East High School - Quill Yearbook (Des Moines, IA)

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In the ruddy glow of a eamphre sat Big Bear, the chief of the now small tribe of the Mianates, and his son, Flying Cloud, the youngest member of the tribe. .lust as camplircs always arouse memories, Big Bear found himself telling Flying Cloud about the Mianates of an earlier day. The little boy list- ened eagerly. Before the white man began to harass the Indian, the tribe of the Mianates was a very powerful nation, feared by all the neighboring tribes. As time went on, the old Indian chief, Black Eagle, could boast of only two things. One was the ancient grandeur and strength of the tribe which in his time was re- duced so that it had only fifteen hundred men. The other possession was Nunah, the only daughter of Black Eagle, and the most beautiful woman in all tribes. Princess Nunah was of a rare type. Her features were molded gracefully in her oval dusky-skinned face. Her dark eyes were like velvet in their soft- ness, and her hair, long, dark, straight, parted in the middle of her head, hung on her shoulders in braids richly plaitcd with beads. Her dresses were made of line fawn-colored skins trimmed equisitely with beadwork. It was not strange that Nunah should have many suitors. Because she was Black Eagle's most loved possession, however, she was allowed to make her own choice. As yet, she had refused all who sought her. Among those rejected suitors was VVateo, son of Long Arrow who was an ancient enemy of Black Eagle. Many times had Long Arrow and Black Eagle fought, but Black lflaglc's men always outnumbered those of Long Arrow, and so forced Long Arrow to retreat. Because of these numerous defeats, Long Arrow was constantly watching for an offense which would justify making war on the tribe which was now weakened and could be defeated. Learning that Nunah had refused Xvateo, Long Arrow was pleased with the idea that he could now make war against Black Eagle. Long Arrow sent runners to small neighboring tribes, which he had befriended at various times, in order that hc might use their braves if he ever needed' them. He found that he could secure one thousand men. These, added to his own one thousand men, made him an army of two thousand, a good number to send against Black Eagle's fifteen hundred. Long Arrow, pleased with his own cunning, once again had pleasant visions of defeating Black Eagle. As an afterthought, he decided to save the -Princess Nunah, for perhaps Wateo really wanted her, and also it would disgrace the Mianates still more to have to allow their princess to enter a forced marriage with his son and their enemy. ' - Finally, Long Arrow aroused himself from the pictures of his imagination and ordered runners to carry the usual token of war, arrows bound in a snake skin, to Black Eagle. At the earliest possible time, Long Arrow and his two thousand men took the trail to make war. g V ' 1 'The'journey lasted three days. At the end of that time, the messengers' disj closed to Long Arrow the fact that the Mianates did not want to fightpf: 1, A Page Fifteen

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2 . 's ' ' TP He packed the bonesg he packed the eggs, And with his mules set out. Then with some speed he stretched his legsg He chose the shortest route. Zoologists, when they had heard His thrilling wild report, lrVere anxious till it was absurd To see results of his sport. He opened the eggsjall heard a peep, And then the welkin rang, For three small ostriches did leapg Each shell cracked with a bang. The bones were seeng the men laughed moreg The sport had gained renown For bones of ostrich were before. A poorer, wiser man's this clown. LIAIROLD KELL0liCi, '28, QZBGSD H ow Times Change The old-fashioned ways of amusement are gradually being replaced by more modern ways. There is at least one thing that we have in common and that is dancing. In olden days, young and old came from miles around to attend a barn dance where the music was usually furnished by a couple of fiddles. Now, we may tune in on the radio and have dancing at home or more likely will drive some place where we do the latest steps to the tune of a jazz orchestra. The young folks of that day spent many evenings engaged in taffy pulls, corn poppings, and husking bees while we spend many evenings at the picture shows and buy our candy at the confectioneries or corner drug stores. Where the young girl formerly sat at home waiting for Prince Charming to iind her, in the meantime mastering the art of housekeeping, the young girl of today very busily goes on about her business, meanwhile keeping a watchful eye for signs of l1im . I wonder how many of us girls would be of any use at a quilting bee. I wager that there are not iive in a hundred who attend East High who would be able to ply a needle skillfully enough to satisfy the girls of that day. The mod- ern miss could more easily take a fewduck feathers, the only remaining features of the Thanksgiving feast, and after dipping them into coloring diluted by the proper amount of water, make a beautiful bouquet which she would jauntily pin upon the shoulder of her dance frock, and trip off. Confronted with the problem of driving a horse hitched to an old-fashioned buggy, our youthful escorts would probably lose some of their dignityg while if called upon to drive a Ford, they would respond at once. As a matter of fact, many of them are experienced in the art of one-hand driving, at a great rate of speed. How times do change in fifty years! V'IOLA SEELEY, '28. Paye Fourteen. n 7 l

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Q is Long Arrow, determined to have war, sent back the message, 'Nunah's mar- riage to WVateo, or-warl' Even then, Black Eagle, who realized the inability of his tribe, hesitated. He went to Nunah to get her answer. He found her talking to a very hand- some Indian brave dressed in white buekskin. Black Eagle recognized thc man as Chandala, thc eldest son of Big Creek, chief of a great tribe living farther west. Chandala had come to win Nunah, who found that she loved him. Nunah was frightened by the message and did not know what to do. She must either marry VVateo, whom she hated, or refuse to marry him and COIISU- quently eause the destruction of her tribe. She finally asked to be given three days in which time she would decide what to do. This answer was taken back to Long Arrow who promised to do nothing before the end of that time. Nunah returned to Chandala and disclosed the situation. She then said, 'I would rather chop these hands from my arm than to give them into the keep- ing of Wateo, whom I hatel' Chandala, realizing the seriousness of the situation, knew not what to do. He knew there was not enough time to get help from his father, and he could not give up Nunah to VVateo. Then he said, 'You shall not marry YVateo. Therefore the Mianates must iight, If the tribe wins, we are safe. If it loses, we must perish with it. Let us trust to the Great Spirit to help us.' Nunah, helped by the quick masterful decision given in the same tone which had caused her to accept Chandala's recent proposal of marriage, car- ried her answer back to her father and told him of her intended marriage. As soon as Long Arrow received Nunah's answer, he began war. Although the Mianates fought bravely, they were easily defeated, and nearly all were killed by the warriors of the blood-loving Long Arrow. Nunah and Chandala realized that there was now no hope. VVith true In- dian stoicism, they went to the foot of the cliff, and with an Indian hatchet, they cut off their right hands. Chandala placed the severed hands in a clasp and put them on the side of the cliff. A short time later, the lovers died, weakened by losing their blood, in each other's arms. They were true Indiansg they could not reckon with defeat. Chandala's father, Big Creek, soon heard of his son's tragic death, and lcd an army of numberlcss men from. his nation, swooped down on Long Arrow's tribe while they were celebrating their victory, and attacked them. Nearly every one of Long Arrow's men were killed by the angry, revenge-sucking bravcs. Big Creek himself shot the arrow that killed Long Arrow, and a younger brother of Chandala killed VVateo in a hand-to-hand struggle. Long Arrow and his men were punished. And now the print of the clasped hands of Nunah and Chandala lies graven in the side of the cliff, a perpetual symbol of love, faith, and sacrifice. At the close of the most treasured tale of the tribe, both Big Bear and Flying Cloud were lost in thought. Big Bear was again reviewing the story, remem- bering the events which happened when he was a small boy. He remembered the beauty of his sister Nunah, and the help given to him by Chandala, thus enabling him to escape. .. . . I Flying Cloud was engrossed in his thought that some day he would be a mighty,,ch,ie.f.,- .-He imagined exploits he would have, and in a little while his thoughts became dreams as heH.f.ell asleep by the campfire. ' H Page Sixteen