file which includes the original illustrations4 ,see #iedbc-;h4htm or #iedbc-;h4zip3 7https3_/_/www4gutenberg4org_/cache_/epu b_/#iedbc_/pg#iedbc-;images4html7 or 7https3_/_/www4gutenberg4org_/files_/#ie dbc_/iedbc-;h4zip7 ,images of the original pages are available through ,internet ,archive4 ,see https3_/_/archive4org_/details_/b#bijabc ch ,transcriber's note3 ,text that was in italics is enclosed by underscores 7italics74 ,,hunting ,,indians ,,in ,a ,,taxi-,,cab ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,illustration3 ,,tacomus ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,hunting ,,indians ,,in ,a ,,taxi-,,cab by ,,kate ,,sanborn ,author of 8,adopting an ,abandoned ,farm10 etc41 etc4 ,illustration3 ,publisher's ,logo ,richard ,g4 ,badger ,the ,gorham ,press ,boston ,copyright #aiaa1 by ,richard ,g4 ,badger ,all rights reserved ,the ,gorham ,press1 ,boston1 ,u4 ,s4 ,a4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- 8,yes sir1 you do well to purchase one of these figures1 for sir1 the ,indians on the ,american ,continent is fastly disappearing1 both in flesh and wood40 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,list ,,of ,,illustrations ,,page ,tacomus ,frontispiece ,my nameless1 footless ,squaw #ae ,a young and pretty mother #ba ,a ,highland ,chieftain #ba ,a ,brave ,gazing #ba ,on the ,watch #ba ,the ,goddess of ,liberty and three #be other attractive ,ladies ,squaw with ,papoose and other #bi charmers ,saint ,tammany of the ,delaware ,tribe #cc 8,we are tending strictly to #cc business0 ,a ,representative of the ,national #ci ,game ,jockey with cigar box #ci ,hunter #ci ,policeman #ci ,sothern as 8,dundreary0--the others #dc you may name as you please ,punch with ,impressive ,nose #dg ,another ,punch1 less fortunate #dg ,punchinello and ,nondescript #dg ,puck #dg ,jim ,crow1 made #hg years ago #ea ,please name him8 #ea ,four of a ,kind #ee ,sagamore1 ,sachem or ,pow-wow #ei ,all ,high ,rollers #fc ,place aux ,dames #fe ,a ,poseur #ge ,lady ,enjoying the ,weed #ge ,a ,jolly ,party #ge 8,and ,last of ,all an ,admiral ,came0 #ge ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,hunting ,,indians ,,in ,a ,,taxi-,,cab ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,hunting ,,indians ,,in ,a ,,taxi-,,cab ,i ,,to make my title complete1 it should read 8,hunting ,indians in a ,taxi-cab with a ,camera40 ,nature lovers long since found out that the camera was the best weapon to take into the woods1 and mighty hunters are now depicted as using the auto to carry them to the wild and to bring back their trophies4 ,it was reserved for one of my friends to follow the trail to the city of ,new ,york1 as his happy hunting ground and to hire a taxi-cab there for the express purpose of hunting a desirable ,tobacco ,sign ,indian4 ,after two days of vain search1 he came across a prize4 ,the ,indian stood1 a splendid specimen1 in ,bleecker street1 in front of a combination barber and tobacco store2 he was nine feet1 seven inches tall and was standing on a two-foot pedestal1 posing as a ,herald of ,choice ,tobacco2 an ignominious position for such a superb creature4 ,he was purchased1 after a deal of haggling over the price1 for he was minus a nose and was at that time suffering from a bad weather crack extending diagonally across his stomach1 well up into his chest4 ,an old man on the same street1 who was engaged to box and crate the ,indian1 was deeply interested in him and also in the march of ,time and the disappearance of many of our traditions and relics in this comparatively new country1 and said to my friend1 8,you do well to purchase one of these figures1 for1 sir1 the ,indians on the ,american continent is fastly disappearing1 both in flesh and wood40 ,he was next sent to a cabinet maker to receive surgical treatment--his rather serious wounds filled up and a new hawk-like nose grafted on in a clever manner4 ,the proud owner writes1 8,i then turned him over to the ,sign-painter1 to have his leather leggings1 his warlike feathers1 and a few other accessories cleaned up and retouched4 8,i got into some very interesting discussions with the ,sign-painter on ,high ,art1 what ,art meant1 and various kindred topics1 while my ,indian was being rejuvenated4 ,i wish ,i could remember some of these conversations with the local ,knight of the ,brush1 but we certainly discussed some of the loftiest principles in his line of paint and color40 8,tacomus0 was then sent to one of the largest and most attractive country seats in ,massachusetts1 where he has found a fitting home and now stands on a small knoll1 his earnest face turned towards forest1 hills1 and streams2 a noble addition to the many charms of a far famed and beautiful estate4 ,in his left hand ,tacomus grasps a long barrelled gun1 originally a flint lock1 a real gun which had seen service and which he had when discovered4 ,many go to gaze at him1 admire1 and express themselves about this new comer4 ,one child looked way up and exclaimed1 8,his head is in the skies60 then timidly touched his toes and ran away4 ,tacomus bears the name of an old ,indian ,chief1 who with his sons1 first sold the land which is now the town of ,dudley1 to ,governor ,winthrop's representatives1 in old ,colonial ,days4 ,illustration3 ,,my ,,nameless1 ,,footless ,,squaw ,the proud possessor of this impressive ,brave says1 8,i felt that ,i had secured a great prize and an unusually handsome ,indian4 ,i also fondly thought ,i was the first to discover the value of our old tobacco signs for lawn decoration2 but found later that a woman had seized the idea first1 and about fifteen years before4 ,visiting her #8,breezy ,meadows1' ,i noticed that she had placed two old wooden ,indians near a veritable wigwam or tepee on her #8,adopted ,farm6' ,so to her ,i take off my hat and courteously bow40 ,this complimentary allusion is intended for me1 but ,i make no claim to this honor2 it is difficult and risky to try to prove oneself the first in any line of discovery and no doubt there are scores of others who have rescued these statues from oblivion1 by giving them a place of refuge4 ,it was the enthusiasm of this friend which suggested to me the idea of collecting the best surviving specimens of the ,tobacco ,sign ,indian and ,i soon found that ,i must take a hint from the modern nature-lover1 and do most of my hunting with the aid of the camera4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,ii ,,my first wish for an ,indian was to add to the effect of my wigwam4 ,i've always been rather partial to the ,indian race because there is a tradition 7which cannot be verified7 that my great grandmother1 ,abigail ,eastman ,webster1 had a slight infusion of ,indian blood4 ,she was a noble looking woman1 ,i have been told1 with rather a dark skin and large black eyes4 ,her son1 ,daniel ,webster1 possibly owed to her his swarthy complexion and wonderful eyes1 like 8,lanterns on a dark night10 as the ,websters were mostly of a florid complexion1 and addicted to red hair4 ,i feared my dear old ,indian 7my first purchase7 might look too much like an advertisement as he carried a bunch of cigars in his right hand1 so this was removed and replaced by a tomahawk4 ,next ,i suspected my unnamed brave might feel lonely2 any way he looked so1 as he was from the busy ,bowery of ,new ,york1 so ,i begged friends to aid me in providing him with an attractive spouse4 ,many hunted but in vain2 at last there was a squaw reported from ,leicester1 ,mass41 but alas6 she had lost both feet4 ,with the usual pedal appendages she would have cost #ce4jj1 8but seeing as how she was crippled1 she might go for #ae4jj40 ,i bought her and she looks all right with her stumps of ankles set deep in the ground and heavy stones around them to keep her firmly planted4 ,the couple seem very real and human to me and ,i am often startled in the twilight by coming on the pair without thinking that they are always there4 ,i intend to put a ,cupid in the bushes near by or behind a sassafras tree1 to make it a little more exciting4 ,i regret not giving them any names but may do so1 if ,i can decide on something appropriate4 ,i have a splendid portrait of ,tecumseh1 but that name does not seem right4 ,and what a long list there is2 ,i will only give a few1 as ,massasoit1 ,squanto1 ,black ,hawk1 ,pontiac1 ,red ,jacket1 ,leather ,stocking1 ,quizquiz1 ,katsa1 ,red ,cloud1 ,many ,horns1 ,spotted ,wolf1 ,yeh-toot-sah1 ,yok-ki-e-to1 and finally the name ,i like best1 8,samoset10 that good ,indian who was the first to welcome the ,puritans in #afba1 saying 8,welcome ,englishmen1 ,welcome ,englishmen60 ,he told the ,pilgrims to possess the land1 as those to whom it had belonged were swept away by a pestilence4 ,so ,samoset1 it shall be and the woman8 ,no 8set0 to her for her knees have no bend to them1 8,squaw-without-feet0 is true and sounds like some of their queer names4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,young ,,and ,,pretty ,,mother ,a ,,brave ,,gazing ,a ,,highland ,,chieftain ,,on ,,the ,,watch ,i own that ,i am a bit superstitious about ,indians and fancy ,i am liked and protected by them1 after several unusual experiences which ,i take this opportunity to refer to the ,society for ,psychical ,research4 ,in ,california1 years ago1 just after ,i had put up my wigwam at home1 ,i was barking as for the last twenty years with a chronic bronchial irritation and was urged to visit a remarkable healer who had 8suddenly been controlled by the spirit of a cultivated woman1 a medical missionary1 who had been most successful in ,india but who had died after a few years of brilliant practice40 ,making an engagement two weeks in advance1 which was necessary1 owing to the great rush to be cured1 ,i took a massage treatment and greatly enjoyed the talk of the returned missionary1 which was all at once broken up by her place in the rubber's mind being usurped by a powerful ,american ,indian who1 through the medium1 kept up a vigorous yet not rough rubbing1 slapping and putting hot hands all about my throat2 talking too as he worked1 so enthusiastically4 ,i think he was a pretty knowing individual for this is what he said4 8,ugh6 ,ugh6 ,wah6 ,wah6 ,this ,squaw1 she talkem heapum1 she now quite bad off1 but ,ugh ,wah6 we patch her up6 ,will make her pokagee6 ,yes1 ,pokagee60 ,then he left as quickly as he came and ,i noticed that poor ,mrs4 ,seldon was breathing hard and was in a profuse perspiration4 ,when she opened her eyes1 she sighed and inquired in her own quiet1 gentle way1 8,have you had a good rub80 ,that evening1 ,i went to a ,reception for some of the ,professors of ,stanford ,university with the promise of being 8,pokagee0 still in my head and as one of the gentlemen was a teacher of the ,indian languages and dialects1 ,i ventured in a timid1 hesitating manner to inquire 8,may ,i ask if there is such a word as ,pokagee in any ,indian dialect80 ,and the learned man replied at once1 8,certainly40 8,please tell me what it means40 8,it is used to express cured1 or in perfect health40 8,o1 thank you10 ,i said1 8and just one more question--what tribe has that word80 8,the ,pottawatamie40 ,and strange to relate my ,astral ,masseur had belonged to that particular tribe4 ,i forgot to say that he spoke of his pleasure over the ,tepee ,i had built on my grounds and said the ,indians long ago loved to walk and hunt in my woods4 ,and he added1 8,they like to go to ,tepee now2 seems like their own place40 ,again a friend took me to one of the best known and most valued medical women in ,new ,york for a shampoo and a treatment of my face which certainly did need to be steamed and electrified4 ,imagine the general astonishment when another ,indian spirit kindly 8controlled0 the masseuse1 7something which she affirmed had never happened before7 and he wished to encourage me about my heart as several doctors still in the flesh had been criminally or at least brutally frank about its condition and ,i was naturally alarmed4 ,and he said 8,no need worry about heart2 you no got bad heart1 only what ,i call nervous heart4 ,you got scared but you stay out doors and let books alone4 ,when you go home go to the ,tepee and stand by it1 and some of us will go walk with you4 ,we are often there40 ,whatever that was1 it did me much more good than the physicians1 who frightened me into an abnormal and utterly useless despondency1 but whose charges were so high as to increase my temperature and heart action4 ,so me for the ,medicine ,man of ,mystery--with thanks4 ,excuse this personal digression4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,illustration3 ,,goddess ,,of ,,liberty ,,and ,,three ,,other ,,attractive ,,ladies ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,iii ,,like his prototype1 the stalwart ,red man1 who once regarded this beautiful1 broad land as his own1 the ,tobacco ,sign ,indian is now rapidly disappearing from all city streets by order of officials because the figures encumber places of business4 ,he has a distinct genealogy for it is believed that the wooden statue came first into existence in ,england as a ,tobacco sign because ,sir ,walter ,raleigh1 who carried the plant back from his trip to ,america1 told of the ,indian's ,pipe of ,peace and the joys of smoking1 besides enjoying it himself4 ,naturally the ,brave himself should be used to advocate its use4 ,so1 it became the symbol of cigar stores both in ,england and other countries1 as the striped pole belongs to the ,barber1 who in old times used to bleed his patrons as well as shave them1 and the frisky ,goat called attention to 8,bock ,beer40 ,soon all of these will have gone4 ,a great variety of such signs were found in ,new ,york1 and several other cities while hunting in a taxi4 ,the most common is the ,brave gazing1 with right hand over brow2 next an ,indian ,queen or a young girl with a tobacco leaf or bunch of cigars in hand2 ,squaw with ,papoose2 ,minnehaha1 a very pretty girl1 offering cigars2 ,punch and also ,punchinello1 this last extremely comical both in face and figure4 ,the one whose photo you see here cost #ej at second hand and the present owner would not sell it1 she says1 for twice that sum4 ,and as we scoot here and there in all sorts of out of the way places1 we see a ,policeman1 a ,baseball ,player1 a ,hunter in appropriate garb1 a handsome ,highland ,chieftain4 ,cupid is not omitted2 of course not1 he is popular and found everywhere4 ,actors of the past generation have been honored3 ,edwin ,forrest as ,metamora1 and the elder ,sothern as ,lord ,dundreary4 ,one of these pictures was taken in front of a cigar store in ,worcester1 the sign is nearly fifty years old and the ,indian was formerly the ,figure ,head of a merchant vessel2 if he could speak1 wondrous tales of danger and wild adventure would come from his lips4 ,his owner would not take a fortune for him1 so his future is secure4 ,this one is believed to be the oldest ,indian sign in ,new ,england as it is more than #ge years old4 ,he is now kept inside the store for fear of injury4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,illustration3 ,,squaw ,,with ,,papoose ,,and ,,other ,,charmers ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,iv ,,the ,indian which has stood on top of ,tammany ,hall for nearly forty years deserves special mention4 ,he was not placed in that elevated position as a tobacco sign1 although a number of the modern chieftains display cigars and tobacco in their liquor stores4 ,there is no significance connected with the figure in that direction4 ,one of the oldest ,tammany ,sachems writes me that some one proposed an arched ornament for the then fine building in ,fourteenth street in the year #ahgh1 and the figure decided upon to complete the effect was that of the ,indian ,chief ,tammenand1 or ,st4 ,tammany1 so called to make a little fun of the various ,saints of other organizations1 as ,st4 ,francis1 ,st4 ,andrews and so on4 ,my friend further says that in ,england and on the ,continent in early times1 a favorite sign of tobacconists was first a colored boy1 then later an ,indian ,king or ,queen4 ,he adds1 8,i remember in my boyish days many ,indian figures1 in front of cigar shops2 stalwart ,indian ,chiefs holding out a bunch of cigars1 or an ,indian ,princess with a ,tobacco leaf4 ,some of the latter were cleverly carved1 ornamented dress and scarf with usually one breast exposed40 ,i read in a recent ,daily1 that a cook in ,new ,york1 minus work and a place to lay his head1 took unwisely three drinks and four knives and dashed out into the crowded street1 throwing up a knife to show his dexterity as a juggler6 ,in his excited condition1 he happened to cut his own hand2 the sight of blood made him more wild1 and glaring at one of the wooden ,indians who seemed to be staring at him1 he attacked him fiercely with heavy hacks and thwacks until hurried away by a passing policeman4 ,this last fleeting statue even figures in one of the ,world's funny series of the trials of the 8,newly ,weds40 ,that two toothed baby1 who1 with all his pranks never ceases to fascinate1 wanted one of these ,indians to take home and only closed his mouth when his adoring and long-suffering ,dad had bought one and carried it along with them1 with his befeathered head sticking out one way and legs the other4 ,no doubt there are many capital jokes connected with this subject1 but the first one to look up an odd theme has a hard hunt for facts4 ,i know that a well known ,steel ,magnate gave a beautiful church to the town where his mother lived1 at her request4 ,and not entirely satisfied1 she next begged him to get a statue of some ,saint to make the gift perfect and adorn the grounds4 ,he promised1 and soon a long box came directed to his mother but alas6 it proved to be one of the wooden men1 of which we are talking4 ,her son was fond of practical jokes6 ,a friend has told me that the ,indians of ,oklahoma resent these representations of people of their race and want to suppress them all4 ,it is difficult to find any in many of our large cities2 photographers write that they have been obliged to hunt not in a taxi or auto1 but by groping in store lofts and dark attics and that then the figures must be taken 8down and out0 to get a right light on them4 ,illustration3 ,,saint ,,tammany ,,of ,,the ,,delaware ,,tribe 8,,we ,,are ,,tending ,,strictly ,,to ,,business0 ,every man to whom ,i have appealed for aid in making my story interesting1 through pictures1 has been most courteous and amiable4 ,i have written to absolute strangers--often to a ,post ,master for the name of a skilful photographer in his town1 another perfect stranger1 and have always been answered promptly and sometimes with enthusiasm4 ,several have refused pay1 saying they had got real pleasure out of the work and were sorry there was nothing more to do4 ,sometimes they were obliged to crawl out on a roof and shovel away snow to rescue the poor ,indian4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,v ,,to show the genuine interest shown in my collection ,i will offer one letter from a business man in ,worcester1 ,mass3 8,dear ,miss ,sanborn3--,i have come across these figures and think you may use them4 ,they are good examples of their craft and are quite clear4 ,first ,punch1 he is over eighty years old and is whole from his knee down4 ,i haven't taken his face because he would have to be got down in order to do so1 but if you say you do want it and can wait a week for it ,i am perfectly willing to take same and not have the other one show2 really he has a strong face and ,i can1 no doubt1 get a good clean picture1 front view4 ,am going to tell you all ,i can remember about them2 if it is of no use to you1 no harm is done4 ,first3 ,the ,squaw1 stands in front of a store2 her owner has had same about ten years2 she has a lovely face as you see and originally came from ,boston4 ,second1 ,punch1 formerly owned by a ,german1 claimed there were but two like it in this country4 ,third1 8,humpty ,dumpty10 a likeness of the original ,geo4 ,l4 ,fox1 who was the original 8,humpty ,dumpty40 ,in conversation with ,mr4 ,sawyer1 he said that how he happened to get the figure was thus3 8,a man in ,woonsocket1 ,r4,i41 took it for a bill due him2 he in turn had means of getting rid of a lot of tobacco among the fishermen of ,gloucester1 so he gave the sign for the tobacco which he in turn sold to the fishermen at ,gloucester4 ,now should you care for any of these1 ,i'll do them all under one consideration4 ,no more pay2 you have overpaid me already for the little ,i have been able to do and ,i'm unwilling to accept any more40 ,i desire also to heartily thank ,mr4 ,jacob ,riis1 who is one of the busiest and kindest men in ,new ,york4 ,he allowed me to use his description in his last book1 8,the ,old ,town10 of an ,indian who was a chum of his in childhood and he writes me that he has sent home to ,ribe for a special picture of the ,sign he describes4 ,here is his story of his friend4 8,we boys in the ,old ,town were strictly prohibited from smoking under the ,school rules1 which prescribed the rod for every offence4 ,in consequence1 we did it on the sly1 thinking it manly and fine4 ,at his desk at home1 ,father smoked all the time1 and so did everybody else4 ,many a pound of ,kanaster have ,i carried home from the tobacconist's shop1 the one in ,gronnegade1 with the naked brown ,indian smoking a very long pipe4 8,from the moment the #8,last of the ,mohicans' fell into my hands1 ,i looked upon him as a friend and brother4 ,there was something between us which the grown-ups knew nothing about4 ,he must be acquainted with ,uncas and ,chingachgook and ,deerslayer1 for he was of the good ,delawares and not of the wicked ,hurons4 8,he swings from his hook yet1 and ,i confess to a nodding acquaintance when ,i pass him in the street4 ,his pipe is still the biggest part40 ,in one of ,mr4 ,riis' letters he says1 8,certainly you may use the ,indian in the ,old ,town and here is a picture of him4 ,he is fixed now on the wall4 ,in my childhood he swung from a hook smoking his long pipe4 ,you merely see the hand that holds it in this picture4 8,good luck with your book and with all your work4 8,i am glad you have a farm4 ,it is the only way to live40 ,faithfully yours1 ,,jacob ,a4 ,,riis40 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,illustration3 ,,representative ,,of ,,the ,,national ,,game ,,jockey ,,with ,,cigar ,,box ,,hunter ,,policeman ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,vi ,,here',s a ,new ,york ,politician's opinion about the ,indians he knew4 8,say1 ,spielberg1 were you in the ,assembly at ,albany in #aija80 8,no1 this is only my second term4 ,let me explain how they do things up there4 ,i went there1 full of enthusiasm for the public service4 ,being a new member1 ,i scarcely expected to get on one of the big committees1 but ,i thought ,i was entitled to something4 ,the ,speaker put me on the ,indian ,affairs ,committee4 ,the only ,indians ,i knew anything about were the braves of the ,tammany tribe1 but ,i was willing to learn4 ,i read the works of ,j4 ,fenimore ,cooper so as to get posted on ,indian ,affairs4 ,when ,i got a pretty good grip on the subject ,i waited for a meeting of my committee1 but couldn't find any4 ,near the close of the session ,i went to an old member of the ,legislature and asked him if there were any ,indians in the state and if so what was ,i supposed to do for them4 8#8,indians in ,new ,york8' he came back4 #8,plenty of them4 ,you come from ,manhattan and must have noticed a number of them in front of cigar stores with uplifted tomahawks4 ,these ,indians are exposed to all kinds of weather and it is your duty to observe the weather effect and be ready to report on the same when the committee meets4' 8,i asked him when the committee did meet and he said1 #8,i have been here for the past six years and it has not met yet1 but it is likely to meet any day4'0 ,sometimes tobacco signs are painted on boards1 and of such a curious example is to be seen at the door of a small establishment bearing the sonorous name of the 8,mephisto ,cigar ,store40 ,it is a typical representation of the typical stage demon1 dressed in tights and furnished with the regulation bat like wings4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,illustration3 ,,sothern ,,as 8,,dundreary0--,,the ,,others ,,you ,,may ,,name ,,as ,,you ,,please ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,vii ,,as the 8,wooden ,indian0 has long been a by-word1 and a popular symbol of stolidity in mind and body1 ,i have thought it worth while to show that like more pretentious statuary he may furnish inspiration to the ,muse of ,poetry4 ,here is an advertisement in verse sent me by a lady of ,seneca ,falls1 ,new ,york4 8,where the stately ,indian chieftian ,stands in silence by the door1 ,down on ,vall street1 stop and peep in ,you will find a splendid store4 ,should you choose the weed ,nicotian ,choice tobaccos that inspire ,whose sweet incense wins devotion ,to the smoking meerschaum's fire1 ,would you purchase true enjoyment1 ,joy without a shade of sorrow2 ,would you rest from your employment ,with a fragrant rich cigarro1 ,formed from meerschaum1 clay and brier1 ,tipped with amber1 stemmed with cherry1 ,are the bowls for perfumed fire1 ,holding fumes that make men merry1 ,or1 should you prefer to 8quid0 it1 ,and to taste the weed's dark juices1 ,warrington will not forbid it ,neither need you make excuses4 ,you who love the weed they call sweet1 ,plug or fine cut1 twist or leaf1 ,go to ,warrington's at ,vall street ,there where stands the ,indian ,chief40 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,illustration3 ,,punch ,,with ,,impressive ,,nose ,,another ,,punch--,,less ,,fortunate ,,punchinello ,,and ,,nondescript ,,puck ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,viii ,,what a sarcasm of ,destiny it is that when we have driven out and killed off all the ,indians who were so happy here1 we write poetry praising them1 novels about the good looking1 brave1 and almost1 too saintly ,red ,man4 ,and now it is seriously urged that a suitable ,memorial be erected in ,new ,york ,harbor to the ,memory of the ,north ,american ,indian whose ranks are thinning so rapidly1 that within a comparatively few years more1 the race will be obliterated by the advance of the white man's civilization4 ,that is rather a rosy way of describing the treatment the ,indian has received4 ,the proposed statue will be colossal in size and of bronze in construction1 with outstretched arm1 typifying a greeting from the primal ,american to the people of all other nations4 ,that might be well represented by 8,samoset10 illustrating the finer1 better traits of the ,indian1 when he cried out a 8,welcome1 ,englishmen0 to the strangers who were landing4 ,i have dwelt so much on this theme that ,i'm actually confusing the real ,indian with a wooden statue4 ,never mind4 ,did you know that ,schiller wrote an ,indian ,death song8 ,i'll quote a few verses3 8,well for him6 he's gone his ways1 ,where are no more snows2 ,where the fields are decked with maize ,that unplanted grows2 ,where with beasts of chase each wood1 ,where with bird each tree1 ,where with fish is every flood ,stocked full pleasantly4 ,he above with spirits feeds2 ,we1 alone and dim1 ,left to celebrate his deeds1 ,and to bury him40 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,illustration3 ,,jim ,,crow--7made #hg years ago7 ,,please ,,name ,,him ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,ix ,i am told that a ,collector went about in ,baltimore twenty years ago and bought up all the best of these signs in that city1 for their carving was often admirable1 spirited1 and artistic4 ,a friend sends me an interesting history of that 8,ancient ,baltimorean1 the ,cigar ,store ,indian10 written in #aijh for a paper of that city4 ,on good authority1 it is stated that there are #b1jjj tobacco stores in ,baltimore4 ,one finds them in all parts of the city1 on street corners1 in basements1 in the middle of blocks and fronting alleys4 ,it is estimated that #aej of these #b1jjj tobacco stores are identified by a wooden figure just as a barber shop is identified by a ribbon-striped pole4 ,the wooden figures are almost always found to represent an ,indian1 although occasionally there are other figures4 ,and so they may be found differing in size1 coloring1 ornamentation1 state of repair and general condition1 or rather1 in most cases1 general debility4 ,to review the history of these ,indians one would naturally look to a tobacconist of age1 with years in the business of dealing in and manufacturing of smokers' articles1 and in interviewing several of such many facts of interest may be learned4 ,the oldest tobacconist in ,baltimore is venerable ,mr4 ,caspari1 of ,calvert street1 one of whose figures was mentioned above4 ,mr4 ,caspari's story of the ,indian is as follows3 8,the first figures were made by ship carpenters #abe years ago and were carved out of lengths of old seasoned masts4 8,in those days of individual effort and prosperity cigar stores were few and far between1 and for a sign to identify them they used the figure of an ,indian1 because from the ,indian1 the white man first received tobacco4 8,at first the figure was painted on each side of a board4 ,this was placed in front of the store4 ,from that evolved the carving of the figure from solid wood as a new idea and more attractive and progressive1 as well as more expensive and valuable4 8,fifty years ago no tobacconist would think of opening a store without a figure4 ,now the men in the trade think that to put an ,indian out is to waste money4 8,when ,i started business1 in #ahfa1 my stock cost me #cj1 and ,i had a figure that cost #dj4 ,i had to have the sign1 though it cost more money than the stock inside4 ,since then ,i have been #df years in business on one 7,calvert7 street10 said ,mr4 ,caspari4 ,in #ahfd he hired a man from ,new ,york to make figures for him4 ,the first figure was a small one1 representing an ,indian squaw4 ,this was sold in ,baltimore in #ahfe and brought #ae4 ,these figures were made out of old masts4 ,each one was handmade with saw1 knife1 chisel and such tools of the trade4 ,the sculptor would work on five or six different ones in turn and take1 on an average1 about a week's time to finish a figure4 ,mr4 ,caspari has sold figures in many other towns and cities4 ,in the old days1 customers coming in and wanting a figure would choose some new design1 and so 8,girls of the ,period0 were next in vogue4 ,these were fanciful1 flashy figures and very attractive4 ,illustration3 8,,four ,,of ,a ,,kind0 8,pipitone1 on ,charles street1 near ,baltimore1 years ago bought one of these fancy figures10 said ,mr4 ,caspari1 8and soon after a storm blew it to ,baltimore street1 damaging it badly4 ,he brought it back and had it repaired and painted and about two months after that a horse ran away and the wagon caught the figure and broke it to pieces40 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,x ,,in #ahfh or #ahgj 8,fritz in ,ireland0 was acted by ,j4 ,k4 ,emmet at the ,holliday ,street ,theatre1 in ,baltimore1 and the actor sang his famous lullaby to one of these 8,girls of the ,period0 figures4 ,after these ,mr4 ,caspari offered drum majors1 represented with ,uncle ,sam breeches and clothed to correspond4 ,then came 8,champagne ,charley10 with side whiskers1 red coat1 striped trousers and holding a bottle in one hand1 at which he pointed a finger of the other4 ,then came the soldier4 ,this figure carried a genuine old musket4 ,next appeared the 8,scotch ,girl10 with ,tam-o-shanter and plaid dress1 like a bag-pipe player4 ,with a large assortment of figures on exhibit to choose from1 ,mr4 ,caspari did a good business4 ,every cigar store that started had one4 ,new customers looking about for a figure would come in with a new idea and new designs would be made to order4 ,mr4 ,caspari had #ajj figures on exhibition at one time4 ,last were made ,punches and clowns4 ,this was about #bj years ago4 ,after that the trade fell off and the stock was sold out4 ,the value of figures depended on the size1 amount of work and time necessary to finish them and on their newness of design and ornamentation4 ,they cost new1 from #ae up to #bej4 ,one ,mr4 ,caspari sold for #djj4 ,he bought a little darky figure at one time on ,pratt street that had resisted the elements for #aej years4 ,this little figure was about #cj inches high4 ,during the war1 on a ,st4 ,patrick's ,day1 he dressed the darky in a green coat1 with a clover leaf and tall hat4 ,an ,irish soldier came along and1 seeing the darky1 became incensed and knocked it off its block1 exclaiming vehemently against its being an ,irish 8nigger40 ,on another ,st4 ,patrick's ,day a drunken ,irishman1 seeing the darky in similar patriotic regalia1 made such a disturbance that a policeman had to be called4 ,figures were sold all over ,baltimore and were repaired frequently4 ,some were more exposed to the elements than others4 ,some were of such design that portions were more easily broken off than was the case with others4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,illustration3 8,,sagamore1 ,,sachem ,,or ,,pow-,,wow0 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,xi ,,to repaint a figure cost from #aj to #ae4 ,they were always painted flashily with high-grade paint and trimmings of genuine gold or silver or whatever metal was called for4 ,some had earrings1 others beads1 bracelets or necklaces to repaint fancifully4 ,then the feathers of the ,indian required the highest artistic blending of colors4 ,mr4 ,caspari had scores of paint pots used in connection with this branch of his business4 ,each held a different colored paint4 ,as a rule figures required repainting every #ah months1 although ,mr4 ,fricke's ,indian1 bought #be years ago1 has had but three coats of paint4 8,but they never could get the color again as it was at first10 says ,mr4 ,fricke4 ,the #b-;foot law as applied to obstructions of sidewalks has been one of the main causes for the removal of the ,indian and such figures4 ,mr4 ,hutchingson has in front of his store on ,gay street an ,indian maiden which came into his possession with other stock in #ahif4 ,a former owner once recognized it and stated that he had had it for #cj years4 ,mr4 ,hutchingson says this is the only ,indian that experienced and survived the big fire of #aijd4 ,the ,church of the ,messiah1 corner of ,gay and ,fayette streets1 was the only church that burned1 and this ,indian saw it burn and was herself blistered and cracked4 ,since then she has had a new coat of paint4 ,george ,eikenberg1 on ,east ,fayette street1 has had a figure in front of his store for #cj years4 ,mr4 ,decker1 of ,north ,gay street1 above ,belair ,market1 has an ,indian made by a ,mr4 ,gato on ,north ,caroline street4 ,mr4 ,decker bought it in #ahgi1 and the only repairing done has been on one arm that was accidentally broken off4 ,it has been painted every two years and has always done good service4 ,incidentally1 ,mr4 ,gato1 the sculptor1 was a short man and had to stand on a chair to carve part of the ,indian1 which is itself a small one4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,illustration3 ,,place ,,aux ,,dames ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,xii ,,miss ,wurach1 #gcc ,west ,pratt street1 ,baltimore1 states that her father started in business #ea years ago and that she and her brother now continue to keep the store1 her father being dead4 ,the figure in front is the second one used in #ea years4 ,the age of the present figure is not known4 ,mr4 ,bringman's ,indian figure1 on ,west ,baltimore street1 is very old and very impressive in appearance1 being of unusually large size and displaying great muscular development4 ,it has required much repairing about the feet and on one thigh4 ,very interesting is the story of ,f4 ,dreves' figure1 on ,west ,fayette street1 above ,park avenue1 as told by ,mr4 ,dreves4 ,the late ,mr4 ,dreves1 ,sr41 at one time dealt in ,indian figures4 ,sailing vessels that for a long time plied up and down the coast of ,america and across the ,atlantic carrying merchandise and passengers would become unfit for further use at sea and were then dismantled4 ,often the masts of these old sailing vessels would be trailed in the water and towed into port4 ,these portions of masts would1 in the water1 become hardened1 or even petrified4 ,they were of large size and furnished excellent material for wood carving of all kinds4 ,about #ce years ago the late ,mr4 ,dreves obtained two lengths of such masts and wished to have two ,indian figures carved from them4 ,he found a ,german sculptor from ,munich who had carved figures now to be seen adorning the ,capitol at ,washington4 ,the ,german sculptor had never seen an ,indian1 but when shown pictures of the figures he was to carve exclaimed3 8,o yes1 that's the ,american10 meaning that the ,indian was the only native ,american4 ,each ,indian completed cost #aae in the raw wood4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,illustration3 ,,all ,,high ,,rollers ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,xiii ,,the ,indians carved by the ,german sculptor are represented with catamount hide for covering4 ,a quiver of arrows is fastened over the left shoulder4 ,in the right hand is a bow and the left hand holds a bunch of tobacco leaves4 ,evidence of the skill and training of the now departed ,german sculptor may be seen in the figure4 ,every muscle visible on the human form is executed in its exact relation4 ,the little depression about the kneepan1 the lines of the shinbone and the condyles of the elbow joint are perfect4 ,the brother of ,mr4 ,dreves' ,indian was purchased by ,mr4 ,oppelt and may now be seen in front of his store on ,park avenue4 ,this ,indian was sold to the present ,mr4 ,oppelt's father #ce years ago for about the price of carving and material as given above4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,xiv ,,john ,e4 ,owens made a great hit with his popular play 8,the ,live ,indian10 in which he took down and hid a stunning figure1 that had stood many years before a cigar store1 in fact considered to be one of 8the oldest inhabitants40 ,made up as an exact counterpart of this1 he mounted the pedestal and waited until midnight1 when he broke into the store1 and hastened away1 rich in booty2 not leaving1 however1 till he had replaced the insulted ,indian in his rightful place4 ,this was an irresistibly comical sight4 ,but the wooden ,indian must go2 his death knell has been rung4 ,in the old days1 a cigar store without this symbol1 would be as lacking in life as a one ring ,circus at the present time4 ,all has changed3 you can walk street after street in any city1 and pass tobacco stores by the score but your old friend is not there4 ,tobacco sales are now managed by advertisements and gaudy lithographs of chorus girls smoking cigarettes1 or fancy pictures just to catch the eye4 ,these are the new favorites and soon the ,indian ,sign will be obsolete2 a relic of the ages4 ,this fact suggested making a collection to preserve his memory4 ,i fancy ,i hear some one say1 8,this seems to end rather abruptly40 ,that is true2 but just as ,horace ,greeley said1 8,the way to resume is to resume10 ,i think the way to stop is to stop4 ,and it is a triumph of self control in a woman to stop short when she really has nothing more to communicate4 ,i hope that this little historic ,souvenir1 will be desired by every man who smokes and every woman who 8loves the odor of a good cigar40 ,like ,col4 ,sellers1 ,i have prepared a bottle for each eye4 ,and now in a whisper let me close with a treasonable quotation from ,kipling3 8,a woman's only a woman--but a good cigar is a smoke60 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,illustration3 ,a ,,poseur ,a ,,jolly ,,party ,,lady ,,enjoying ,,the ,,weed 8,,and ,,last ,,of ,,all ,,an ,,admiral ,,came0 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,transcriber's note3 ,several of the page numbers in the ,list of ,illustrations were corrected4 ,missing or obscured punctuation was silently corrected4 ,typographical errors were silently corrected4 ,inconsistent spelling and hyphenation were made consistent only when a predominant form was found in this book4