TRICKS OF FOOD-GETTING

His third subject is to master the tricks of food-getting.  His father, or more often his grandfather, takes him in hand at an early age, and minutely trains him in all the art and artifice of the great life-fight for food both for himself and for those who may in later years be dependent on him.  He is drilled assiduously in hunting, fishing, trapping, in game calls, in wood and water lore; he learns to paddle with stealth, to step in silence, to conceal himself from the scent and sight of bird and beast, to be swift as a deer, keen as an eagle, alert as a fox.

He is admonished under no conditions, save in that of extreme hunger or in self-defence, to kill mating game, or, in fact, to kill at all save for food or to obtain furs for couch purposes.  Wanton slaying of wild things is unknown among the uncivilized Red Indians.  When they want occupation in sport or renown, they take the warpath against their fellow-kind, where killing will flaunt another eagle-feather in their crest, not simply another pair of antlers to decorate their tepee.

With this indispensable lesson in the essentials of living always comes the scarcely less momentous one of the utter unimportance of youth.  He is untiringly disciplined in the veneration of age, whether it be in man or woman.  He must listen with rapt attention to the opinions and advice of the older men.  He mast keep an absolute silence while they speak, must ever watch for opportunities to pay them deference.

AGE BEFORE LINEAGE

If he happen, fortunately, to be the son of a chief of ancient lineage, the fact that he is of blood royal will not excuse him entering a door before some aged “commoner.”  Age has more honor than all his patrician line of descent can give him.  Those lowly born but richly endowed with years must walk before him; he is not permitted to remain seated if some old employee is standing even at work; his privilege of birth is as nothing compared with the honor of age, even in his father’s hireling.

The fourth thing he must master is the thorough knowledge of medicinal roots and herbs—­antidotes for snake-bite and poison—­also the various charms and the elementary “science” of the medicine man, though the occupation of the latter must be inherited, and made in itself a life study.  With this branch of drilling also is inculcated the precept of etiquette never to speak of or act slightingly of another’s opinion, and never to say the word “No,” which he is taught to regard as a rude refusal.  He may convey it by manner or action, but speak it—­never.