NO. I SMITIlSoMAX I-.X I'l .( )U.\Tli )N S. 1 <J 1 ^ // 



son of a chief served with the heavy artiller\- in a res]:»onsible jiosition. 

 and wherever opportnnitv offered, the}' seetned to have made a 

 crechtable record. .\11 ai)])eared tti ]k- in the l)est of heahh. A mem- 

 ber of the tribe said he " beheved tliis was because the ])eo])le had 

 ])raved for them, both in ]^rivate and at all their ])nblic gatherings." 

 The first victorv dance was the occasion of the puljlic rejoicing of 

 the women of the tribe. es])eciall\- those whose relatives had liccn 

 in the war. This was similar to the seal]) dances of the old times, and 

 about 40 women were in the dancing circle. W ar troi)hies were car- 

 ried aloft on ])oles. as scalps were formerly carried. In accordance 

 with old custom the soldiers presented their tro])hies to their nearest 

 kinswomen. ( )ne woman held a pole with a long knife fastened at 

 the end Hke the head of a sjiear. while below the knife was hung the 

 metal helmet which, with the knife, was taken from the enemy l)y her 

 son. As the women danced they lifted their trophies high in the 

 air. and ex])resse(l their enthusiasm in shrill cries. It was a scene of 

 free, native rejoicing. Miss Densmore was the only white ])erson 

 ])resent. Many war songs were sung, former deeds of valor were 

 relateil b\' the old warriors and the dancing continuecl for several 

 hours. The i'awnee are an emotional ])eoi)le, and some of the older 

 members of the tribe lamented with sobs and crying the diminution 

 of the tribe and the jjassing of the old ways. 



The second victory dance took ])lace several days later and was 

 entirely different in character. Many s])ectators attended, and the 

 building was crowded to its utmost ca])acit\-. .\t this dance the 

 returned soldiers were the ])rinci]jal interest, many a])pearing in 

 native costume and dancing the war dance. One such \-oung man 

 told Miss Densmore that he had been at a government sclioiil ]irac- 

 tically all his life and never before had joined in a n;ili\e danct'. The 

 gathering opened with an impressive native ceremon\ . tlun speeches 

 were made bv the chiefs of the b.mds. gilts were gi\en and received 

 in a ceremonial manner, and the -on of a chief was .-iddpleil b\- a 

 prominent number ot the tnbi-. reccuniL; an old and honored name. 

 I he young nian went through the -iinplr ccrmK in\ with (|uiel dignil\-. 

 wearing the khaki uniform in which he h:id served in I'.nrope. Onee 

 tlie space around tin- entrance was cleared and ,1 wnman led in .1 

 white horse, presenting it to a soldier; later a pair ot' while lior-e-> 

 were similarly presented. .\n inti-resling litlK- dr.ima was the " con- 

 >oling " of the parents of the young man who died in branci-. 



The singing at the victory dances was ih;iracteri/.e(I bv songs w ilb 

 words concerning the recent w.ir. inrlndiiiL; imiitioii ol' airplanes. 



