Image provided by: The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde; Grand Ronde, OR
About Weekly Chemawa American. (Chemawa, Or.) 189?-198? | View Entire Issue (Jan. 31, 1902)
2 CHEMAWA AMERICAN. H. L, Lovelace, Manager, Published Weekly by (ho Pupils of the Chemawa. Indian School. I'-ttcnptt-n I'rice, 25 Cents Per Year, Glhba of five and over 20 Cents per year. Entered at the Postoffice at Chemawa, Or., Address all Kuslness t'ouiinuuicutluiis to Thb Chemawa American, -Chemawa, Oregon. Note. If Oris space ia marked with a red cross ; : it means that your subscription has expired. Please renew ; Only 25 cents per year. KEEP ON THE SIDEWALKM That honesty is the best policy ia plainly Rhown in the following article: Some Indians fl cked abont the Btore of a new trader, and examined his goods, but offered to buy nothing. Finally the chief visited him. 'How do you do, John; show me woods. Aha! I take a blanket forme, mid cahco for squaw-three otter skins for blanket and one for calico. Ugh! pay you by'm by tomorrow.' He ifceived his yoo'is and left. On the next dny ha leturned with a tome part "f his bund, Ins blanket full of skina. 'Now, John, I pay vou ' He drew from his bla-iket four otter fitin., one af:er another, laying them on the counter. After a moment's hesitation, he drew out a fifth, u rich and rare one, and laid it on thecounter. 'Tbfit'e right, John.' Pushing it back, the trader replied, "You owe me but four; I want only my just dues." They passed it back and forlb between them several times, till at length tb e chief' appeared satined. He put the akin back in bis blanket, scrutinized tbe trader, and then stepping to the door, cried to his followers: "Come, come trade with the palefaci John. He no cheat In dian; bis heart big." Then turning to the trader he said: ''Suppose you take last skin, J tell my peopb do trade with you. We drive off others; but now you be Indian's friend, and we bp yours." Before dark the trader was waist deep in furs, and had bis till well filled with cash. Even untutoied snvftges recognize an honest man and confide in him. Ex While the North American Indian is not generally considered a financier, lie possessed a more perfect system of money than any primitive race. So fur advanced was be on the road to the civilized use of money that wampum, as a medium of ex change, was immediately made use of by the first white settlers, not only In their dealings with the Indian, but for the pur pose of trading among themselves. Bo important was thia medium consider ed to be that in 1041, wnipuui was made legal tender in Conneeticir , and for twenty years it was accepted for deb's and taxes to the amount of twenty pounds. It was also currency in the New Netherlands and at one time in Virginia. In 164fll public enactments in Connecti cut determined thb value by making four w bite heiuis or two black bends the equiv alent of one penny. On this busts wam pum was made use of for Ihreequarters of a century in a huge share of the commer cial tram-actions in America. Ex. Tlie'e is no doubt but home life would acquire a new chnrm and the faintly board b more attractive if good advice were more nearly followed. It is equally cer tain'thm. there wou'd be less indication. L-1 u-4 nil try to remember the above and we will bo Snippier, healthier and better id every way.
