adornment; hence the younger women were usually silent and
retiring: but a woman who had attained to ripeness of years and
wisdom, or who had displayed notable courage in some emergency, was
sometimes invited to a seat in the council.

Thus she ruled undisputed within her own domain, and was to us
a tower of moral and spiritual strength, until the coming of the
border white man, the soldier and trader, who with strong drink
overthrew the honor of the man, and through his power over a
worthless husband purchased the virtue of his wife or his daughter.
When she fell, the whole race fell with her.

Before this calamity came upon us, you could not find anywhere
a happier home than that created by the Indian woman. There was
nothing of the artificial about her person, and very little
disingenuousness in her character. Her early and consistent
training, the definiteness of her vocation, and, above all, her
profoundly religious attitude gave her a strength and poise that
could not be overcome by any ordinary misfortune.

Indian names were either characteristic nicknames given in a
playful spirit, deed names, birth names, or such as have a
religious and symbolic meaning. It has been said that when a child
is born, some accident or unusual appearance determines his
name. This is sometimes the case, but is not the rule. A man of
forcible character, with a fine war record, usually bears the name
of the buffalo or bear, lightning or some dread natural force.
Another of more peaceful nature may be called Swift Bird or Blue
Sky. A woman's name usually suggested something about the home,
often with the adjective "pretty" or "good," and a feminine