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uniform, or — when in milder mood — clad in more fantastic aboriginal finery, always with a troop of idlers at his heels. There were also a father and son, both con firmed drunkards, cross-eyed and barefooted, — fiddlers, and the wags of their tribe, who frequented the river villages, always attract ing about themselves a hilarious crowd, and gathered in many a loose penny. The policy of the Maine government toward the Indians is paternal. In 1894, the amount of legislative appropriations was 58,419.70, which is about the usual annual amount. This included the interest of the fund standing to the credit of the tribe. The items consisted of annuities ($1,700), seed, and often farming implements, bounties on crops, support of schools and school-houses, salary of the priest, governor, lieutenantgovernor, superintendent of farming, and of financial agent. In January, 1880, the membership of the tribe had fallen to 245 persons; in January, 1 894, there had been an increase to the num ber of 390. Apparently civilization, qual ified by Maine law, is not destructive to the race. Beside the school at the Oldtown Island, there is one on Olamon Island, opposite the town of Greenbush. The old school-house at Indian Island having fallen into decay, in 1 894 a new one was built at a cost of Si,000, of which sum the State provided $400, and the Indians contributed the balance. The new school-room is furnished with blackboards, globes and maps; and it is stated that there are always a number of pupils in the school who are quite proficient in drawing. The teachers for many years have been young squaws. These are, for the most part, modest and dignified in de meanor, and some have been persons of refined appearance. It was nearly a century ago that their aboriginal costume gave place generally to a transitional form of dress, — a mixture of the French Canadian, the English and Indian

styles; but now for many years these gar ments, — the three-cornered cap; the long, loose frock confined by a belt; the blanket clumsily wrapped about the loins; the leggins and the moccasin, have rarely been seen. The male Indian has long worn ready-made garments "same as white man," while the other sex follow, as well as they know how, the fashions that come originally from Euro pean capitals. A wedding on Indian Island — that is in "society " — is a rare occurrence; one a year would be a surprising number. At pres ent, Sunday is the approved day for this ceremony. There was one on a certain mid winter Sunday which I can describe. The marriage proper, in the chapel, was as the priests always make it, in this country, with out respect to color, race or social position. On leaving the church, the wedded pair sep arated, for not until the next night, in the midst of the dances, do the bride and bride groom appear together again. Well back from the road on Indian Island stands a long, low building, toward which, over an ample yard, dim forms were descried hastening, in the early winter darkness. There is only a single portal, with a narrow door, for entrance or exit. You enter, and see that there is no window, except a few panes of cobwebby glass at one end of this long, low and only apartment of the build ing, constituting the assembly hall of this community. The floor is worn so smooth that it reflects the light from the lamps that hang from the low ceiling. A very hot stove in a corner of the apartment makes the space about it uncomfortably warm, while all other parts remain uncomfortably cool. At the farther end is a very high narrow stage on which stands a piano covered with a red cloth. There are no chairs, but about the room is a continuous bench, along which sit or stand groups of slouchily dressed figures of each sex. The blue ceiling is relieved, here and there, by national emblems, — stars, eagles and stripes.