It is related that once upon a time the President paid an important visit to an Indian reservation in the Far and Distant West. In honor of the great occasion the great chiefs of the tribe were all gathered together, arrayed in their best bib and tucker, all war-paint and feathers, and sat cross-legged in a great circle listening to the words of wisdom from the Great Father.
“Noble Red Men of the Forest,” began the President, “Primeval and Original Proprietors of the Soil of the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave! I am delighted to see you!”
And all the Indians round the circle exclaimed: “Walla Walla!” This evidently being Indian for “Hear! Hear!”
“You have indeed been greatly wronged,” continued the speaker, “and I take your wrongs to my own heart, and I shall take immediate measures for their redress, and shall demand that hereafter justice shall be done to the noble Red Men, the Original Proprietors of the Free Soil of America.”
And the Indians again shouted approval, “Walla Walla!”
“Aye,” he continued, “on my return to Washington I shall personally see to it that your wrongs are righted, and shall direct that the Indian Appropriation be greatly increased, so that you may spend your lives in comfort and plenty.”
Again in deep and guttural tones the Indians applauded, “Walla Walla!”
After it was all over, the President expressed his delight at the hearty interest and evident appreciation of his warlike auditors, being particularly impressed with the fact that they had so well understood his remarks, as was sufficiently manifest by the fact that they applauded every time just at the right place. And then the Interpreter asked him whether he knew what Walla Walla meant? And he not knowing the meaning thereof, the cruel Interpreter disillusioned him by telling him that Walla Walla was Indian for “Hot Air!”
THE WICKED PARROT
A gentleman who spent part of a summer recently in England relates an incident which very sadly disturbed the religious peace of a parish in Penzance.