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.