General iln&s I S
JKT$T THE. yVn; If " '
NAMING THE BABY
By G. VERE TYLER
W
immiim
trQ) O
ASIIINCTON.-A litho
graph that has survived
the attacks of time
shows Cen. Nelson A.
Miles and Col. V. F.
Cody mounted on spir
ited horses and over
looking from a bluff the hint great
ramp of the Sioux Indians when com
ing in from the warpath. The Sioux
surrendered to (!en. Miles in Janu
ary, I MM. but they came very near,
a few days lifter the surrender, to
the point of breaking away once
more. The story of It In this:
(iray dawn was breaking at the
Pino Itidge agency when an Indian
runner broke headlong Into the vil
lage of the surrendered Sioux. He
slopped at the tepees of the prin
cipal warriors long enough to shout
a message, and then leaving the
cHinp where Its end rested against
an abrupt hill, he made his way with
a plainsman's stealth to the group of
agency buildings, circling which and
extending beyond, crowning ridge
after ridge, were the white Sibley
tents of the soldiers.
Breakfast was forgotten In the
troubled camp of the Sioux. The
chiefs and the greater braves rushed
to quick council and the lesser war
riors, the squaws and the children
stood waiting with dogged patience
in the village streets.
The council was over. An old chief
shouted a word of command that wns
caught up and passed quickly to the
farthest outlying tepee. An r.ruiy
might have learned a lesson from
that which followed the short, sharp
order. Mounted men shot out from
the village and as fast as fleet footed
ponies, pressed to their utmost, could
accomplish the distances every out
lying ridge was topped with the fig
ure of rider and horse, silhouetted
against the morning sky.
hvery sentinel warrior had his
eyes on the camps of the white soldiery Sud
denly from the east of the agency, where ' lay
the Sixth cavalry, there came a trumpet call that
swelled and swelled and ended in one ringing
nole that sang In and out of the valleys' and then,
subdued to softness, floated on to he lost In the
prairie wilderness beyond.
The motionless figure of One of the hilltop sen
tinels was moved to Instant life. A signal ran
rrom ridge to ridge, finally to be passed down
ward into the camp of the waiting Sioux, who
sprang into action at its coming. The pony
herds of the Sioux were grazing on (he hills to
the west, unrestrained of their freedom by lariat
or herdsman. In number they nearly equaled
the people of the village, a few ponies for emer
gency use only having been kept within the
camp., I'pon the ponies in the village Jumped
waiting warriors, who broke out of the shelter
of the tepees for the hills where the herds were
foraging on the snow-covered bunch grass. It
seemed but n passing moment before every pony
in that great glazing herd was headed for the
village. The animals were as obedient to the
word of command as is a brave to the word of
his chief.
During the gathering of the ponies the women
of the camp had slung their papooses to their
backs, hud collected the camp utensils and were
standing ready to strike the tepees, while the
braves, blanketed and with rifles In their hands,
had thrown themselves between the village and
lh camps of the soldjers of Cell. Miles.
The Sioux, who had surrendered less than a
week before, were preparing to stampede from
the agency and to make necessary the repeating
of a campaign that had lasted for months. The
Indian runner had brought word that Creat
Chief Miles had ordered his soldiers to arms
eaily in the morning and that the surrendered
Sioux were to be massacred to the last man,
woman and child.
The medicine men had fold the Indians that
this was to be their fate and the runner's word
found ready belief. Miles Kent a couiier with a
reassuring message to the chiefs, but they would
not believe.
The braves prepared to kill before they were
killed and everything was In readiness for the
flight of tbe squaws and papooses, while the war
riors, following, should tight the soldiers lusting
for the Sioux blood.
Gen. Miles had planned a review of the forces
lu the field as a hut act of the campaign, and it
was the order for the gathering aud the match
tug that had been taken as an order of massacre
by the suspicious Sioux.
Trumpet and bu
gle calls of "boots
aud saddles" and
"assembly" b u r
dened the air. The
troopers aud "dough
boys" had fallen In,
5,0110 strong. The
column started west
with Hags and gui
dons fluttering. The
head of the com
mand, the greatest
that had been gath
ered together up to
1 hat time since the
days of the civil
war, reached the
bluff above the
Sioux village. A
shout would have
tartcd the stam
pede of the savages;
a shot would have
been the signal lor
a volley from the
warriors lying be
tween the white col
umn and the vil
lage.
The soldiers passed tin and the re-lew beg.in.
but omt on the . hills the ndi:in sentinels still
stood, and between the niurching whites and the
village were the long lines of braves still sus
picious and still ready to give their lives for the
women and children in the heart of the valley.
What a review was that on the snow-covered
South Dakota plains that January morning l.'i
years ago! (Jen. Miles tin his great black horse
watched the ti.not) soldiers pass, soldiers that had
stood the burden of battle and the hardships of a
winter's-campaign and had cheeked one of the
greatest Indian uprisings of history.
The First Infantry, led by Col. Shatter, who af t
erward was in command in front of Santiago, was
there that day. Cuy V. Henry, now lying in peace
ful Arlington cemetery, rode at the heud of his
black troopers, the "buffalo soldiers" of the Sioux.
Cap! Allen ,V. Capron was there with the battery
that afterward opened the battle at Santiago.
The Seventh cavalry was there, two of its troops,
I! and K, having barely enough men left In the
' ranks to form a platoon.
These two troops had borne the brunt of the
fighting at Wounded Knee u month before when
Of) men of the Seventh fell killed or wounded be
fore the bullets of the Sioux. When the two
troops with their attenuated ranks rode by, the
reviewing general removed his cap, an honor oth
erwise paid only to the colors of his country.
The column filed past, broke Into regiments,
then Into troops and companies, and the word of
dismissal was given. The Indian sentinels on the
ridges, signaled (he camp in the valley, lu anoth
er minute there was a stampede, but it was only
that of the thousands of Sioux ponies turned
loose aud eager to get back to their breakfast
of bunch grass on the prairies.
Two Strike, the Sioux, watched the review that
day. Old Two Strike was one or the warriors
who went out with a following of bruves on the
warpath the mouth previous. Two Strike wore
no ghost shirt. Me was above such superstition,
even though he took no pains to urge his com
rades to follow his shirtless example.
Two Strike was glad of ue craze that hud
brought war, for he hated the whites harder than
he hated anything on earth except tbe Pawnees,
the hereditary enemy of his people. V..o Strike
knew in his soul that the bi.ffalo were not coming
back ns the medicine men had declared, and that
no Messiah was to be raised to lend hU people
against the pale faces to wipe them from oft the
lace of the continent. What he did know wa3
that he was to have one. more chance to strike
at the eucnacherg on tbe lands of hi people be-
fore the enfeelilenients of old age took the
strength from his arm.
Two Strike wns a great warrior. He had fought
on many a lield and he had won his name from
the overcoming of two warrior foes who had at
tacked him when he was alone on the prairie
Single handed he had fought and killed them and
"Two Strike" he had been from that day. lie was
the leader in the last battle which took place be
tween hostile hands of savages on the plains of
America. For years without number the two na
tions, the Sioux and the Pawnees, had hated each
other.
In one of Cooper's novels Hard Heart, a Paw
nee, taunts a Sioux thus: "Since water3 ran and
trees grew, the Sioux has found the Pawnee on his
warpath." The fight in which Two Strike was
the leader of the Sioux was fought against the
Pawnees on the banks of a little stream known
ns "The Frenchman." in Nebraska in the year
mi.
In the valley of the Platte river the buffalo were
plenty, but the Pawnees had said that the Sioux
should not hunt there and they defied them to
come. "The Pawnee dogs called the Sioux wom
en." said -the story-teller aud old Two Strike
sneered.
It wns when the grass was at Its best that the
Sioux started for the country of the Pawnee. The
teller of the tale made no secret of the lutention
of the Sioux to exterminate the Pawnees, sparing
neither women nor children If the chance for their
killing presented itself.
Two Strike and his Sioux reached the edge of
the buffalo country and there they waited oppor
tunity. They did not have to wait long. Runners
told them that the Pawnees in full strength had
utarfed o:i a great hunting expedition led by Sky
Chief, a noted warrior. When the name of Sky
Chief fell from the lips of the Interpreter old Two
Strike smiled and dosed his fist. The Sioux left
their encampment, and struck into the heart of the
hunting country. There a scout told them that
the enemy was encamped in n prairie gulch and
that their women and children were with them
to enre for the hides and for the drying of the
meal of the buffalo.
Two Stnkc led his men by "a way' around," as
the interpieter put it, coining finally to a point
lens than half a sun's distance from the camp in
the valley. The Sioux struck a small herd of buf
falo aud they goaded the animals before them
right up to the mouth of the gulch. When the
buffalo were headed straight into the valley the
Sioux pricked Hie hindmost with arrows and the
herd went headlong toward the encampment of
the Pawnees, who "were foolish men" and did
not watch for an enemy.
When the Puwnees saw the buffalo they mount
ed their ponies and followed them out through the
far end of the vnlley to the level plain, leaving
the women and children behind.
Then the Sioux went in to the slaughter, spar
ing neither Infancy nor age, and they had almost
ended the killing when the Pawnee braves re
turned. Then followed the last great battle which hns
been fought on the plains between tribes of red
men. The story-teller in the tepee at I'lne Ridge
did not say so. hut It is known from the account
of a white mint Adahel Hills, who knew the cir
cumstances, that the Puwnees fought that day as
they hud always fought, bravely and to the death.
Sky Chief, the Pawnee, rode out in front of
his men, shook his hand and called out that Two
Strike, the Dakota, was a coward. Then Two
Strike called back that the Pawnee was a dog's
whelp and he rode out, armed with his knife,
which was the only weapon Sky Chief held.
The two leaders met and fought. They dis
mounted, turned their ponies loose and grappled
The story teller lingered not on the details of the
fight, -lie said simply, "the Pawnees heard Sky
Chjef'a death cry."
Tho tale ended. Two Strike rose, bared hta
rtrtt arm, drove his hand downward and tbsa
upward, and smiled.
(L'upyii-lu, by J.
Characters Mrs. Westmoreland
young mother; Mr. Westmoreland,
touog father; Edith Chamberlain,
young sister; Robert Chamberlin.
young brother; Baby herself; nurs.
Scene Parlor ia Mr. Westmoreland's
house; time, evening. Mr. West
moreland. Kdith and Robert seated
around a table reading.
(Enter Mrs. Westmoreland.)
Mrs. W. Upon my word. Frank. I
can't stand this an hour longer! Here
you all sit perfectly calm and com
posed and the baby no nearer being
named than she was three months ago,
when she came Into the world! Our
horses and dogs aud even our cat has
a name, and my poor little baby
Mr. W. (seriously) Now, see here.
Carrie, 1 think we've had about enough
J this! For tr.roo months there has
not been a single subject discussed in
this house but naming the baby. For
my part, I've made up my mind to let
It go at "Uaby" and end the whole
business.
Mrs. W. And let It go at "Baby"
when she Is twenty, thirty, even fifty
years of age, I suppose. How absurd!
Mr. W. Well, it's your fault, my
dear.
Mrs. V. My fault! Of course. I
knew you were going to suy that! Pos
itively you will drive me crazy! J
don't sleep at night! I Just He there
In tho dark, while you snore away,
and call over every name on earth, in
tho family and out of the family, and
it Is not that nothlr.g suits me, but
nothing suits ber. You see she is such
a different baby, so entirely different
L mm
"Let's Think of Some Fancy Ones."
from any child I ever saw, and she
must have a name that fits her. The
other day I positively decided upon
Helen on account of grandma's mother
I thought It would please the old
lady so but when I called her by it
she burst Into tears, and so I Just
knew t,l:e poor little thing didn't liLn
It at all.
Kdith Well, I certainly would de
cide upon a family name; it looks as
If you didn't have a particle of blood,
to go hunting around outside.
Mrs. W. Family names! Did you
ever hear oue in your life that was not
hideous? Elizabeth Nancy Margar
et Caroline! How you can persist In
that "family name" idea I can't see.
As for blood, we know she has it, and
why should we care what others
think? Besides, you know the baby Is
to be an artist, or witter, or singer, or
something, und wo must think how the
name will look In print!
Robert How do you know she will
be any of those things, sis?
Mrs. W. Why, of course, she has
got to be! You don't think my baby
an idiot, do you?
Robert Certainly not, but I don't
tbluk you can tell much about babies'
careers at three months o'd either.
Mrs. W. Now, there you go 09
usual, chanting the subject! Robert,
you don't even try. You have never
eveu suggested a name'
Robert (doggedly ) Yes I have. I
said lu the beginning, name the baby
"Kllza." after mother; that's what you
ought to name her!
Mrs. W. Kllza! Oh. my Rodoness.
I simply couldn't! Think of deliber
ately attaching something hideous
repulsive (I can't help It mamma
says herself It's horrible) to my child
for life.
Mr. W. (rising and putting his arm
about his wife's shoulder) Really, my
dear, keeping yourself in such a con
stint state of excitement will end by
making you III. Surely, out of all the
names In the world we can find one to
suit. Since you don't like family
names, let's think of some fancy ones.
Flora l.ucettc Ch mllle
Mrs W Camllle! Aud send my
child out Into the world In the very
start without a character, aud perhaps
to die of consumption! Why, Frank,
I'm ashamed or you!
Mr. V. (shrugging his shoulders
and taking his seat) Well, I'm sure
don't know what we are going to do.
Mrs. W. I'll tell you what lot's do:
Let us not go to bed until we hare da
elded upon something!
IS. Lippincolt Cj.)
Robert Cood gracious, sis, I've got
U go to work in the morning!
Mrs. W. Of course, Mr. SelOsh!
Kdith (rising) Suppose you let me
make a suggestion? Let me go and
bring the baby here
Mrs. W. (Indiguautly) Wake her
up?
Kdith Yes. certainly, anything!
She never cries when she wakes up,
and she can go to sleep again. Listen,
now! Suppose I bring her here and we
all sit and stare at ber until the name
comes.
Robert Rut suppose It never
comes?
Mrs. W. Oh Robert!, are you bound
to be pessimistic?
Mr. W. (doggedly) Yes, do go.
Kdith. nnd let's try it. anyway. (Kxit
Kdith. running.)
Robert I will always say the first
baby In the family ought to be named
for mother.
Mrs. W. Robert, do you want to
kill me?
Mr. W. Don't say anything. Robert.
Can't you see that your sister is al
most 111?
(Knter Kdith, followed by nurse
with tho baby.)
Mrs. W. (taking the baby) Oh, my
precious darling, did they wake you
up mother's little on"? How could
they be so cruel? Let mudder feel Its
Itlo hands Is It told? There now!
(Scats herself and arranges baby In
her lap.) Now, Frank, draw your
chnir up there! Kdith. you sit here,
and Robert (I know you are going to
break the spell), you sit over there,
not too close, and juist shut Kllza out
of your mind!
(Seat themselves and stare In sil
ence at the biby.) . ,
Mrs. W. (springing to her feet In
great excitement and placing baby in
the nurse's arms) I have It I have
It! It has all come like n flash or
lightning. Just as I thought it would.
(Jerks the baby from the nurse and
kisvs It.) My poor little one, you
are no longer a wretched little waif
on the face of the earth, you are now
somebody with a name! (Returns
baby and Jumps up and down, clap
ping her hands, and then embraces
Kdith.) You dear girl. I shall never
cease to adore you, your plan acted
like a charm!
Chorus For heaven's sake, tell us
what is the name?
Mrs. W. (blankly) Why-what
what is It? I
Chorus You haven't rorgotten It!
Mrs. W. (tearfully) I have, I
have! You all excited me so! Oh!
this is too cruel! It was Bob; ho
simply leaped into the air! (Bursts
into tears. Excitedly): Oh! but
have It, I have if. nrter all!
Kliza. Kllza backwards!
Chorus Kllza Hack wards!
Robert Backwards! Creat heavens!
where did you get that? It's aw
ful! Mr. W. (emphatically) H Is!
Kdith Why
Mrs. W. Do stop, all or you. Can't
you sc. there is a point. Spell it!
Chorus (they spell K l l z a- (Back-
w o-o-d-s.)
Mrs. W. Not woods wards! Oh!
are you all Insane? I said spell Kliza
Backwards.
Kdith But, Carrie
Mr. W. (tenderly) My d"ar, you
must compose yourself. This thing
lias preyed upon you until your miud
Is unstrung.
Mrs. W. Oh, but you don't under
stand or you won't! Spell Kliza back
kards, nnd It Is Azile! The greatest
writer la the world would not
ashamed of such a name!
(Chorus of laughter.)
Bob By Jove, that Is good!
you ve got a great heud. Kllza Back
wards, It Is. Come, here, you rascal!
(Takes baby and jumps it.) Kliza
Backwards!
Mrs. W. (aghast) Rut you won't
call her that?
Bub-Certainly!
Mrs. W. Hut her name Is Azile!
Bob Well. Isn't that Kliza Back
wards? (Mrs. W. nearly faints; Is borue
rrom t:i room iiy ber husband
Kdith and Boh drop exhausted
chairs.)
I
It's
be
Sis.
and
la
Why a Cat Lights on Its Feet.
Why cats when dropped from a
height light on their feet nine times
out or ten Is one or the smaller prob
lems that rrom time to time attract
the attention or a certain type or sci
entists. ;$ome years ago learned men
In Paris gravely studied the phenom
ena, even ban a lot or dims taken or a
eat falling from a great height. These
showed that as soon ns puss began to
fall a curious turning movement or
the hlnd-qusiters began, and Jest be
fore she touched ground she was right
side up.
A German proressor went his fellow
seleiitlsts on better nnd proved a cat
In falling changed Its center of grati
fy by rorary twists or the tall. The
protessor further observed that these
twists were the reverse of those of the
ret of the body. So convinced was
he of this fact that ho fixed a movabl
tall to operats by clockwork on a dum
my cat and lo, behold, the dummy cat
when wound up and set In motion fell
on Its feet every time like a sure
enough cat Aeroplanlst, consider the
cat's tall and perhaps save your life.
'v
