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James Cox - My Native Land
These inoffensive words caught the ear of the tough man from the East, who was pushing his way to the
car platform. He drew his pistol and started for the nearest man on the station platform, shouting:
"You'll take care of us, will you? I'll show you smart fellows out here that you are not able to take care of
me."
He flourished his revolver as he spoke and, just as his feet struck the second step of the car, he fired, the
ball passing over the head of the man on the station platform. The sound of his pistol was quickly
followed by two loud reports, and the tough man fell forward upon the platform dead. The man at whom
he had apparently fired had drawn his revolver and shot him twice through the heart.
A crowd gathered as the train rolled on, leaving the tough man where he had fallen. Of course the man
who killed him, a gambler of the town, was fully exonerated at the inquest, and was never even indicted
for the killing.
CHAPTER VIII. WARDS OF OUR NATIVE LAND.
The Indians' Admirers and Critics - At School and After - Indian Courtship and Marriage - Extraordinary
Dances - Gambling by Instinct - How "Cross-Eye" Lost his Pony - Pawning a Baby - Amusing and
Degrading Scenes on Annuity Day.
Opinions differ materially as to the rights and wrongs, privileges and grievances, and worthiness and
worthlessness of the North American Indian. Some people think that the red man has been shamefully
treated and betrayed by the white man, and that the catalogue of his grievances is as long as the tale of
woe the former is apt to tell, whenever he can make himself understood by a sympathetic listener.
Holders of this opinion live for the most part in districts where there are no Indians located.
There are others who think that the Indian has been absurdly pampered by the Government, and that it
would be as sensible to try to change the arrangement of seasons as to attempt to prevent the survival of
the fittest, or, in other words, to interfere with the gradual, but in their opinion inevitable, extermination
of the Indian.
Those holding this extreme view are for the most part those who live near Indian reservations, and who
have had opportunities of studying the red man's character.
Both views are of course unduly severe. As a useful citizen the Indian varies considerably, and it is rather
as an interesting study that we approach the subject.
Civilization has a very peculiar effect upon the American Indian. The schools for Indian children are well
managed, and the education imparted should be sufficient to prevent the possibility of a relapse into the
unsatisfactory habits and the traditional uncleanliness of the different tribes. Sometimes the effect of
education is excellent. There are many Indians to be found who have adopted civilized modes of living,
and who have built up homes and amassed little fortunes by farming, raising cattle and trading. Some of
the Indians, notably those of the five civilized tribes or nations in Indian Territory, resemble white men
in appearance very much. They will sometimes work side by side with swarthy Caucasians, whose skin
has been tanned by exposure to the sun, and except for the exceptionally high cheek bone and the
peculiarly straight hair, there is little to distinguish the Indian from the white man.
But these cases are exceptions to the general rule, which is that education is looked upon by Indians as a
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