Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 26, 1940)
Christmas on tlje prairie ^frontier The Story of the Most Unusual Celebration in American History Old Fort Abraham Lincoln in the wintertime. (From a contemporary photograph by D. F. Barry). By ELMO SCOTT WATSON (Released by Western Newspaper Union.) IT WAS the day before Christmas, 1875, at old Fort Abra ham Lincoln on the Dakota frontier. In the quarters of Lieut. Francis M. Gibson of the Seventh Cavalry his young bride, Katherine Gibson, was struggling with the problem of decorating the bare little rooms for the Christ mas Tree party which they , were planning to give that evening. Soldiers, sent out to scour the neighborhood for any thing resembling a tree, had returned with a few forlorn branches of sage and cedar brush. But, undaunted by this poor substitute for Christmas greenery, the young couple set to work. They hung the boughs on stout cords from the ceiling down to within a few feet of the floor. Beneath they placed a washtub, decorated with gaily painted pa per and filled with sand. In the latter they buried what few gifts they had been able to purchase from the scanty stocks of mer chants in the crude little frontier town of Bismarck a few miles away. “We’ll call it a Christmas pie!’’ cried Katherine Gibson with a brave laugh. But the room still lacked a fes tive holiday appearance, so they aet to work on sheets of plain pa per which she had saved. They colored the paper with paints, then cut it into long strips to serve as festoons. To their aid came several young officers of the Sev enth, recently arrived at Fort Lin coln from West Point. With silver foil that had been wrapped around cigars, these youngsters covered the few nuts available and hung them on the makeshift Christmas tree. Other officers’ wives contribut ed old Christmas cards, resur rected from their trunks, and they tied them on the tree with scraps of faded ribbon that had been ironed and freshened. They colored candles with red paint, cut them in two and perched them jauntily on the branches of the tree. They fashioned a bife bell out of paper that had been colored red and pasted cut-out pictures of Santa Claus on its edges. As for refreshments for the party—what if the post trader’s store had only a meager supply of such staples as .sugar, coffee, flour and the like? Somehow young Katherine Gibson managed to get together some sandwiches, a cake, a small amount of candy and lemonade made from citric acid crystals. But her greatest triumph was ... ice cream! It was ice cream made from con densed milk, whipped up gelatine and the whites of eggs. (The mail man had brought these eggs from Bismarck and he had wrapped them in cotton and carried them inside his buckskin shirt next to his warm body to keep them from freezing.) By late afternoon the young of ficer and his bride were ready to receive their guests. Soon a laughing throng had gathered in their house for the festivities and . . . But let Katherine Gibson tell the story of that party and its unexpected and dramatic after math—surely one of the strang est Christmas Eve celebrations ever held in America. Here is the story, told in her own words: Christmas Eve dawned bright and clear, and the temperature had moderat ed. Someone brought an old banjo, an other had unearthed an antique guitar, another a Jew'a-harp. With such dance music provided we swung Into the Vir ginia Reel with much merriment, and then the old square dances had their turn. What a beautiful time we had I Finally, before midnight. Lieutenant Gibson, being officer of the day. had to make his rounds of the outposts, and Shortly afterward the parly broke up. everyone tired but happy. When the last guest had departed, I thought I would take a peep into the kitchen, now dark and deserted, so, with lighted candle held high, I opened the door. As the flame stabbed through the darkness I suddenly gasped and gazed before me with starUed eyes, for on the side porch appeared some strangers hud dled together—strangers of Juvenile stat ure. one barely tall enough to see above the window casement. In short, my un invited guests were small Indian children Who wore Staring through the glass at the tree tn mdlmerlc enhancement. For a moment I was held spellbound In surprise, then, cautiously, so as not to frighten them, I opened the porch door and motioned them to enter. At first they cowered and shrank away, then a straight-backed youngster In buckskin, dragging by the hand a diminutive squaw about four years old. stepped Into the room, the others following warily, single file How had they gained entrance to the garrison, I wondered? Then 1 re called a slight breach In the stockade wall, Just big enough to admit the wrig gling In and out of one small body at a time. I turned to the supposed leader of the party and speaking slowly, asked, point ing to the tree, "Some one tell Indian boy about It?" He nodded, as the little hnstiles around the agencies picked up a smattering of English very quickly. “Who tell Indian boy?” "Horn Toad.” Horn Toad was a good-natured Indian scout, adored by all the children tn the garrison. "Oh,” 1 nodded, while the little frozen band huddled about the stove In stolid silence, "and who is she?" Indicating the wee squaw. "Sister," replied the boy, while the little girl clung more fiercely to his hand. My eyes ran over the tiny figure and my heart contracted. The poor tot shiv ered and drew across the shoulders of her calico dress an Impromptu shawi made of gunny suck and a strip of the same material served as her only head gear Her mncasslns and leggings were of buckskin The young warriors were clad In whole suits of It, but, evidently, when It came to the female of the spe cies, the supply had given out. It was a miracle that the tittle band hadn't been frozen to death. Just how, where, or why at this season of the year these people were abroad In stead of under shelter at the agencies did not matter The fact remained that they and at least some of thetr tribe had set up their wickiups somewhere nearby. 1 mentally shook myself What a un conscionable hour for these children to be up. They must be returned to their mothers at once, and yet as I looked Into their timid, expectant faces, pity stirred within me, and my logic went woefully awry. Heaven only knew how long they Mrs. Francis M. Gibson and Baby Kale who grew up to be come Mrs. Katherine Gibson Fou gera, author of "With Custer’s Cavalry.” had waited out there In the cold, feasting their eyes on this glittering paradise, and that set me thinking. Quickly I drew them into the living room and towards the Christmas Tree Die which. I was confident, still held a few treasures and, digging into the sand my self. I fished out a Jack-in-the-box which I presented io the little lady. Her black eyes leaped with surprise and Joy. and her wee hands trembled as she clutched the toy. Then, making a motion for them to continue. I (lew to the kitchen to heat up what cocoa still remained. The strik er was Just leaving for his barracks when I called to him. "Oh. Alkorn," I instructed, "go to the nearest bastion and tell the sentinel to relay to other sentinels that. In the event of any Indians hanging around and look big for children, they are at Lieutenant Gibson's quarters and will be along soon." During my absence my guests had cer tainly explored the entire contents of the tub. The appearance of the Jack-in-the box had dissipated their last vestige of hesitation, and they plunged feverishly into Ahe sand, and with each rag doll, toy pistol, or othei treasure exhumed, they became in fact wild Indians—wild with delight—the boys voicing their emo tions in short grunts, the wee ones in squeals of rapture. It was upon this scene of oozing, scat tering sand that I entered, bearing a pot of steaming cocoa, but the children re fused to abandon the magic tub until the very last toy had been salvaged. Then, they drank long and thirstily of the re freshing beverage, and soon color re turned to their pinched cheeks and warmth crept back into their little chilled Angers. Noting all this, I communed with my self thoughtfully. I should have sent them home right away, I told myself severely, yet I continued to heap their laps with goodies, popcorn, nuts and can dy. Besides, there was some ice cream left over, and cake, too, that were beg ging to be eaten, and what was a party without them? So. before they knew It, mounds of pink and white concoction were whisked in front of the little savages, who im mediately plunged small eager fingers *>to the pretty, fluffy stuff, only to recoil from the sudden chill. The tiny squaw was the first to experiment with it by cautiously licking some off her palm, j and her cherubic smile would have In- j spired a masterpiece from Raphael. They needed no further urging and at tacked the Ice cream, stuffing themselves with all the abandon of healthy, hungry children. While they were thus engaged, I ran upstairs looking for old blankets, wool en stockings, and socks. I found a short coat of my own, some mittens, and galoshes and warm mufflers. Suddenly, queer sounds coming from below sent me scurrying half-way downstairs, where I paused. The noise started with the clapping of hands, accompanied by a weird chant. This was followed by the sound of softly muffled feet and short, sharp whoops, at first faint but growing louder and louder. I sank upon the stairs and peered through the bannisters into the living room, and what I beheld kept me rooted to the spot. My eyes dilated before a picturesque phase of barbaric expression. The straight-backed boy, evidently wishing to do his part and that of his tribe toward the entertainment, was stag ing a performance of his own and was directing the others in some kind of a dance. One boy and the diminutive squaw stood at the side, clapping their hands and chanting monotonously, the latter moving her hips and body in Imita tion of the older squaws, while, circling the stove In single file, the young braves stamped upon the carpet with the firm ness of buflfaloes combined with the whirlwind lightness of the wildcat, their lithe frames swaying like the prairie grasses and with a rhythm as perfect as a set measure. Backwards and for wards they flung themselves as though made of clastic rubber, bending pliant heads and necks and emitting long drawn-out whoops of Joy. The crunching Into the carpet of ruinous sand mattered not, for on the ■tep I sat like petrified wood, lost In won der at the wild beauty pnd the cadence of that native dance. Why, I pondered, did white children have to spend money tc atttain anything like the grace of these aborigines to whom It seemed as Inborn and as natural as a spring of cool, clear water? The dirge changed, and the little redskins swung Into close group forma tion, each executing fast, fantastic steps. Followed more insistent hand-clapping and droning. The young bucks quickly flung back Into single file, whereupon the dance became fiercer, the whoops louder and longer, and with a frenzy that almost shook the floor they fairly leaped about the stove until the leader held up his hand and stopped. The droning ceased, the embryo braves threw themselves, gasping, upon the carpet, and the wee one slid down beside the young chief. I drew a deep breath, hurried back upstairs, and brought down an armful of clothing and blankets. Then I bundled up the wee squaw like a bale of cotton, tied my too-big mittens on her warm little hands and gave the rest of the blankets, mufflers Hnd galoshes to the boys. After that I stripped the tree of Its remaining gifts, put candy and cake in a bag, which I consigned to the care of the straight-backed boy, and very re luctantly let my guests out again into the night. I glanced up at the clock In the hall. Already It was Christmas The snow crunched crisply beneath light, retreat ing steps, while again and again the happy children, clutching their cherished toys, turned radiant faces over their shoulders for one last look and smile. Finally the small, straight-backed In dian boy. bringing up the rear with his Christmas burdens, patted his mouth with his slim hand ana emitted the fare well call of his tribe, which seemed to linger on the air even after the little band had faded from view. I smiled to myself, blew out the kero sene lamp In the hall and trudged wearily upstairs, while, drifting through the still, approaching dawn, and echoing from bastion to bastion, came the comforting call of the sentinels, “One o’clock and all's well." * • • So that is the story of the Christmas Eve celebration at old Fort Abraham Lincoln on the Dakota frontier—a traditional ob servance of the birth of the Prince of Peace which came to an un expected climax in a barbaric war-dance! You’ll find the story in a book published recently by the Caxton Printers, Ltd., of Cald well, Idaho—“With Custer’s Cav alry” by Katherine Gibson Fou gera, the daughter who was born a few years later to the young Seventh Cavalry officer and his wife at Fort Meade in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and it is reproduced here for your enjoy ment by special permission of the copyright owners. It is one of the most unusual— and at the same time one of the most charming—Yuletide stories that has appeared in many a year. It is a strictly American addition to the literature of Christmas. For nowhere else in the world, except in America, could this incident have taken place! Fragrant Flowers Bloom Again To Enhance Winter Ensembles By CIILRIE NICHOLAS A DURING beaux, broth ** ers, uncles and hus bands please take notice. According to latest fashion news that gracious, lovely lady custom of wearing fra grant flowers in her hair, pinned to her bodice or adorning her fur coat at the game has been revived. If you long to add happiness and midwinter joys to the one you love best, and of course you do, send her flowers. Should an unkind fate take you out of town on the day of her ^coming out party or on the night of the college dance she had counted on attending, simply wire her flowers and friend florist will do the rest. If she is a sophisticated beauty, send her a stunning new oriental headdress of fragrant carnations and rose petals. The appearance creat ed by the black wool evening coat with lavish embroidery pictured to the right in the illustration is great ly enhanced by a matching bouquet pinned on the evening bag. Perhaps she is a swing addict or a girl who adores waltzes. In this event you will be sure to win her heart if you send her a glamorous romantic headdress of rubrum lil ies to wear to the holiday party down on her social calendar. A matching bracelet of blossoms to wear with her airy-fairy dress of sil ver striped tulle as shown to the left in the group would be very wel come. The center figure above aptly shows how well-placed flowers can "dress up” a sports ensemble. When it comes to the masterpiece of flower accessories, see the ador able lei formed of blue cornflowers festooned about the slender young throat and pretty shoulders of the lassie pictured in the oval inset. Small wonder is it that flower neck laces such as this one inspired by the picturesque Hawaiian leis, are coveted by every fashionwise so phisticate who would add more fem inine allure to her young charms. Be sure to order this adorable flow er lei made with a side clip of pink camellias which as you see by the picture, adds a rapturous note. A necklace of tiny orchids or gardenias would be an equally glamorous choice. To All her heart full to overflowing with joy, give her a matching flower bracelet. This trend to flowers bespeaks a new motivating thought in the minds of designers. They are playing up "style” in costume flower arrange ments that will prove as flattering and versatile and just as dramatic as most sumptuous jewels or other accessory items. For example, there is the present fad of pinning fresh flowers on your muff or to the cuff of your glove. Diadems of flowers make lovely coiffure adorn ment, while red, white and blue flowers sound the patriotic note. (Released by Western Newspaper Union.) Knit Suit For good skiing weather here's a sports set which will keep you snug and make you look charming all at the sart.v time. It is a riTtl piece of artistry in every detail. The baby bonnet, mittens and sweater are trimmed with rows of heavy cable stitch, accented with rows of color ful embroidery. Knit them in sturdy, white knitting worsted for warmth and long wear. The em broidery gives high-color to the en tire combination. The buttons re peat the coloring of the embroidery. Novel Coiffures Traced To Oriental Influences If you have kept step with the mil linery parade your coiffure is con cealed under draped fabric contri vances that form part of the brim. Hairdresses worn under draped tur ban should fit snugly down over the back of the head to the very nape of the neck. These new and fash ionable turbans trace their inspira tion to Oriental influences. The smartest completely conceal the hair. Overshoes Have High, Low Heels Overshoes don’t change much from year to year. They just be come a little neater looking, a lit tle more streamlined and a bit more decorative. But this year the prin cipal news is that the makers of ga loshes have finally realized that many women wear low-heeled shoes during the winter months. So this season you will find even the velvet carriage shoes trimmed with black bunny fur, available in three heel heights—low, Cuban and high. These are extremely smart worn with a velvet trimmed cloth coat or one of fur. The familiar all-rubber galoshes are also made in the three heel sizes this year, and the toes are given a boxy look. You’ll find a black on black contrast in these, with shiny rubber applied in a pat tern over the arch, and in a panel around the toes, and on the heels. There are low overshoes that look like grown-up rubbers. These are styled to cover the entire shoe, but stop below the ankle. In order to make these look like shoes they are given a smart suede finish and trimmed with shiny rubber for a suede and patent look. Coats Can Serve As Warm Capes Leave it to the smart young set to do the unusual. At the moment j they are wearing their fur or cloth coats to look like capes. Here’s their technique. They turn the sleeves in if coat is of soft wool or if this is not feasible they throw the coat about their shoulders nonchalantly entirely ignorning that it has sleeves It is a practical gesture, for with the tailored jacketed wool suits now so fashionable it gives not only a ’’new” look to add the fur-cape touch, but worn in this easy man ner there is comfort without a cum bersome “feeL” Iodine Alone Aid in Many Goiter Cases By DR. JAMES VV. BARTON IN MY student days the se vere type of goiter—exoph thalmic goiter or Grave’s disease—was a serious mat ter to the pa- r———— tient and his TODAY’S family. It often ur a ij|i meant traveling ■■ERLI If hundreds of COLUMN miles to some _ outstanding surgeon and often the case was too far advanced to obtain successful results. Today, while practically every hospital has one or a number of surgeons skilled in this operation, it is known that many cases can be suc cessfully treated by X-rays, and still others are relieved of their symptoms by rest and medicine. There are, of course, certain cases in which operation should be per formed as pointed out by Drs. Walter Redisch, New York, and William H. Per loff, Philadelphia, in Endocrinology. 1. Those cases in which there is me chanical pressure present, aside from the regular symp toms of severe goi ter. Dr. Barton 2. Cases in which one or more nodules or lumps can be felt, firmer than the remainder of the gland. 3. Those cases in which other forms of treatment such as rest and iodine have failed. 4. Wherever there is immediate danger from heart and blood-vessel disturbances. Record of Results. In recording the results obtained by use of iodine alone, Drs. Redisch and Perloff state that iodine causes a great improvement in some pa tients, has no effect in others, and makes still others worse. By using sodium iodide with the pure iodine, instead of potassium iodide, results showed about 10 per cent of the cases completely and permanently cured, 40 per cent free of symp toms so long as iodine is used, and almost 50 per cent “almost” free of symptoms, but with some signs and symptoms still present. The thought then is that while many cases must undergo surgery, and others treatment by X-ray, there are many other cases in which iodine alone, or iodine with rest, brings relief of symptoms. • • * Dizziness Often Due to Allergy AMONG, your friends and ac quaintances you likely have a number who are sensitive or allergic to various foods. They will tell you that a certain food brings on an attack of hives or an upset stom ach or an attack of asthma, or a head cold. The eating of foods to which one is sensitive is now be lieved to be the cause of attacks of dizziness that were formerly blamed on the liver. Just as foods inflame the lining of nose, throat and bron chial tubes, the lining of the stom ach and tho surface of the skin, so can they cause an inflammation of the inner ear, thickening the lining, upsetting the balancing canals and so causing dizziness. Dr. L. H. Criep, Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania Medical Journal, Har risburg, states that the number of cases of dizziness due to allergy is greater than suspected. That aller gy causes swelling and puffiness of the inner ear, just as it causes swell ing and puffiness of the skin, lining of nose and other parts, is logical or reasonable particularly when all the other conditions found in allergy are present in these cases, such as family history of allergy and other allergic symptoms (asthma, hay fe ver, eczema and the like) and the tests for allergy are positive. Dizziness (vertigo) due to allergy may be the only symptom present or there may be other symptoms such as deafness, ringing in the ears (one or both sides), and stom ach upsets. Dr. Criep points out that similar symptoms—loss of hearing, ringing in ears, dizziness, headache—may be due to tumors, infections, poison ing and bleeding into inner ear, so that all these conditions should be considered and searched for, before blaming the symptoms on allergy. If none of these conditions is pres ent, it is reasonable to believe that allergy may be the cause. QUESTION BOX Q.—Is high blood pressure dan gerous to anyone getting a stroke? A. — The family physician who knows the patient’s condition best after a stroke or after‘each stroke gives the patient a complete rest in bed for some weeks. He is then al lowed to take a certain amount ot exercise according to his condition He is given small meals four times a day instead of the usual three. The ; i physician may give medicine to give | relief of symntoins. Blouse-Jumper for Schoolgirl Is Smart IF YOUR daughter is ju^.t about * ready for a new jumper, and several new blouses to go with it then make them up with this new design (No. 1282-B) and she’ll be perfectly delighted with the result. This jumper is dart-fitted to creata a smallness of waist that school girls covet and are not likely to possess, and the skirt has smart front fullness, with two convenient patch pockets to park car fare and hankies. The tailored blouse has a becoming sports collar, and can be made with long or short sleeves. Corduroy, velveteen, flannel and wool plaid are smart for the jump er. Make the blouse of linen, fiat crepe, challis or pique. Both are easy to do, even for beginners. * * • Barbara Bell Pattern No. 1282-B Is de signed for sizes 6. 8. 10, 12 and 14 years. Size 8 requires 1% yards of 54-inch ma terial for Jumper; 1>,4 yards of 39-inch material for long-sleeved blouse; 1(4 yards for short-sleeved. Send order to: SEWING CIRCLE PATTERN DEPT. Room 1324 211 W. Wacker Dr. Chicago Enclose 15 cents in coins for Pattern No. Size. Name . Address . COLDS Cfruickfy u-Sc dm? liquid fciw TABLETS SALVE »■ J H. JM nose drops COUGH DROPS Happy Action Doing good is the only certainly happy action of a man’s life.—Sir Philip Sydney. Help Them Cleanse the Blood of Harmful Body Waste Your kidneys are constantly filtering waste matter from the blood stream. But i kidneys sometimes lag in their work—do not act as Nature intended—(ail to re move impurities that, if retained, may j poison the system and upBet the whole body machinery. Symptoms may be nngging backache, persistent headache, attacks of dizziness, getting up nights, swelling, puffinesa under the eyes—a feeling of nervoua anxiety and loss of pep and strength. Other signs of kidney or bladder dis order are sometimes burning, scanty or too frequent urination. There should be no doubt that prompt treatment is wiser than neglect. Usa Doan’s Pills. Doan’s have been winning new friends lor more than forty years. They have a nation-wide reputation. Are recommended by grateful people the country over. Ask your neighbor! WNU—U_52—40 "All the Traffic Would Bear " • There was a time in America when there were no set prices. Each merchant charged what he thought “the traffic would bear.” Advertising came to the rescue of the consumer. It led the way to the estab lished prices you pay when you buy anything today. — i .. 1 11 ■' ~ 1