People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 November 1894 — CRUDE CREDENTIALS. [ARTICLE]

CRUDE CREDENTIALS.

Letter* of Recommendation Carrlexl by Western Indians. Western men are often accused of being prejudiced against Indians, but as a matter of fact they can be very friendly to individual Indians, and are able to appreciate their virtues, when they have them, as well as to perceive their failings. When an agency Indian is off his reservation, working, begging, or going about as he pleases, he makes it a point to carry with him a “paper,” which is either a permit from the agent to be abroad, or else a letter of introduction from some white man of the Indian’s acquaintance. Some of these letters are very quaint documents, containing not only a good deabof the dialect of the far west, but very queer recommendations of the Indian’s character. An agent of the census bureau met a Shoshone Indian named Taytober some years ago—a splendid type of man, eloquent in gesture and honest in purpose—who had been traveling a good while on this “paper:” “This Indian’s name is Taytober. He is a thoroughbred. He goes without the bell tapping. He is also a gentleman, and you can bet your life he will do what he agrees to. Make him your friend, for he is a good one. “Do the square thing by him, and he is a honey cooler. Do anything mean to him, and he is a johan, and he will get even. Brace him up with food when he hands you this, as he is always hungry; no rum, but beef, and plenty of it” The following remarkable “recommendation” is interesting, for one thing, for the curious contrast it presents between the Indian and the “white” name of the gentleman introduced. “This will be presented by Moss Rose, or Dirty Pete, a Washakie Shoshone. Keep him about five feet away when he presents it; also lock your valuablesup in your fireproof when you see him coming, for he is a great beggar. “In the meantime, if you have any jerked meat turn him loose at it. He don’t care whether it’s cooked or not. Ten to twelve pounds of good meat, bear, elk, deer or buffalo, lunche s him. He don’t want any trimmings with the meat, and you needn’t hand him a napkin, either. “He is not a bad Indian, but he is so dirty. He counts in dirt for two Indians when the agent rounds up the band for issue. “Treat him well; his faults are few, and vices small ones. His word’s good. ” —Youth’s Companion. “I tell you, women are coining to the frint,” said the woman’s-rights man. “That’s a fact,” said the bald-headed man; “there was one in front of me at the theater last night, and I never saw the stage once.” —N. Y. Press. Gent—“l have called on the recommendation of a friend to have my portrait painted. But I should like to know if you can take me in my fur coat.” Artist—“Oh, certainly. Fact is, you know, I used to be an animal painter.”—Humonstische Blatter. Mrs. Upton Flattb -“My nursemaid left me without a moment’s notice. I’m going to advertise for a girl to-morrow.” Flossie —“And (>’oase advertise for a boy, too, mamma. Me want a ’ittle bruzzer orful.” When Johnny was aroused from his morning hap by his papa’s heavy hand, he understood what was meant by being rapped in slumber.—Boston Transcript. The man who loves his duty will not Blight it.—Ram’s Horn.