The Paper • Page 2 • October 17, 2019
The Indian Store Cont. from Page 1
“When my truck is full and I’m out of money, I come back home,” he says. He’s usually gone four to five days.
Kim, his wife, used to go with him. She’s content to stay home these days and let Larry do all the exploring and buying.
Larry grew up with Native Americans, has a close bond with them, and them with him. Even in the Marines he and his pals stayed together. His contacts throughout North American Indian Nations is legendary. The Indian Nations and its leaders know and trust Larry. He’s made a good living out of it but he’s earned it. He usually works seven days a week, from sunup to sundown.
You know schoolkids who want to learn more about the Indian Culture? Call Larry Benson. He’ll be happy to give tours to school children. No charge. He does it as a community service. “It’s worth the time and effort to see their eyes light up when they see the Indian clothing and artifacts and learn about the culture,” he says. “We’re glad to do it.” Sounds to me like a great idea for a valuable learning experi-
Give Us This Day Our Daily Chuckle This week, a compendium of wit, wisdom and neat stuff you can tell at parties. Enjoy!
Deer Sur,
My Rezimay
ence via a field trip to The Indian Store. Call Larry at 760.639.5309. He’ll work out the details. How did Indian Trading Posts evolve?
Glad you asked.
Pull up a chair and let’s take a look at the history and see how we arrived at where we are today.
The concept actually started in Europe . . . and Asia. A trading post, trading station, or trading house was a place or establishment where the trading of goods took place; the term is generally used, in modern parlance, in reference to here in America. Routes between posts was known as a trade route.
Trading posts were also places for people to meet and exchange the news of the world or simply the news from their home area at a time when not even newspapers existed.
They remind me of what is in the midwestern farm communities. Farmers from throughout the area would come to town, spend the day there, buying and selling, and meeting with their neighbors, getting caught up on the news of the day. Many a young farm boy and farm girl met at these “trips to town” usually on a Saturday. Many marriages emerged from Saturdays. That’s kinda what a trading
wat you think that I am wurth, I can start imeditely.
Thank ewe inn advanse 4 yore Anser. Hopifuly ayem Yore bestt aplicant sew phar. Sinseerly,
Peggy May McBiggins
PS : I half includeded a pickture of me B low.
Eye waunt too apply four the secritary job I scene in the Payper. I can type reel kwik wit won finggar and due Sum Acounting 2. I think aye am good onn the fone and aye'm a pepole Purrson. Pepole reelly seam too respond goodly to me.
I'm lookin fore a jobb as a secritary butt it Kant be two Complikaited Mye spelling iz knot 2 good but find that I awfin get a Job Bcuz of my persinalety. My salerery is open sew wee can discus wat you want to paye me and
post was and in some areas, still is. A meeting place to buy and sell and visit.
Numerous cities of importance once started their history as trading posts: Venice, New York City, Shanghai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Naples, Rotterdam, Kansas City, etc.
Trading posts were also very common in the early settlements of Canada and the United States for the trade of such things as fur.
The Hudson's Bay Company set up trading posts around Hudson Bay during the fur trade. Goods were traded for beaver pelts from the Native Americans as well as white hunters and trappers. In the United States in the early 19th century, trading posts used by Native Americans were licensed by the federal government and called "factories". Tribes were to concede substantial territory to the United States in order to access the "factories" as happened at Fort Clark in the Treaty of Fort Clark in which the Osage Nation conceded most of Missouri in order to access the trading post. A factory was an establishment for factors or merchants carrying on business. Factories eventually spread to other parts of the world, including here in America.
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing! 9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing! 10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing! 12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing! 1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing! 3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing! 5:00 pm - Milk Bones! My favorite thing! 7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing! 8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing! 11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing! Excerpts from a Cat's Daily Diary ... Day 983 of my captivity ...
Dear Peggy May:
Start on Monday, we have spell check.
If Pets Kept Diaries . . .
Excerpts from a Dog's Diary 8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt
In North America, this trading formula was adopted by Americans to exchange goods with local non-Western societies, especially in Native American territory. In that context, these establishments were often called trading posts. So now you know where the name came from . . . and the functions they then served and, often, still do. Looking back again, the great fur companies sent out expeditions up the valley of the Platte in the charge of their agents, to trap the beaver and other animals valuable for their beautiful skins. The hardships of these pioneers in the beginning of a trade which, in a short time assumed gigantic proportions, are a story of suffering and privation which has few parallels in the history of the development of our mid-continent region. Until the establishment of the several trading posts, the lives of these men were continuous struggles for existence, as no company could possibly transport provisions sufficient to last beyond the most remote settlements, and the men were compelled to depend entirely upon their rifles for a supply of food. When posts were located at convenient distances from each
The Indian Store Cont. on Page 3
to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.
Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a 'good little hunter' I am. Bastards. There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of 'allergies.' I must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage. Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.
I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is Chuckles Cont. on Page 14