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f. f)~ <J,.!:+LdA,J - A poet's life With a wild war whoop, Pauline Johnson leaped onto the stage. _ Dressed in fringed buckskin, a bear claw necklace around her _, neck, human scalps dangling from her wampum belt, she - began her recitation: My forest brave, my Red-skin love, farewell We may not meet tomorrow, who can tell. Later, demurely clad in fashionable silk, her dark hair piled up instead of flowing down - her back, her lyrical poems spoke of events and emotions more familiar to the audience, emotions such as love and patriotism. As always, the "Indian - Princess" had her listeners mesmerized. If the contrasts in her costumes were jarring to the spee- tators, the contrasts in Pauline's own life were even more pronounced. She was neithel'. Indian nor a princess. to begin with, but five-eighths whit.e, daughter of an Englishwotn&ll and an Indian chief. Since her mother was not-lroqvoifi.lher children could not~ ho,n.ors. Even Pa'uline's_.,...,_. name, Tekahionwake, borrowed from her grandfa&her,, and her costume was more theatrical than authentic. One of the scalps was inherited, the other acquired from a Blackfoot she met on tour. Still, she was considered-an important literary figure in the • late 1800s. Although one cri1ic described her as a "gent.eel lady in a bustle who had nice thoughts about Nature," audiences ado"red. her. She gave them what they wanted - sen1imental, picturesque lyrics about unspoiled country and the "noble red man," charmingly pakaged in a beautiful woman, who was seen as combining the best traits of the red ·