The Durant News

The American Way
By George Peck

White Bear

White Bear is the name of a man, a full-blood Quapaw Indian who is living now. His home is at Quapaw, Okla. where he is well and favorably known for miles farther than his neighbors can see the smoke from his tepee. The word tepee is not literal, of course White Bear has a comfortable home. children and grandchildren to brighten his declining years. He is past 70.

White Bear's small income from oil royalties has shrunk lately to a bare subsistence. He shared his wealth when he had it, freely with people less fortunate than he. red men and others.

Some grandparents live in the past, but not White Bear. He has remained interested in things, probably because of his youngest child, an only son. The boy was a true Quapaw brave, in fact, a paratrooper.

Once to Every Man Finally to White Bear's fireside came an ominous little yellow envelope ... a telegram from the War Department. The son had liquidated his obligation to the country that was verily his own. The tragedy took place in training maneuvers near Des Moines, Ia.

White Bear hesitated no minute after the news came. Promptly he drew his savings from the bank, all of them, and boarded a bus.

At Des Moines a businesslike officer showed White Bear his son's pall. The proud father was ashamed. The casket seemed far too cheap for one so great and noble as an American paratrooper, a Quapaw full-blood. White Bear spoke his mind and the officer told him how much the government would pay toward a more pretentious funeral. The old tribesman took the suggestion and accepted the credit.

Honor to Whom Honor

At home the young brave had been prominent and popular, loved and admired by many. He must now return like a hero. Handsome things the father desired cost $72 more than the government's fixed amount. White Bear paid without protest. Then, leaving shipping instructions with the officer. the unhappy father disappeared. Out toward the highway he went without a dollar to thumb rides home in time for the funeral.

Forget for a moment those jaunty horsemen of the planes whose hatchets retarded the Gold Rush. Forget also the colored tales of modern Osages rolling in wealth. Here is something more nearly true; Specimen of a vanishing race, sore of foot and dim of vision, trudging homeward hungry, quite ignored by hurrying traffic; a stranger in his native West, too proud to beg, too honorable to steal.

Help At Extremity

South of Kansas City a short way, White Bear's time was more than half gone, his vitality almost depleted and his journey not yet half finished when help came. A suburbanite who had seen Indians before, sparing his tires along the highway's outer lane, saw the old man with perceiving eyes; dismissed him two hours later, strengthened with a $2 steak and humbled with a ticket home.

How ideally American is this elder of the Quapaws. From his eyes no gaudy tears, no simpering about economic inequalities, no railing at "the system," no harping about rigid Army rules. With admirable independence he faced what might have been his last crisis, alone, with bitterness toward none.

Warmed by neighborly interest however, his faltering English was eloquent to glorify his scion, his state and his race.