This transcription was created by the Harvard-Diggins Library
from original document held by MHS (#SC 1274)

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Crow Agency, Montana
August 28, 1897

My own true loving little wife,

Yours received and glad to hear from you. Enclosed send I you $10.00.

I received a letter from Thurber stating the only time I could have my exhibit would be the last two weeks in October. So I have written him, that I would have it then but it will change my plans a good deal which is probably for the best as winter will come on soon and I have no winter clothes at all. I will be in Chicago (2) about the 10th of October.

Just as soon as I am through here, which will be in two or three days, I am going directly to the Nes Perces Indians, some 150 miles N.W. of Spokane, and I will spend the rest of my time there. Uncle Ed has given me an order for Chief Joseph’s portrait. So I will not go to the other Indians as I had planned to do.

Next summer, in May, I am going to the Pine Ridge Agency and spend the summer with the Sioux, Cheyenne, Blackfoot, Shoshone & Flat Heads. If I would paint them now I would have to hurry them through.

Chief Plenty Coups came 100 (3) miles by wagon for me to paint him, and I am working on him now. You ought to see him Tattie, he is the proudest and vainest and the best looking Indian I ever saw and he has got the finest costume I ever saw. When he is dressed up in it he is the most dignified fellow you ever saw. He struts around like a peacock. The young ladies fall in love with him. He was in Washington once and the fine ladies there made lots of him. He dressed and painted up in my studio yesterday and I never saw any one pass and look in the looking glass the way he did. He has his squaw and an Indian valet to wait on him and finally, when he got all fixed, he sat (4) in the chair and had me hold a looking glass 20 minutes for him to look at himself. He was so particular about the feather on his head. It had to be just as even and stick up exactly straight.

I will explain to Uncle Ed about the money. When I saw xxxxx noticed she had a loose wrapper(?) on, that was all. I sent your mother a pair of moccasins by mail. You can address me here until you hear from me. Goodbye darling. Your own true loving husband.

Lots of love hugs & kisses,

Elbridge