it by shaping out a course and sticking to it, declares the Bryan (Tex.) Eagle. Dallying with every proposition that comes up will never get a business club anywhere. Nothing will be accomplished and the club might as well disband and go home. Every member, par v ticularly every director, should be live, wide-awake and rearing to go. Every member should be not only willing but glad to contribute to any worthy movement that means more for the town. And every man in the town should be a member. A commercial club’s supreme, purpose is something else than , adding a few dollars to the trade of the town and paying a secretary .to keep the piinutes and the accounts. The ideal secretary is a man "of ideas and dynamic force, who can lead his people to tjhe acceptance of those ideas, who can arouse interest of the directors and other members and give them something to do, unconsciously to themselves, that is worth while for the upbuilding of the town.

On “Cleaning Up.”

Let’s all appoint ourselves as a committee of one to help keep the clean and healthy and let’s make a good start iy cleaning up our own premises, urges the Lake Charles, (La.) American Press. In other words, be consistent, let’s all practice exactly what we preach. If every person will do this, we shall have one of the healthiest cities in the country. In no other way can this much-to-be-desired condition be obtained. By waiting for the other fellow to start first, nobody sYarts, and we just go along in a perfunctory way from day to day and year to year. Lake Charles is already healthy and Clean, but nobody will deny that the city could be made a whole lot healthier and cleaner, and the way to do it is for everybody to clean up their own premises and keep them clean, dnd this applies especially to the back yards and alleys where tin cans, empty boxes, discarded this and that accumulate from time to time.

Depicts the “Great Trek.”

An Interesting film has just been shown in London dealing with early South African history, and has been praised by General Botha. It depicts the “Great Trek” of the Boer Into Natal and Dingan’s Land In»1836, and follows Peit Retiefs adventure through with tremendous realism. Coming into collision with the hative Kafirs, and with the British when the latter made Natal an English colony, *The Boers pushed on beyond the Drakenberg mountains to found the Transvaal and Orange Free S’ate. “You have depicted the history of my people in a manner at which I can only marvel,” Botha told the producer.

Avoid Horticultural Museums.

Nearly all gardens have too many sorts of plants. Do not strive for a horticultural museum, advises a landscape gardener. Try to build a picture and pray do remember that plants are as much raw material as bricks in a garden walk They are to be used for collective or composite effect, not for individual beauty or effectiveness

CAREER OF EARLING

Misfortune That Befell Him in HI? Railroad Baptism. ■ ■ SKIDDED ALONG TOP OF CAR 60 Stripped of Clothing That He Had to Slink Around Until Dusk Before Starting for Home—Studied Engineering. Albert J. Earling’s railroad baptism was eventful and disastrous. Born not far from Rugby Junction, Wis., in January, 1848, he wanted, ou leaving school, to enter the railroad rather than to serve in his father’s store, B. C. Forbes writes in Leslie’s. A husky fellow, by the name of Tom Pollard, whom young Earling used to help with his lessons, had become conductor on the Milwaukee road, running betweeh Milwaukee and LaCrosse. During vacation the young conductor gave the lad a temporary job as brakeman on his train, an “extra,” which was sent out to pick up wheat along a certain part of the road. Tom had a sweetheart and was anxious to expedite his train so as to enable him to reach the point where she lived, and when the train failed to do this* the flr.sL.day, he roundly scolded the two brakemen. *• The next day, the same thing happefted—except that the scolding this time was much more severe.

Chance Was Disastrous. The third day the crew were determined to speed up and take a chance, with the result that they ran full tilt Into an oncoming train on the single track. Tom and the others, who were at the front of the train, jumped; but Earling happened to be on the top of a box car toward the rear and, having no time to jump, squatted on the running board on the top of the car and gripped it firmly with both hands. The impact sent him skidding from end to end of the car, lacerating his hands and his body painfully and so stripping him of clothing that he had to slink around untiL dusk before he could start for home. He decided then he would rather begin his railroad career as a telegrapher. Took Up Engineer^!#* The youthful telegsapher wha had worked at night and attended college during the day had meanwhile taken up the study of engineering in his spare time. He steeped himself in engineering books, worked out engineering problems, lost no opportunity to inspect engineering feats and contracted a desire to shape his career so as to afford scope for the exercise of whatever engineering taste and talents he possessed. When a 260-mile extension was to be built In lowa between Marion and Council Bluffs, Earling- was delegated to supervise its construction, and here his engineering skill proved of practical use. Other and more responsible positions, both of supervision and construction, were filled by Earling in the late ’7os and early ’Bos. In 1884 he became assistant general superintendent of all the lines and in 1888 general superintendent. Only two years more passed before he was asked to become general manager. Here, also, although only turned forty, he made good, and was rewarded first with the vice presidency, in 1895, and then, in 1899, with the presidency.

SAFETY IN CROSSING TRACKS

Many Motorists Killed by Engine Stalling in Front of Train— Safest Thing to Do. More than one motorist has been killed by stalling his ntofor 'on the tracks in front of an oncoming train. The .driver slows down when approaching the tracks, believes he has time to get across, and then fails -to start his motor up sufficiently to negotiate the rougher, going across the tracks. The safest thing to do is to shift into second or low before starting across the trucks, and you can then be sure of keeping going when going ahead may be all important. —Milestones.

Women* are working in railroad yards all over the country, laboring in ►very capacity. They are filling their Jobs capably, leaving little room for complaint. The women caught on the work with great rapidity, and they lid not need much schooling. Moat of the women were stenographers and clerks holding down delicate jobs. Now they are doing all the rough and tumble work in the yards, and they like it Many of the girls started in without much color or physical condition. But they have developed into as husky a set of young American girls as you’d ever wish to see. Their new work does not promise much in feeß for doctors. ■*' Women have been aptly termed the saviors of industry and they are (ieserring of this great credit. In England and France and other countries at war, women have taken up nli wof’k left to. be done by the fighting men. The women of America have responded nobly to the call, and are already working •n many lines new to them, and as efficiently as women of other countries.

WOMEN PROVE “SAVIORS OF INDUSTRY”

AMERICAN GIRLS SHOW THEMSELVES CAPABLE WORKERS.

LONGER TRAINS ARE HAULED

Southern Pacific improves Service $12,000,000 Is Spent. In order to expedite service over the Sierras and care for the increased volume of traffic which war demands haVe , produced, the Southern Pacific railroad has instituted a program of extending every station passing track between Blue Canon and Truckee. This will enable the company to handle trains of 55 to 57 cars instead of 45 as at present, and will greatly facilitate the movement of perishable as well as ordinary freight. There has been spent on thd construction of second track from Rocklin to Colfax, Colfax to Blue Canon and Sparks to Truckee, over $12,000,000. The additional construction now announced will enable the company to secure greater efficiency on this expenditure by increasing the commercial train length over the Sierra Nevuda mountains. The capacity of the track for freight service between Blue Canon and Truckee will be increased about 27 per cent by this means.

WORK SWITCHES ON RAILWAY

Prime Object of Invention of South Carolina Man Is to Lock Switch in Any Position.

The Scientific American Tn Illustrating and describing ah automatic switch, the invention of H.' H. Palmer of Charleston. S. C., says: The invention relates to means for automatically operating the switches on railroads, Including street railroads and particularly relates to that type of switches adapted to be operated autonmtcally by trips provided on a car

Switch in Operation.

or locomotive and arranged to depress switch-operating plungers in the tracks at the sides. The prime object is to provide means for locking the switch in any position t»-which it has been thrown. «

TO ENLARGE RAILWAY YARDS

Vast Amount of Freight Going to Ayer Camp and Elsewhere Makes improvement Necessary. The Fitchburg railroad Is being worked to its capacity at present, and the vast amount of freight going to the Ayer camp and elsewhere has made necessary an enlargement of the yards at East Deerfield. Mr. Hustis, receiver for the Boston & Maine, has been authorized by the court to expend $214,000 for improvements at East Deerfield and $151,000 for necessary improvements along the road. The entire expenditure Mil be charged against the Fitchburg company, and the Boston & Maine will not have to pay for the work. The will no doubt pay for themselves in the. increased efficiency and economy of operation.

BIG NET OPERATING INCOME

Total for June $349,739,636, Exceeding Those for June, 1916, by $49,720,256. The net operating income of railroads in the United States for June, 1917, was more than the same month of 1916 by $32 per mile, or 8.1 per cent. The, bureau of railroad economics so announced in a bulletin of revenues and expenses. The total operating revenues for June were $349,739,636, exceeding those for June, 1916, by $49,720,256.

Safety by Surrender

By REV.B.B.SUTCLIFFE

Extension Department, MflwhSiUti Institute. Cbicaqc>~~jj^~

TEXT— Let him take hotd Of my strength.—lsa. 27:5. The passage from text is taken is a call from UpassboM for

power be found and safety - secured? Not by fleeing away but IftOSrawing near. Not by opposing by yielding to him. To the sinner and the backslider {he Lord jfcfjfdars as an enemy. To yield or Snarrtifdsr to any enemy seems like folly, the rushing into danger. But yiel<Ji££*Lto the Lord means safety. And<«4*l*tf£ call to surrender to the Lord call for the exercise of faith as the protector from his own coming judgment. To hqm«y,jreaßon escape would seem to be J#)pg§9ibte. How can we esenpe the rfejßteppW|ucrgment of God, after having-incurred it by our own conduct? It tt rfktljlossible with map, but with God alts tMttWj are possible. • Failure is not in'TOm, but in Imperfect yielding to ,hijpQ^ A Possible Thingji qoila The text says: “Let hlAi tdwi'Wld of my strength.” There to be overcome except unbelief of the human heaift /fSqcftj one Is afflicted with this. It te tfebModering thing that opposes all certainty or enjoyment. It Is tlreMne common sin of which all ar^and by which all the more It is the sin which so easily ns. But it Is possible to overcome It. When we come to the pladeJWlifc’e real desire exists to escape thesM£HWSkt of Gpd, there are no real we may if we will, take strength and in it find safetftoninrr A Personal Thih£l ■9*% "Let him take hold.” self and not another. I jfefo njflpelf. I am judged for myself. safety, If I escape the judgßpeym/'Rwill find for myself and escape fadchtffeelf. None else can get it soy a personal matter. In thcrienjgr of my own will lies the t° whether I shall go down fcVtff/Kgftt defeat under the judgment'; or whether I shall rise superiMftpHgl the future holds of wrath. ligfhddwfl by opposing myself to by yielding to him. I find etdrmir death by fighting him; eternal rendering to him. It is Oftft#ftoice which I shall have. -- -- -- A Peculiar Thlna/iO* 9Let him take hold of I cannot take hold of his srrgflgw.until I let go of that which I nowgggplfL All the things I have relied upo*otojsee me safely through the judgnwsfrpHfeust relinquish: I must havetoo sfetflfe in my good deeds, by ences, my moral code, tions —yea, I must have myself. Like Job of old I njugcwme to the-Lord saying, “I ablm* Like Isaiah, "I am unddfae.lbudLike Paul, “There dwelleth nooibbd fifcing in me.” Myself and my my weapons against him. ‘ Fmukr lay them down and in full tional surrender of myself .tetiMp I will find safety In the surrendMi- It Is therefore, as was said aliuvi?rn~eall for faith in him. He can free me from bondage, guard me from protect me from certain disaAteerfunfS as Rtrusf'him. Until I do 'find tnbT'he cannot do any behalf because of my unbelief^ belief which erects the case of tlye army facing hilation, only one thing remafns to he done, and that is surrencldAAiWdeath be not preferred. As long ons are used and battle offeMSL ftrerdestruction is certain. The certain perdition—he fightxMaunsjyie judgment and wrath of Goa. There Is no escape, and can be ndii4>*ilXe by the way of surrender. Wheftat*»'!Surrender is made, he finds supposed enemy is really a what was thought to be ’jtqHj affilF 8 * thing is seen to be the beak Jmstead of God desiring to injure, wj-flulßs all of God’s desire is to protffifPfrfltf“injury. How p strange that Jured should be th£ one wn(f caff, and will gnard the sinner from the effects

of the injury. A Powerful ThlnfL With man’s strength It WQfllu ttffropossible, but the text sayi, MBS him take hold of my strength!’ auuk.taeith God all things are possibly < is nothing too hard for his for he has omnipotence, deep for his understanding f$WHk 1* omniscient. Nothing too to reach, for he is omnipresent IMwr' belongeth unto God and nay eager, to exercise on' who will cease fighting themselves to him. Hov/jjMOw . •scape If we neglect so greajj^J^aiion?' TV' .

his enemies, both the Wi»xl4sW and also hWJ J acl[ ' slidden people, to turn tojWttl before his judfemfcaWaHs. He dec UttWd he will come,, among them' 1 . vs' fire by surrender to him th © can .p4i»rv text *' His , Jutt sure a tpn<a#« and povßehawstO be needed it. Wbet&^cati ,a this