A SIOUX BABY'S BAPTISM.
On Saturday, at St Clement's, Ordsall Lane, Manchester, there was a very large congregation, on the occasion of the baptism of the daughter of Little Chief, who is a sub-chief of the Ogallala tribe of Sioux. The mother's name is Good Robe. Her first-born child died in London when Buffalo Bill was performing there, and this one was born in the Wild West camp on the 3rd inst. The Rev. J. J. Scott officiated, Buffalo Bill interpreting the service. The child's name is to be Over the Sea among the tribe, but its baptismal name was Frances Victoria Alexandra. [1] Mr and Mrs Gardiner, [2] of Salford, and Mrs Whittaker were the godparents. The father, and the whole of the male Indians in camp, attended in war costume. A special chant was sung by the Indians present. Four chiefs, named Red Shirt, Eagle Heart, Little Bull, and Blue Horse, have presented the infant with a gift of ponies, in accordance with the custom of their country.
Note 1: The child's baptismal name was Frances Victoria Alexandra, named after Frances Folsom Cleveland (wife to President Cleveland), Queen Victoria, and the Princess of Wales (Princess Alexandra Caroline Marie Charlotte Louise Julia of Denmark, 1844-1925). [back]
Note 2: Mr. and Mrs. A. M. H. Gardiner of Salford, England. [back]
Title: A Sioux Baby's Baptism
Periodical: Aberdeen Weekly Journal
Date: February 1888
Topics: Lakota Performers
Keywords: American Indians Church of England Horses Indian children Infant baptism Infants--Mortality Oglala Indians Sioux Nation
People: Alexandra, Queen, consort of Edward VII, King of Great Britain, 1844-1925 Cleveland, Frances Folsom, 1864-1947 Little Chief, b. 1851 Red Shirt, 1845?-1925 Victoria, Queen of Great Britain, 1819-1901
Places: London (England) Manchester (England) Salford (Greater Manchester, England)
Sponsor: This project is supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Geraldine W. & Robert J. Dellenback Foundation.
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