18
THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN
time employed as a teacher in the schools on the Omaha reservation, in
company with her father, visited the Poncas in Oklahoma. The young
lady was deeply touched by conditions as she found them. For
weeks the two ministered to the wants of the sick and dying of her rela
tives, the Poncas. On Bright Eyes' return to Omaha arrangements were
made for her and Standing Bear to tour the country for the purpose of
telling of the wrongs which had been inflicted on her people.
The tour took them from Missouri River to the Atlantic seaboard.
Everywhere they were received by large audiences, anxious to know
the story of the wrongs from the chief and his accomplished tribes
woman. The addresses of Bright Eyes were a clear, dispassionate
elucidation of the troubles her people had suffered at the hands of the
Government, coupled with an eloquent appeal for simple American jus
tice. Public sentiment became aroused. The Senate of the United
States named a committee to investigate the story told by Standing
Bear and Bright Eyes, the report bearing out the oft repeated state
ment. An effort was made to right the wrong as far as possible.
Those ot the Poncas who desired to return to the old reservation were
granted permission to do so, while those who wished to remain in Ok
lahoma were given better lands and their condition greatly improved.
Bright Eyes, whose real name was Susette La Flesche, later married
Mr. Tibbell, a newspaper writer, who had brought the conditions of her
tribe to the notice of the public and who managed the tour of Standing
Bear and Bright Eyes over the country.
After her marriage she made a tour of the European Continent and
received marked attention everywhere. The last 20 years of her life
was spent in writing, her works being among the best from one of In
dian blood, equaling Dr. Eastman, the Sioux, or Joseph Dukes, the
Choctaw.
FROM ROOM NO. 9
Our room has the largest class in school, thirty-nine, while two, John
Couchane and James Ford are away on leave, visiting sick relatives.
Seven chairs will be needed when they return.
There are twenty-five in the senior class, seven more than was regis
tered in the class of '14.
Both classes are taking a regular course in penmanship. On Friday,
we practice for one hour with the pens, while at odd intervals during the
week movement exercises with the pencil are practiced. We have al
ready taken sixteen exercises. We are told that there will be nearly