be instructed in the truths of religion in their own language. We can
never civilize the body while we leave the heart savage. A visit to Fort
Smith would convince anyone of the absolute failure of this method. In
the miserable prison pen, one hundred and forty-four were crowded like
cattle. Among this multitude of criminals were young boys, just entering
upon a life of crime, imprisoned for some paltry offence, and herded
with them were grey-headed murderers. All these prisoners were from the
Indian Territory, or the "Nation" as they call it. One man had just been
convicted of murder. Two beautiful daughters of an Indian mother stood
weeping beside him. A gallows stands constantly on the edge of the
"Nation," and is used with appalling frequency. A lawyer who courteously
introduced me into the esoteric mysteries of the law as executed in this
United States Court, pointed out the peculiar construction of the
gallows which increased its capacity. "Eight men can stand on that plank
and the drop will swing them all off at once," he said with evident
pride, then added apologetically, "I never saw but six hung at one time,
but they do hang eight."

"Hanging day," I was informed, was one of the great festival occasions.
Thousands of Indians, of more or less purity of blood, gathered from the
"Nation" to enjoy this treat. There is an excuse for a fence around this
perpetual gallows, but there are wide openings in it and the awful scene
enacted within its enclosure can be witnessed from surrounding
elevations.

No doubt an attempt at justice is made in the United States Court. I
attended the trial of a case and it seemed to me the accused had a fair
hearing, but what a comment on our Christian civilization: A court
overrun with cases; a prison pen with young boys and grey-headed
criminals herded together in it; a gallows standing ready the year