Because it touches so many persons' lives and our national legacy,
this conversation still has a lot of mileage in the years ahead.
Inspired by the bright literary lamps on this forum,
this set of questions arises, this time in response to Kevin, before
I return to lurking:
How insulated was Mark Twain from anyone's good expose' of the
Bureau of Indian Affairs? The age of reformers seems to have begun
around 1900... how certain are we that Twain knew what the Indians
were experiencing with the BIA?
If we compare the United States' treatment of Indians to Julius Caesar's
treatment of middle Europeans, what lessons would be drawn?
A Twain-like satire could not avoid being intensely painful while it
humorously explored this forbidden comparison. Did indigenous
peoples own the land they lived upon before there were international
accords? Was Caesar _not so bad because he never promised, in any treaty,
_not to slaughter a lot of middle Europeans and take their lands?
Would a legalistic reading of Indian treaties say that since Winter
brought an end to the grass growing and the river flowing, or
would lawyers litigate away the treaty by saying those who signed
were not legally empowered? What would be the Indian's reply to this?
The treaty issue may be an issue on its own, which distracts us from
strictly considering what is right or wrong. Did every Indian rightfullly
own a half sor a whole quare mile of land in the lower 48 states?
Or would they have more rights to the choice locations where they
had sited their villages since mammoths roamed the continent?
Since the comparative body odor of Indians and non-Indians was cited,
I wonder whether we might construct a map of the issue. Whose noses
were offended? What were the foods eaten by offended, offender and
those who were neither? Apparently some omnivores or vegetarians
can smell a person who eats mostly meat.
Did Indians bathe more than non-Indians when a stream of water was
available? Did drinking alcohol tend to change the chemistry of this
question? It can either cause a foul odor or be a disinfectant, or both.
As for Twain's barely reading Burlin's Indian Book, thanks for
mentioning it. I would like to see the book because it is from
a time closer to the source. A flim could be made about it too!
For Twain, maybe his reason for not reading it thoroughly was,
"So many books, so little time."
Thanks, Everyone!
Mike Pearson
Ellensburg, Wash.
> Given the state of hygiene in white culture in the mid-19th century
> that's surprising. Commercially available soaps were fairly new and not
> wide-spread until after the Civil War, and bathing weekly or monthly was not
> uncommon. Even the last day of a typical scholarly conference does not
> approach the 19th century norm.
>
> I'll mention another point that I find puzzling-- this observation may
> reflect my insufficient familiarity with Twain's writings, but for all of
> his satirical writings about government corruption, I don't recall any where
> he focuses on the widespread abuses of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the
> government's failure to live up to treaties signed with various Indian
> tribes. I vaguely recall a mention or two, but no extended passages, no
> riffs of classic Twainian outrage. As I said, I'm probably forgetting
> something obvious, at least I hope so, because it otherwise seems a glaring
> blindspot.
I
In fact, it was corruption and abuse at the BIA that led to the
> Sioux uprising that was the subject of the Wall book Twain so admired, an
> uprising that began with hundreds of white settlers being murdered and tens
> of thousands more fleeing the area in terror, and ending with dozens of
> Indians being hanged (the largest mass execution in US history) and buried
> in a mass grave. BTW, realizing that I'd never read General Hubbard's
> remarks about Wall's book (Twain said he agreed with Hubbard's praise of the
> book) I tried googling it yesterday without success. I have a faint hope
> against hope that perhaps Hubbard (later Governor) said something
> sympathetic about the Sioux's plight and unfair treatment. Certainly there
> was blame enough to go around on both sides of that tragedy. If somebody
> uncovers Hubbard's remarks, I'd like to see them.
>
> I guess my disappointment with Twain's reaction to is
> that his usual curiosity did not get the better of him. He sampled just a
> handful of pages. But the book is full of wonderful illustrations, musical
> scores to Indian songs, art work, legends and stories, etc., and even though
> he left most of the book's pages unopened, the viewable pages at the
> beginning and end of each gathering make the splendid hidden content obvious
> at a mere glance. But it wasn't enough to lure Twain into the book, which is
> all the more surprising since Twain seldom left a book --even a bad one--
> unopened. Surviving books from his library show that he often spent a good
> deal of his time reading deeply into a bad book just for the pleasure of
> experiencing its badness, jotting down snarky remarks and corrections along
> the way. But here was a terrific book about Indians that might have
> challenged his views, and he didn't bother to look.
>
> I'm 1/16th Mingo (my grandmother always said "Flamingo") and that part of me
> forgives Twain, but the other 15/16th not so much.
>
> @
> > 9307 Glenlake Drive
> Austin TX 78730
> 512-345-4139
> Member: ABAA, ILAB
> *************************
> You may browse our books at
> www.macdonnellrarebooks.com
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mike Pearson" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2011 12:31 PM
> Subject: Re: A Prejudice against Indians
>
>
> > Begging your indulgence=2C I wish to offer a couple of observations
> > on this topic: =20
> > Most groups of Indians of North America had defended territory through
> > stre=
> > ngth
> > and alliances. This had made many groups into warrior cultures.
> > The author of "The Damned Human Race" might not be more prejudiced against
> > one group of humans than against another=2C but maybe he presumes to
> > judge warrior cultures to be less defensible. Twain's Indian characters
> > ar=
> > e drawn
> > as individuals=2C not as group analysis. One may be a crazy killer such
> > a=
> > s Injun Joe
> > or "a Pi Ute Injun I used to know in Tulare County=3B mighty good
> > fellow"=
> > as in=20
> > "Capt. Stormfield." =20
> > From other stories=2C we know Twain was not an admirer of warrior culture.
> > =
> > =20
> > And the Indians=2C by most of them not having a written language=2C would
> > h=
> > ave
> > had less ways to repair their alienation in Twain's era. They may have
> > seem=
> > ed
> > especially strange to him.=20
> > Thanks for Your patience.
> > Mike
> > =20
> >> Date: Sun=2C 24 Apr 2011 11:50:26 -0500
> >> From: [log in to unmask]
> >> Subject: Re: A Prejudice against Indians
> >> To: [log in to unmask]
> >>=20
> >> Steve makes a very good point.
> >>=20
> >> But it's sometimes hard to tell where satire ends and genuine
> >> prejudice=20
> >> begins. Unsophisticated readers have this problem with Huckleberry Finn=
> > =2C but=20
> >> a similar problem arises when reading Twain's public writings versus his=
> > =20
> >> letters and annotations in his books. Twain=2C of course=2C was
> >> well-awar=
> > e that=20
> >> others would read his library annotations=2C and he also knew that his
> >> le=
> > tters=20
> >> would often be published=2C with or without his permission.
> >>=20
> >> On the subject of Indians=2C I can give two examples from late in his
> >> lif=
> > e=2C=20
> >> the first being some annotations in a book from his library=3B the
> >> second=
> > a=20
> >> letter he wrote to an author=2C knowing that it would probably be used
> >> to=
> > puff=20
> >> the author's book.
> >>=20
> >> In Natalie Curtis Burlin's THE INDIANS' BOOK... NY: Harper=2C 1907=2C
> >> Twa=
> > in=20
> >> wrote on the inside front cover: "A book made & illustrated/ by
> >> Indians./=
> > SL=20
> >> Clemens/ 1907/ November/ 21 Fifth Ave." The book was a beautiful=20
> >> production=2C full of lore=2C music=2C and narratives by American
> >> Indians=
> > =2C=20
> >> celebrating their culture and art. It is a book still admired and widely=
> > =20
> >> collected today. This book=2C published by Harper Brothers=2C was
> >> probabl=
> > y sent=20
> >> to Twain by the publisher=2C who regularly sent him their publications
> >> at=
> > that=20
> >> period. Opposite page 98=2C above the portrait of a Pawnee chief or
> >> warri=
> > or in=20
> >> full ceremonial dress with bear-claw necklace and a striking feathered
> >> an=
> > d=20
> >> big-beaked head-dress=2C Twain wrote "My=2C but he is wickedly
> >> handsome!"=
> > The=20
> >> book is 574pp. but Twain only opened pp. i-x=2C 32-45=2C 99-114=2C and
> >> 24=
> > 3-46=2C=20
> >> mostly sections on western tribes. The condition of the book and his
> >> spar=
> > se=20
> >> comments would seem to indicate he took little interest in the
> >> fascinatin=
> > g=20
> >> contents=2C and I'll leave it others to decide if his annotations are
> >> sna=
> > rky=2C=20
> >> condescending=2C or admiring..
> >>=20
> >> But another book about Indians certainly captured his interest in
> >> 1909.=20
> >> Oscar G Wall's RECOLLECTIONS OF THE SIOUX MASSACRE provoked a letter
> >> of=20
> >> endorsement from Twain dated Nov 8=2C 1909=2C that reads: "Mr O G Wall--
> >> =
> > Dear=20
> >> Sir: I find your history of the Great Massacre blood-curdlingly & most=20
> >> pathetically interesting. I am able to [the word "repeat" crossed out]=20
> >> endorse General Hubbard's compliment & highly commend the literary=20
> >> excellence of the book. Very truly yours SL. Clemens." This letter was=20
> >> reprinted in facsimile in blood red ink as an advertising flyer for
> >> Wall'=
> > s=20
> >> book. Judging from the wording=2C I'd assume Twain knew or suspected it
> >> m=
> > ight=20
> >> be used this way --although he probably didn't know they'd use red ink.
> >> I=
> > =20
> >> have not read a text of General Hubbard's "compliment."
> >>=20
> >> Whatever evolutions took place in Twain's thinking about other races and=
> > =20
> >> nationalities=2C I'd suppose from the above (admittedly slight) evidence
> >> =
> > that=20
> >> even in his very last years Twain was more interested in reading stories
> >> =
> > of=20
> >> Indian depredations than acquainting himself with the positive aspects
> >> of=
> > =20
> >> their literature=2C art=2C music=2C and culture. But I'd love to see
> >> more=
> > =20
> >> evidence=2C and learn otherwise.
> >>=20
> >> Kevin
> >> @
> >> Mac Donnell Rare Books
> >> 9307 Glenlake Drive
> >> Austin TX 78730
> >> 512-345-4139
> >> Member: ABAA=2C ILAB
> >> *************************
> >> You may browse our books at
> >> www.macdonnellrarebooks.com
> >>=20
> >>=20
> >>=20
> >> -----
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> >> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
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> > =
> >
> >
> >
> > -----
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> >
>
>
>
> -----
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> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
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