64

62

"REVENGE," were given special permission to come with "BUFFALO BILL" for a short European tour, and left Philadelphia in the chartered Red Star Streamer, Switzerland. The significance of this fact should still forever the forked tongue of the human serpents, who without rhyme, truth or reason, have tried to stain a fair record--which has been justly earned, and by its very prominence, perhaps, difficult to maintain.

Coming direct from the snow-capped hills and blood-stained valleys of the Mauvaise Terre of last winter's central point of interest, it cannot be denied that an added chapter to Indian history, and the Wild West's peculiar province of truthfully exhibiting the same is rendered more valuable to the student of primitive man, and to the ehtnologists' acquaintance with the strange people whose grand and once happy empire (plethoric in all its inhabitants needed) has been (rightfully wrongfully) brought thoroughly and efficiently under the control of our civilization, or (possibly more candidly confessed) under the Anglo-Saxon's commercial necessities. It occurs to the writer tthat our boasted civilization has a wonderful adaptability to the good soils, the productive portions and the rich mineral lands of the earth, while making snail like pace and intermittent efforts among the frigid haunts of the Esquimaux, the tangled swamps of Africa, and the bleak and dreary rocks of Patagonia.

A sentimental view is thus inspired, when long personal association has brought the better qualities of the Indian to one's notice, assisting somewhat to dispel the prejudices engendered by years of savage brutal wars (conducted with a ferocious vindictiveness foreign to our methods). The savageness of Indian warfare, born in the victim, and probably intensified by the instinctive knowledge of a despairing weakness that renders desperate the fiery spirit of expiring resistance expiring resistance, which latter (in another cause) might be held up for courage and tenacity as bright as that recorded in the pages dedicated to the heroes of Thermoylae.

After all, in what land, in what race, nationality, or community can be found the vaunted vestel home of assured peace? And where is human nature so perfected that circumstances might not awaken the dormant demon of man's innate savageness?

But then again the practical view of the non-industrious use of nature's conucopia of world-needed resources and the inevitable law of the survival of the fittest, must "bring the flattering unction to the soul" of those--to whom the music of light, work, and progress, is the charm, the gauge of existence's worth, and to which the listless must hearken, the indolent attend, the weak imbibe strength from--whose ranks the red man must join, and advancing with whose steps march cheerily to the tune of honest toil, industrious peace, and placid fireside prosperity.

Passing rapidly through the, to them, marvelous experience of the rail road, and its flying express train, the sight of towns, villages, cities, over valley, plain, and mountain--to the magic floating house (the steamer), sadly learning, while struggling with mal de mer, the existence of the "big waters" that tradition alone had bruited to incredulous ears, was passed the first portion of a tempestuous voyage. Its teachings were of value in bringing to the proud spirits of the self reliant Dakotans the terrible power, of nature, and of the white man's marvelous skill, industry, and ability in overcoming the dangers of the deep, the reward of patience being found in a beautifully smooth approach to land. The Scilly Islands and a non-fog encumbered journey up the English Channel--unusually bright with sunshine--the grand panorama of England's majestic shores--her passing fleet of countless examples of all kinds of marine architecture, the steaming up the River Sheldt with its dyked banks and beautifully cultivated fields, opened to the marveling nomad his first edition of Aladdin, and landed him, wonderingly surprised at the sight of thousands of white men peacfully greeting his arrival, in the busy commercial mart of Antwerp.

After introducing the Indians to hotel life for the first time, a tour of the city was made, among the notable points visited being the Cathedral which grand edifice aroused their curiosity, the grand picture, Rubens' "Descent from the Cross,"

62

"REVENGE," were given special permission to come with "BUFFALO BILL" for a short European tour, and left Philadelphia in the chartered Red Star Streamer, Switzerland. The significance of this fact should still forever the forked tongue of the human serpents, who without rhyme, truth or reason, have tried to stain a fair record--which has been justly earned, and by its very prominence, perhaps, difficult to maintain.

Coming direct from the snow-capped hills and blood-stained valleys of the Mauvaise Terre of last winter's central point of interest, it cannot be denied that an added chapter to Indian history, and the Wild West's peculiar province of truthfully exhibiting the same is rendered more valuable to the student of primitive man, and to the ehtnologists' acquaintance with the strange people whose grand and once happy empire (plethoric in all its inhabitants needed) has been (rightfully wrongfully) brought thoroughly and efficiently under the control of our civilization, or (possibly more candidly confessed) under the Anglo-Saxon's commercial necessities. It occurs to the writer tthat our boasted civilization has a wonderful adaptability to the good soils, the productive portions and the rich mineral lands of the earth, while making snail like pace and intermittent efforts among the frigid haunts of the Esquimaux, the tangled swamps of Africa, and the bleak and dreary rocks of Patagonia.

A sentimental view is thus inspired, when long personal association has brought the better qualities of the Indian to one's notice, assisting somewhat to dispel the prejudices engendered by years of savage brutal wars (conducted with a ferocious vindictiveness foreign to our methods). The savageness of Indian warfare, born in the victim, and probably intensified by the instinctive knowledge of a despairing weakness that renders desperate the fiery spirit of expiring resistance expiring resistance, which latter (in another cause) might be held up for courage and tenacity as bright as that recorded in the pages dedicated to the heroes of Thermoylae.

After all, in what land, in what race, nationality, or community can be found the vaunted vestel home of assured peace? And where is human nature so perfected that circumstances might not awaken the dormant demon of man's innate savageness?

But then again the practical view of the non-industrious use of nature's conucopia of world-needed resources and the inevitable law of the survival of the fittest, must "bring the flattering unction to the soul" of those--to whom the music of light, work, and progress, is the charm, the gauge of existence's worth, and to which the listless must hearken, the indolent attend, the weak imbibe strength from--whose ranks the red man must join, and advancing with whose steps march cheerily to the tune of honest toil, industrious peace, and placid fireside prosperity.

Passing rapidly through the, to them, marvelous experience of the rail road, and its flying express train, the sight of towns, villages, cities, over valley, plain, and mountain--to the magic floating house (the steamer), sadly learning, while struggling with mal de mer, the existence of the "big waters" that tradition alone had bruited to incredulous ears, was passed the first portion of a tempestuous voyage. Its teachings were of value in bringing to the proud spirits of the self reliant Dakotans the terrible power, of nature, and of the white man's marvelous skill, industry, and ability in overcoming the dangers of the deep, the reward of patience being found in a beautifully smooth approach to land. The Scilly Islands and a non-fog encumbered journey up the English Channel--unusually bright with sunshine--the grand panorama of England's majestic shores--her passing fleet of countless examples of all kinds of marine architecture, the steaming up the River Sheldt with its dyked banks and beautifully cultivated fields, opened to the marveling nomad his first edition of Aladdin, and landed him, wonderingly surprised at the sight of thousands of white men peacfully greeting his arrival, in the busy commercial mart of Antwerp.

After introducing the Indians to hotel life for the first time, a tour of the city was made, among the notable points visited being the Cathedral which grand edifice aroused their curiosity, the grand picture, Rubens' "Descent from the Cross,"