The Sunday Oregonian., July 18, 1909, SECTION TWO, Page 2, Image 14

TIIE SUNDAY OREGOXIAN, PORTLAND, JTXLY 18, 1909.
TP
WYOMING WILL SOON PASS A LAW FORBIDDING A BRUTAL
II BUT SPECTACULAR CUSTOM II
SEMEN
bust
BT F. H. BARROW.
THE State of Wyoming that "Western
commonwealth vehemently protest
ing against the epithet of "wild and
wooly" attached to It by the avrraire
Easterner, and proudly boasting of Its
advanced civilization has at last found
the beam In Its own optic and taken steps
looking toward its early removal. It has
Just been discovered that Wyoming is
the only state in the Union where the
brutal practice rf "busting" Is permitted
in roping steers for amusement purposes.
The practice of "busttwr." be It known,
was confined to the earlier history of cattle-raising
in the West, before more hu
mane methods were discovered, and con
sists in a rope or lasso being thrown over
the animal's head, the horseman then
d-ftly circling the steer and tripping it up
with the rope. The plunging animal usu
ally lands squarely on Its back not In
frequently, however, sustaining a broken
lg or horn, and occasionally a broken
xteck.
It la a disgustingly brutal practice. lonT
go discarded by practical cattlemen and
prohibited by legislative enactment in
other Western States, but still permitted
and featured In Wyoming at Cheyenne's
annual Frontier Days celebration, de
spite the efforts of the humane societies
to have the cruelty discontinued. Tear
after year" at the Cheyenne celebration
this form of brutality has been witnessed
by thousands of spectators. Each year
the entire Southwest is scoured for vi
cious steers as victims for this spectacle,
which approaches the sensationalism and
brutality of the Spanish bujl fight. True,
an agent of the humane society is on the
ground mercifully to shoot all badly in
jured animals, which fact Is used in de
fending the practice but even with every
other stale having abolished "busting"
by law as an amusement feature, the
shameful exhibition of cruelty has been
retained on the Frontier programme from
year to year, in spite of the most vigorous
protests.
And with the prospect of busting" be
ing abolished from the state this year,
the humane forces may take very little If
any credit for having brought about the
reformation. Strange as it may seem,
the men who now seek to do away with
this barbaric custom ere the big cattle-
. owners of the West. Each year, a month
previous to the Frontier show at the
' state capitol. the cattlemen have been
finding many steers on the ranges with
broken legs and horns, and occasionally
one with back or neck broken. Only re
cently have they awakened to the fact
INTIMATE VIEW OF AMERICAN RED MEN WHO RETAIN MUCH OF THEIR ORIGINAL DIGNITY
BT H. GAVIN.
THH alluring call of the great Ameri
can Northwest will be forcible as
long as the snow-crowned mountain
p-aks gleam through the fantastic cloud
masses and as long as the boundless
prairies and giant forests remain.
The wide desert, grim and desolate. In
the merciless glare of daylight, is of
wonderful beauty at dawn, as well as
sunset A poetio glamor pervades tben
the vastness; the by-day i oppressive si
lence becomes impressive.
Early dawn shows In the painting.
"Smoke talk." by the noted painter of
Western landscape end the Indians, Mr.
William Rlcss. Against the silver-lined
sky and the wide, wide stretch of prairie
the crouching figure of an Arapahoe brave
is silhouetted. Carefully he nurses the
smoke of a sagebrush lire ir&o a straight
column. It means much to the warrior.
This thin Hno of smoke Is his call for help
to his far away tribe. Soon will he scan
the horizon for an answering signal
which will bring the measure that relief
will come.
The red man Is of necessity part and
parcel of the fastnesses of the North
west Remove him from his natural sur
rounding and he becomes a slovenly de
generate. Of all the tribes of North American
Indians the Arapahoe must be conceded
first place as an interesting and beaut!-'
ful type. They are a morally clean peo
ple, and still possess that native grace
and dignity which are extinct In most
other tribes. At the great sun dance,
which generally occurs the end of July,
one can see the Arapahoe Indian at his
best
It Is a eeasaw of good will and generous
friendship among them. The council te
pee is turned Into a gift palace, large
trunks filled with valuable gifts, as
beautifully woven blankets, bridles, silver-mounted
saddles and bead work, are
piled upon one another. These gifts 'are
distributed by the chief, and even the
poorest Indian receives his gift. The sun
Uance is a purely religious festival. The
ceremonial dance lasts three days and
nights, and Is performed by 32 young
braves, who observe a strict fast during
those three days and nights.
A large painting of an episode in the
sun-dance. the "Invocation to Man
Above," is among the collection of paint
ing and sketches by Mr. Keiss.
V
The quiet and dignity observed by the
throng of too Indians who were assembled
for this dance was wonderful." explained
the artist "There was no squabble;
not a voice was raised in dispute or riot;
every one vied in expressions of friend
ship and good will to the other. The day
of feasting and sham battles that fol
lowed the dance, though full of martial
mazes i.nd earnest rivalry, passed also
without quarrel or accident. I have In
my years of sojourn among these Inter
esting people become warmly attached to
them."
Mr. Riess expressed his delight at the
beautiful sights the city of Portland af
fords, and the commercial enterprise of
Its citizens. He Intends to sketch the
' romantic scenes on the Columbia River
and the surrounding landscape.
, - King Kdward In Conversation.
Trans'ated from Le Cri de Paris.
King Kdward VII has great wit. but
does not exhibit It uselessly. The charm
is. therefore, all the greater when he
shows It Recently he had the kind
ness to preside at a dinner of savants
organized to celebrate the achievement
A v . ; ' , : : . i Y : s :t ' . v .:. . f ..' : v ... 1 'ZX. -SiSif-
-?x,"- J .Xf-; x r vAv' v -f ;:-:,:fep'i
at these Injured animals representing
considerable money lose are due to the
tempting prises in gold offered the most
xpert roper at the Frontier show, w Itn
i
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of a great work, a national biography.
The editor of this work, placed at the
right hand of the sovereign, waited un
til the latter should give him word te
respond, for, as every one know., cus
the approach of that event, every cow
boy on the range aspiring to the purse
and the glory la watchful of an opportu
nity to practice his skill, and to find a
-Sy- ... -.,.".... ...:.r-
-v
tom forbids that one should speak to
Kings without being first addressed by
them.
So the neighbor of Edward VII re
mained silent waiting the moment
PRKTTT CAST BT AN EXPERT ROPER AT A FRONTIER SHOW.
lone steer on the range is a favored
chance not to be overlooked. Attributing
the large number of Injured cattle to
this cause, the big cattlemen have petl-
"SMOKE TALK," AFTER THH PAIN TOO BT WIIXIAM RIESS.
when the monarch should express his
thoughts.
Tet during the entire dinner the King
pronounoed but a single phrase. This
was when the caviar was served.
s
tloned the Frontier committee to abolish
the brutal method this year, and while
their prayer may not be answered, it is
certain the practice will be prohibited by
mm
"Ah." he said. "In Russia one always
drinks maraschino with caviar" and
the editor remained with his mouth
closed.
Recently at a court .olree King Ed
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Copyright, 1907, by 3. E. Stlmson.
legislative enactment at the next Assem
bly. The tenacity with which Wyoming's
Frontier committee has clung to "bust-
ward took notice of a savant who Is
occupied with statistics.
"I am very glad to see you," said the
King. "Statisticians pretend that the
number of births in England Is diminish
ing" Is due to the fact that it furnishes
one of the big thrillers of the annual
four-day show held at Cheyenne each
year to perpetuate .frontier scenes. Ex
pert ropers come from every Westerm
State to participate in these contest,
from Mexico and South America, and the
championship last year was carried off by
a native from far-away Hawaii. The
element of danger is great the chance of
a broken Baddle girth, a fighting steer or
a fallen horse whets the spectator's ap
petite in marked degree, and keeps In
terest at fever heat. With an average of
ten ropers up each day. the excitement is
protracted for more than an hour.
The roper is stationed near the corral
gate, mounted, and must remain there
until after the steer has gained at least
0 yards' start. As these untamed na
tives of the Southwest are released, they
Instantly take to their heels and madly
charge over the wide open arena, snort
ing with rage and trembling with excite
ment At a signal the roper begins his .
pursuit. He must first overtake the
steer to make a successful cast, some
times requiring several throws on the
part of the most skillful. Meanwhile his
quarry is charging around the arena,
fenced on all sides and strengthened by
the presence of a thousand men and
women on horseback Just outside the big
inclosure. The thousands In the big steel
grandstand are generous with applause
and shouting adding to the terror of the
steer from the uninhabited wilds of the
Texas Panhandle or the broad stretches
of the great Southwest.
A successful cast and a skillful ride
soon brings the steer in proper position
to be "busted." when both feet are swept
from under him as he goes down In a
whirl. The rider jumps from his horse
that trained animal constantly keeping
the rope tight as the man hog-ties his
steer. In less than one minute from the
time the signal is given the steer is tied
down, absolutely helpless. The winner of
last year's championship made his rec
ord of 58 seconds fiat. There Is no dis
counting the excitement; it is Intense.
But even should the committee abolish
"busting" this year, it will not mean the
end of roping at the big celebration. In
stead, the modern method will be used.
The practice in cattle land today, the
most humane method yet devised, re
quires two ropers to each animal. One
throw a rope over the steer's head while
the other skillfully lands the snake-like
eriat over a hind foot Both ropes are
then drawn tight as bowstrings by the
trained saddle horses, and the animal is
stretched out at full length helpless, but
uninjured. Equal skill is required, but
the brutality is absent
Cheyenne. Wyo.. July IZ.
ANl GRACE
ing In a disquieting fashion. For my part
I can furnish you proof to the contrary."
The savant was surprised. The King
continued.' "Today I made a long auto
mobile trip in London and its environs.
Never have I seen so many children.
They swarm. My chauffeur was forced
to the greatest precautions not to run
over them. What have you to say t
that?"
"Nothing, your Majesty," humbly re
sponded the savant.
"BIG" ORDER FOR RADIUM
Nearly Quarter of Ounce Demanded
by Scientific Institute.
LONDON ' July 17. (Special.) The
largest order for radium ever given
has been placed by Lord Iveagh and
Sir Ernest Cassel. The quantity ordered
is 1 1-2 ' grammes, rather more than
a quarter of an ounce, and the price Is
$150,000 equal to $570,000 an ounce, or
$9,120,000 a pound. The largest amount
bought hitherto has been one gramme.
The radium is to be presented by
Lord Iveagh and Sir Ernest Cassel to
the new Radium Institute in Riding
House street Portland Place, West, -for
the foundation of which they pro
vided the funds. The radium will come
from a British source the mine of the
British Metalliferous Mines, limited,
near Grampound Road, Cornwall, with
which company the contract has been
placed. Messrs. Buchler & Company, of
Brunswick, will produce the radium
from the Cornish pitchblende under the
superintendence of Professor Giesel,
their chief chemist.
The Radium Institute founded to In
vestigate cures by radium, is under
the patronage of the King. Sir Frede
rick Treves will be surgical director of
the Institute, which Is expected to be
open about the end of this year.
Vacation an a Developer.
Success.
Do you think a vacation is a loss of
time? It le the best kind of an invest
mentan investment in fresh brains, in
vigorous health, In increased vitality.
People who seldom or never take a va
cation get into ruts. Their minds get
stuffy and clouded; they lose the power
of expansion, of growth; they lose fresh
ness of view: the ability to grasp oppor
tunities; and. finally, they lose their
grip on things and on themselves.
Recreation, for those who have been
held closely to business for a long time,
Is like the turning up of hard soil by the
plow, letting In the sunlight and etlrrlng
up the chemical forces that have been
sleeping during the Winter. Slumbering
germs start when they feel the warm
sun, the gentle rain, and the tonic of the
dew. There Is rejuvenation and growth In
recreation In the country. It loosens up
the hard soil of prejudice mental rute
and refreshes and invigorates the germs
of character.
Snake Root for Ivy Poison.
Recreation Magazine.
If you chance to be one of the unfor
tunates who are susceptible to poison
Ivy here Is a remedy which has been
found to be most effective. Apply to
the affected parts the fluid extract of
Serpentaria (commonly known as snake
root), which dries the poison and.
keeps It from spreading-. Apply with
finger or soft cloth. It can be carried
in a small vial.
Japan's whaling Indurtry ha developed
almost entirely since the late war. Last
year the 20 steamers xot 80s whales
(airalnit 2 In los). ef whica 400 were
caught in coreaa waters. ,