2
THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN
SPEECH OF PHILIP MENTHOM,
Or Yellowhawk, a Full-Blood Nez
Perce Indian, Delivered at the
60th Anniversary of the Whitman
Massacre.
"Tonight I look in your faces and I
am very glad. Long ago, I was only a
little boy here. Long ago only Indians
were here, and all was darkness. That
was before Whitman came. When Whit
man carae long ago, it was just like the
fresh light coming into the country. He
came into our midst and give his right
hand. We rejoiced. , Then one bad man
came and led the Indians astray, and
induced them to murder him.' My fath
er was Pu-pu-mox-mox. When news
came to us of Dr. Whitman killed, all
seemed to be smothered and the dark
ness come again-. It was the same as in
the long. ago. But a little light still
burned in our home. It lived when Ave .
were transferred to the reservation.
Now there is a great light there and
many Christians. Now there is - no
ground for war and fight any more, We
are all gathered around one feast to par
take of it. Tonight our hearts are all
bound together by the religion of Jesus
Christ."
As the aged Indian finished he .was
greeted with continuous and impressive
applause for several minutes. As a fit
ting finale Mr. Cornelison and the two
Indian delegates from his church Yellow
hawk and his cousin, stepped forward
and sang in the Nez Perce tongue an In
dian song, " 'Tis so Sweet to Trust in
Jesus." This was also greeted with tre
mendous applause.
''I think I shall wire Dr. Mat
thews tonight,'-', said Mr. Reid, ''that a
Umatilla Indian has taken, his place and
has swept the audience from its feet, I
shall thank him for not corning." Wal
la Walla Daily Union.
Left ovor Items
Tom McCully is a happy boy. His
father and sister are visiting him.
Miss Findlay, a former teacher of this
school, talked to the boys and girls in
- chapel Sunday morning a week ago.
We are pleased to har that Sam John
is coming back to school again. He is
" one of our best long distance runners.
The employes held a 'meeting after the
Industrial lecture on .Monday night in
order to make' arrangements lor Xma's.
The best plays are 'now1 being brought
to Salem and are well patronized by the
Chemawa people who are fond of ihe
drama. "The Lion and the Mouse,"
which was produced by an excellent
company, Was well' attended from Che
mawa. '
A letter was received from Superin
tendent Lipps, of Lapwai, Idaho, stating
that every educated Nez Perce Indian
must manage his own individual allot
ment, and no more leases will be made
for them in the agency office. The gov
ernment thinks it is best for them to
handle their own allotments, and can
lease it any way they want it dme or
else farm it themselves..
I have always had my Christmas, in
Pennsylvania except last winter. I spent
my Christmas in Alaska a year ago and
every thing was different there from
Pennsylvania and Oregon. Snow, ice
and reindeer were the things to see there.
I am glad to be down here and appreci
ate the opportunity of being among the
good people. By A native of the Cold
North.