Brown's Burlesque Ritual (drop title)

Improved Order of Red Men. Astounding exposure of the secret work of the order. The Initiation of an Actual Candidate. All the signs, grips, signals, passwords, and other secrets of the inner wigwam made public. Brown's Burlesque Ritual. (Copyrighted 1889). Specially designed for the use of the Improved Order of Red Men, in giving public entertainments. Positively the funniest, mirth-provoking burlesque ever attempted, and one that is emphatically endorsed by all the Great Chiefs of Maine, as well as by hundreds of Tribes throughout the United States (cover title)

Narrow 32mo, 5.25 x 3 inches, 16pp. Printed by the Opinion Press, Rockland (Maine, 1889). Very Good with light soil (and a small droplet ring) to covers. Not in OCLC.

A prospectus/booklet promoting "Brown's Burlesque Rituals" for public performance, including testimonials and extracts. The cast of characters includes Buffalo Bill, Sitting Bull, "Crooked-foot John," "Eat-'em-up Steve," "Postoffice Sam," and a Policeman (among others). Fraternal organizations in the United States have a long sordid history of appropriating (and inventing) Native American traditions tracing back to the Sons of Liberty disguising themselves as Mohawk people during the Boston Tea Party. Appropriation, stereotyping, and romanticizing the "othered" identities created a mystique around the organizations in which members adopted an “Indian name” and organized themselves into “tribes” and “wigwams," using pseudo-Indigenous language and titles, performing "rituals" and adopting regalia that mimicked Native dress and customs. The Society of Red Men, established in Baltimore, 1834, exemplified these practices and became one of the most prominent fraternal organizations in the United States by the 20th century. This booklet, and the testimonies therein, establish the popularity of their practices and even claims the approval of "all the Great Chiefs of Maine, as well as by hundreds of Tribes throughout the United States."