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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 8, 1909)
4 A -7 I PT WALTKR WESTER. ON the National Independence day. the Flathead Indians held their irreat tribal pow-wow and iun rlxnre. at St. Igiatlua Mission on the Flathead reservation. In weird pro cession the sturdy you tiff bucks and a-rim old braves minified together to tread the maces of the dance of the etin. Following their mysterious cus tom they performed the rites of t hnnk8iving for their successful hunt ing and Ashing expeditions. Gaudy with warpaint, making the night hideous with their yells, they finished the cele bration with the wild and uncanny dance of death, around the campflfe. On the same day festivals were also held by the Indians of the Spokane and Couer d'AIene reservations, but. neither equaled In barbarous ceremony that of the Flatheads. which Is said to surpass even that of the Sioux and Apaches. For years the palefaces have come by scores from near and far to wit ness these annual celebrations and games of the redskins who, curiously enough, have chosen to observe July Fourth the liberty day of their con querors. The festivities as they were observed this year on the three reservations, marked, tn a unique and fitting way. the closing of an epoch. On the 15th ot July, the palefaces, with accustomed eagerness, rushed in from all parts of the country to take from the red man his last quantltable vantage point, to spoil his last hunting ground, to SAYS AMERICA SOWN WITH GOLD Europeans Believe This Country Richest in World, but French Journal Points Out Mistake. AX exaggerated Idea exists In Eu rape regarding American luxury. Ac customed to see their rich classes live with very great display, often even be yond their means, Kuropeans believe that In America, where there are so many colossal fortunes greater than the greatest fortunes on the old conti nent, there must be fabulous, unheard of. unique luxury. Th rich American who travel In Kurope had seemed to contirm this sup position. People did not think that an American, when he finds himself in the midst of a society where the traditions of centuries encourage luxury, where luxury costs much less than In his own home, would act differently than when In his omn country, where he Is In fluenced by o many puritanical and re ligious traditions. But If one has no right to speak of American luxury when one compares the wealthy classes of the two conti nents, one may speak of It when one vrm pares the life tf the middle ! ss. at least of those that re sirie In the cities. The middle classes in America expend much more money than those in Europe, both because thy must pay higher prices for many articles and because they consvuiie a lartrrr quantity of such articles. The enormous commerce of North America Is not alimented by the very rifh families which, as everywhere else, nre quite unimportant numerically, but by the middle classes, who represent millions of families. Education, buoks, newspapers, snort, traveling, the ex treme) v complicated obligations of so cial lif e uba, pol lUcs, religion, be I1DNCEFO&TI1 THEY WILL? L?IVE. AFTER TUB FASHION OP w L J . A L wnlTB MEN, AND v: ccrs w -rtii i: -? - 1 . build fences and houses, and barns, where for centuries he held his games and races In unbounded freedom. The celebrations by the three tr'.bet i on July ft is but another exhibition of the stoicism and grim fatalism of the Indian. On the eve of the downfall of their tribal government, they don their feathers and warpaint and perform the rites sacred to their race, with as much zest as if years of their old freedom still confronted them. Henceforth they will live after the fashion of white mn. The tribes will be scattered to the different parts of the reservation where they have chosen allotments of land. They will be as similated and lost. The story of the acquirement of the lands which according to the philos ophy of William Penn. and all good men. "belongs to the Indians" by the white and black men, is no less inter esting than the manner In which the aborigine has accepted his lot. Three motives for registering were to be noticed by the observer of the thousands who rushed to Missoula on overloaded trains, to place their names in the Government lottery. All the emotions of the early-day pioneer, en acted under modern conditions, were to be depicted in the acts and conver sation of the men and women who came from coast to co&st, and from gulf to the Great Lakes to register for land the love of uncertainty, eagerness to ac quire this world's goods without labor, and the love of the soil and a home. Although It was well known that enough notaries had been appointed by Judge James W. Wit ten, who la man aging the Government lottery In a very 1 nevolence the minute prescriptions of tyrannic and costly hygiene, the gener al tendency to multiply necessities and to complicate the means of- eatisfying them by ingenious inventions, the man la for rapidity, the mystic cult of prog ress, which impels to a continual change of habits and articles because all Dew things eem better than old ones, have rendered the life of the middle classes In America infinitely more costly than in Europe. The middle classes in America con sequently live much better than the middle classes In Europe, and H is therefore much more necessary for them to make money. The habit of thrift scarcely exists. Several persons assured me that It is beginning to ap pear. I hope that is the case, as it would be an excellent thing for Ameri ca. But up to the present the almost general tendency has been to expend everything. Hence, arises, partially, the "strenuous life" of the middle classes in America: this febrile existence, directed toward quick riches and expenditure, oc cupied by lnceeant activity and by con tinued changes, is beginning to weigh like an overheavy burden on many Americans. The middle clashes are, then, not less Interested than the upper classes in the intensive and rapid economic exploi tation of the American continent The consequence is easy to deduce. The aspirations toward a reform or even a moral revolution of modern society possess a probability of realization only In so far as the reform and revo lution mould nt arrest the eco nomic development, or render it over difficult. This fact constitutes a guar antee and a security for the wealthy THE SUNDAY B v7 . . WORK? -v.it1. creditable manner, to register all triose who might care to try for the lands at Missoula, the offices were opened at midnight of July 14, and over 1000 people had registered before the break of day. The Fame condition prevailed at Kalispell. Spokane and Coeur d'AI ene, the other three registering points. It was the restless spirit of the early pioneers of the plains, chained .and classes of America far greater than that of laws or armies. In what measure Is it possible for America to gain wealth rapidly and to Improve morally at the same time? No body could respond a priori with preci sion ; the facts alone can furnish an answer to this question. Evidently many of the inconveniences of which Americans complain can be eliminated by legislation, even without recourse to ultra-tyrannical measures. Europe, with her longer experience, can furnish to the Americans some good models to study. For instance, many cultured Americans have recognized, in chatting with me, that as regards railways and banks America could advantageously study' the French systems especially, which very often represent a happy con ciliation between the state system. Inap plicable in the United States, and the sys tem of absolute liberty, of which America is beginnlngto be tired. But. in studying the ejitl-plutocratic movement in its entirety. I fear that, in their robust optimism, many Americans are under an illusion regarding the moral perfectabllity of modern civilization. Among all classes and in all countries men are today becoming too exacting and too Impatient; a high ideal of life cannot be formed and transformed Into a univer sal rule of conduct amid the immense confusion of covetoueness and ambition that permeates society. All the puritanical doctrines of life, however narrow and naive they may ap pjear under certain aspects." contain an elementary and eternal truth, which is thai a man subjugated by the fever of money-getting or of pleasure lose th power to submit his life to a severe moral - . , - , 7 LiwWi; letter.- or. vzc Cftzru" wax? M - ' y 7 OREGOXIAX, PORTLAND, F """ i II -I I II ' fe. T N v-v II I - III , V II I 'ti pound by modern, conditions. There was not even the opportunity for a rush as In the Oklahoma opening. But the rush spirit was manifest, and with the slightest opportunity the animal Instinct to overcome and outdo the weaker fellow creature, would have been In evidence. - The uncertainty the game of the drawings, was the feature which at rule. And this truth does not apply solely to individuals; it applies also to nations. It therefore seems to me probable that the anti-plutocratic movement, while be coming triumphant In certain of its pre tentions, is destined to fail In its other alms. Just because it,is too American in its origin and In Its essence. Industrial ism sterns bound to destroy a part of the old Americanism of Franklin and of Washington, which Europe had admired so greatly, and to create an Americanism far leas American than that which exist ed in the past. At what point will the destruction cease? Nobody can say. As regards myself I hope that it will not cause the disappearance of some of the noble qualities bequeathed to modern Americans by the simple and Idealist generations that founded the Union op timism, enthusiasm, a profound capacity of administration. I believe I cannot thank the Americans better for the pleasure they gave me, with their confident and generous optimism, than by expressing the wish that they may long retain these good qualities, even in a civilization that has germinated so much hatred and such lugubrious pes simism In Europe. Guglielmo Ferrero In the Paris Figaro. The Sea' Action on Iron. London Chronicle. After lying at the bottom of the sea undisturbed for a century and a half, one of the (runs of H. M. S. Raujillies, which was wrecked near-Bolt Tail, on the south coast of Devon, has been 're covered. One side of the weapon has been worn away with the action of pebbles and shingle washed over it by the tide to such an extent that at the muzzle the thickness of iron is very little, and for Its whole length the metal has the appearance of beinif gradually filed away. Even the trun nions Wnicn orinirtiiv i'juiv up "inv I on the gun carriage have been worn to I spikes. I AUGUST 8, 1909. ST- tracted a large percentage of those who registered. Shakespeare might have said "to gamble is human." with equal truthfulness, hen he attributed the quality of erring to humanity. Although the most optimistic ob servers had placed the chances of draw ing a homestead which would Justify the proving up and the payment of the ROTHSCHILD'S ORIGIN Great Banking House Started by Peculiar Combination of OF the 15 great money dynasties that control the destinies of Europe none is so remarkeble or so interesting as the Rothschild. Few royal houses have had so fascinating a history . . . Still, the history of the Rothschilds is a very recent history. A century ago the name had never been heard on the exchanges of Europe. . A century ago the founder of the house, Mayer Amschel, humble but financially illuminated, kept his dingy shop, the Sign of the Red Shield Over the Door (whence comes the name), in the dirty quarter of Frankfort-on-Main. known as the Ju'den-gasse. There, with keen eyes and acquisitive fingers, he stood behind his dusky counter, changing money, discounting bills, pinching coins, buying cheap and selling dear, sordidly happy in the consciousness of daily ac cumulation. Mayer Amschel's opportuni ty came with the first rifle crack at Lex ington. Strange, is It not. that the foun dations of the greatest fortune in the Old World should hare been virtually laid up in the new? The Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel put his soldiers up for hire; England leased them to fight her revolted colonists over the sea and paid $20. 000.000 in gold for their services. This vast sum, backed by as much more, the Landgrave "W'llhelm put into the cun ning hands of the Red Shield. Frank fort was. amazed at such a step.- The great bankers could not understand why Landgrave had passed them by and reposed his entire confidence and his gold with an unknown man. The cause wu simple enough. An i price fixed by tne Government, at 1 to 100, thousands of people came long dis tances to whirl the wheel, paying out neat sums in railroad fare and hotel expenses. Deacons and ministers of the gospel, who all their lives had waged a righteous warfare upon "games of chance," were open in the expression of their delight in "tak ing a chance" for a homestead. As a Intimate of Wilhelm, having heard much of the shrewdness and trust worthiness of old 'Mayer Amschel, strongly recommended him to the Land grave as an eminently proper person with whom to leave money. In conse quence of this recommendation Roth schild, as he had already begun to be called, was summoned to the palace in Cassel, where he found the prince play ing chess with a friend. Too tactful to interrupt the game, he stood behind the Landgrave's chair and held his peace, a'mark of sense and sympathy which no chess player could fail to ap preciate. The game was going against Wilhelm, who felt a deeper interest in It on that account. After a long pause, uncertain .what move to make next, he suddenly turned to Rothschild with the question: "Do you understand chess?" Rothschild, who had been closely watching, the board from his entrance, diplomatically replied, "Sufficiently well, your serene highness, to induce me, were the game mine, to castle on the king's side." It was a master stroke; it turned defeat to victory, and so delighted the prince that he clapped his adviser on the shoulder, exclaiming: "You are a wise man. He who can extricate a chess player from such a difficulty as I was in must have a very clear head for business. A man with such a brain must be capable of taking care of other people's money." Knowledge of the game which had so charmed Haroun - al - Rashid,. Tamber lane and Charlemagne was never turned to better advantage. The coun sel to castle secured to the money lender the use of J40.000.000 and gen erations of financial glory. RottLScnlld their money on the red or black, with Uncle Sam dealing the cards. By far the most interesting and pleasing of the motives to be observed In those who placed their names In the lottery, were the love of the soil and the desire for a home. Many of the. 'isitors were tradesmen, factory hands, from the cities of the Pacific Coast and the Middle West, from the mining camps of the Rockies. You could guess from their conversation that they hmd been dreaming of a cozy country cot tage, with a garden and orchard and fields of grain: they the kings, their wives the queens, their children the princes. In the ISO-acre kingdoms of bliss no landlord, no rent, good health, peace. If the opening of the reservations marks the closing of an epoch. In the breaking up of the Indian tribes; It also ends the period when virgin soil may be entered by the settler In large tracts. It is well known that arid and semi-arid lands may still be had In large quantities, but the opportunity to enter 'fertile iands ready for the plow will pass the tiling on the three reser vations, beginning April 10. 1910. According to the (Jovernment sta tistics. 701.427 acres are included in the lottery which began July 15 and closes August 5. The land Is classified as agricultural land of the first class, grazing and timber land. The lands In the Flathead Reservation have been appraised , at from $1.25 to $7.00 per acre; those of the other two have not as yet been appraised. Ingenious minds have Invented many substitutes for the well known "guide" of the earlier land openings. Informa tion bureaus have been organized, with nice membership fees provided. to place the successful applicants on th best land. The filing may not be done until April 10, 1310, so that the lucky players will have from August 9. 19O0, until April 10, 1910, in which to choose. The newspapers haye been taken into confidence and designated by Judge Witten as the proper medium to con vey the news of the drawings. fThe Judge's shade will be worshipped by circulation managers and newspaper solicitors for years to come.) The news paper announcements will serve as a check upon the individual notices sent through the mail. The sums spent by the applicants for ral lroad fare. Information bureau fees, hotel bills and notary fees, will total hundreds of thousands of dollars. It lias been said of the Cripple Creek Mining District that more money has been put into the holes than has been taken out. The same observation is being made by the less optimistic, in reference t the land lottery. But there is some con solation to the loser a large amount of the money lie places on the board is returned to him again; if so fine a distinction be allowed. He is gambling with himself and others. Viewed from a disinterested stand point, however, the land drawing Is a credit to the Government. Profiting from past experiences, the officials have been able to formulate rules more near ly equitable than ever before. It has drawn people to the West which, de spite the many statements to the con trary, is still the land of opportunity: it has challenged the attention of the people of the cities throughout the country, to the land and the advantages of rural life: It is a step in progress. Even the younger generation of the Redskins are' able to appreciate the event which will be regarded In history as the closing of an epoch. As a result of the work of schools and missions es tablished by the pale-face conquerors, the rank and file of the younger gen eration of Indians, is able to grasp the reason for dividing the lands. It is a remarkable fact that they do not give up their hunting grounds In the spirit of savage-animal resentment evidenced by many of the tribes of the East and West in the early days. PECULIAR Luck and Shrewdness. proved himself worthy of the trust. The Landgrave, after the battle of Jena, flying from' the Napoleonic wrath. I confided his silver ana bulky treasures, amounting to millions, to the banker, who concealed them In the hogsheads of his wine cellar. When Wilhelm, then elector, returned, eight years afterward, Mayer Amschel was dead, but his son, Amschel or Anselm the younger, made out the account, with interest, which the Prince refused to take, declaring that he should have lost the principal but for the fidelity of the father. The elector- was about to withdraw the sum when Na poleon's escape from Elba threw all Eu rope into consternation, and so alarmed Wilhelm that he begged Rothschild to keep it at 2 per cent interest per annum. Before old Amschel died he was able to give each of his five sons one of the great states of Europe as a financial kingdom. There is something epic, tremendous, about this partition of a continent by the old money lender of the Juden-gasse. So Charlemagne divided among his sons the world empire he had conquered: so Na poleon dealt out kingdoms to his Mar shals and Ills negligible brothers. But he of the Red Shield had found an empire more lasting than those carved out by the sword the empire of gold. The eldest son chose Germany: Solomon selected Austria; Nathan, England; Charles went to Italy, and Jacob, as his share, took the troubled land of France. The five brothers constituted but one firm, in which all had an equal interest, conduct ing their business as branch houses In as many cities. Frankfort. London, Paris, Xeples and Vienna. E. Alexander Pow ers Naralive in the Saturday Evening Poet.
