228 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
[June, 
of the old fellow. They are attached to each other hy 
strings—just as a hoop-skirt is made. 
Paper is pasted over them, and painted on the outside 
to represent the skin and scales of the reptile. The 
claws are made so that a man can walk in each one. A 
string runs from the jaw to one of the claws, so that one 
of the carriers can open or shut the monster’s mouth. 
Lanterns are hung inside of the body, so that, as we see 
it in the night, it resembles a huge fiery monster, creep¬ 
ing through the streets. Sometimes it is a monster with¬ 
out claws, and not carried by men, hut is drawn hy a 
cord. The man who draws it runs with all his might as 
if to get away from the terrible serpent that seems just 
ready to swallow him. The people rush to the door to 
see it, and shout to the fellow to run for his life, or the 
snake will catch him. It is all very interesting to see, 
but I doubt if there is as much real enjoyment in it as 
there is in a good game of base ball, or a grand hurry- 
scurry in a game of blindman’s buff—where you go over 
chairs, under the table, on top of the bureau, with the 
blindman hard after you. Ah! that is fun in earnest! 
and although I am not so young as I was once, there is 
nothing that I relish better than a romp with the boys 
and girls. It is better than hair dye to keep one’s hair 
from turning gray—better than any wash for keeping 
the cheeks smooth and fair, and quite as good as some 
sermons I have heard for keeping one light-hearted. 
Winning Itis Plinmcs. 
A civilized young gentleman considers the time when 
he first adopts the coat and hat of manhood, an important 
one. As far as outside appearance goes, it shows that 
he, at least, thinks ne is no longer a boy, and he expects 
to be treated as a young gentleman. The young Indian 
is not particularly troubled about hat and pantaloons, yet 
he has his peculiar way of showing his claim to be con¬ 
sidered a young warrior—which, among the Indians, is 
the same as young gentleman. So, instead of going to 
the tailor or hatter for the emblems to show that he has 
left the state of boyhood, he puts on eagle’s feathers. 
You think that it would be an easy enough matter 
for the young Indian to shoot an eagle and secure the 
feathers. So it would be, but that is not the way it is 
done. Feathers obtained in this way will not pass mus¬ 
ter. Custom requires that the young savage shall, if he 
would claim a place among the “big Injuns,” pluck 
Ins feathers from a living bird—in fact, win his plumes in 
a personal struggle with their rightful owner—the eagle. 
The Indian is allowed no advantage over the bird, but 
each must fight with the weapons nature gave them. As 
the eagle has great strength, sharp claws, and a formida¬ 
ble bill, it will be seen that the young Indian lias no 
slight task before him. The first point is to get at the 
eagle; to do this, the savage finds a hollow place in the 
ground, or makes one, large enough to hold him. The 
top of the hole is covered with sticks, so that lie is com¬ 
pletely hidden. A rabbit is fastened upon the sticks 
which serves as a bait; when the eagle secs the rabbit, 
and comes swooping down after its prey, it is caught by 
the legs by the concealed Indian. Then comes the strug¬ 
gle, which the artist has shown in the above picture. It 
is not easy to see how, with one hand required to hold 
the claws, and the other to defend himself from the beak, 
the young warrior is to get the much coveted plumes. 
AYe may think that feathers from a dead eagle would an¬ 
swer just as well; but the Indians look upon it differ¬ 
ently, and hold that the youngster who wishes to be con¬ 
sidered a warrior,must first show his strength and courage. 
If a set-to with a full grown eagle will not test these, we 
do not know what will. 
Answers to l*rol>loiiias and JPobzsIas. 
No. 319. You are not to judge a man by the coat he 
■wears. 
No. 3S0. Liars are not to be believed out of respect to 
their asseverations. Lyre s It knot 2 B B-leaved-out of 
RE specked 2 the-eye-R AS-cve-rations. 
The following have sent in correct answers: E. J. 
Blake, Lizzie Yordy, C. II. Hartman, A. R. Tatnall, B. 
Railey, Mary A. Milligan, G. AV. Milligan, “ E. II. 
F.,” F. <T. Myers, E. S. Wood, Jennie C. Peebles, 
W. C. Alston, Clara A. Peebles, John Sandies, G. 
Womersly, J. B. Tackentliall, D. W. Taylor, M. II. 
Isli, E. D. Bunyan, A. Wimbish, R. Bay Jr., Mary L. 
Root, Alfred Hood, B. C. Wright, Mrs. C. Blanford, Grace 
A. Flagg, W. O. Parkwell, E. A. Jones, C. M. Chase, J. 
Gaunt, Annie M. Roberts, W. Terrill Jr., Theo. C. John¬ 
son, Katie E. Gager, J. Gist, M. Ealy, G. M. Hemingway, 
J. P. Hammond, Isaac Hull, L. A. McCartney, J. F. Brit¬ 
tain, Chas. Tallmadge, AY. n. Garland, “Z. R. B.,” W. 
H. Sunderland, W. A. Robinson, E. AA r . Park, B. H. Tru¬ 
man, Goo. Shearer, J. P. Treccc, W. S. Bell, E. Y. Conk¬ 
lin, A. J. Weaver, G. Tugnot, E. Purcell, B. T. Robbins, 
A. L. Hemingway, E. S. Vachcr, B. II. B. & E. S. Hany, 
Olive E. Brusie, L. Banicl, J. AY. Grubt, S. Powell, N. 
nelmath, F. Yrecland, J. II. Ileisay, “ R. II. S.,” “ B. 
AY.,” Belle H. Lewis, J. H. Little, H. P. Lewis. 
