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LITTLE BIG HORN TRADING CARDS
I can just see it now: Two kids from Hardin, Mont.–or New Rumley, Ohio, for that matter–are doing some card trading. Firstkid: “I’ll give you a Captain Frederick Benteen, a Lieutenant J.J. Crittenden and a Private Giovanni Martini for a Sitting Bulland a Gall.” Second kid: “No way, man. That’s a bunch of bull. Gall’s the coolest. Throw in Custer and it’s a deal.” First kid:”George or Tom?” Second kid: “Who do you think? Tom Custer’s nothing.” First kid: “He won two Medals of Honor. That’ssomething.” Second kid: “Forget it. That was way back in the Civil War. How ’bout this–you give me Benteen, Crittenden,Martini and George Custer and I’ll give you Sitting Bull, Gall and that awesome warrior Rain in the Face?” First kid: “You got alot of gall. I know Rain in the Face didn’t cut out Tom Custer’s heart. Sitting Bull says Rain wasn’t even in the battle!”

Well, maybe such a scene won’t ever happen, but these 45 cards featuring participants in the Battle of the Little Bighorn–eachwith a picture on the front and well-researched historical information on the back–are informative and fun. They might proveto be a handy educational tool for children not yet into reading books. Half the cards are of soldiers and the other half ofIndians (including a few scouts on the side of the Army). Card No. 45 is of Comanche, the horse that has become known as”the sole Army survivor of Custer’s Last Stand.” A bonus card lists a 10-book bibliography. Although the Indians and soldiersseem to receive fair and equal treatment here, it’s not hard to guess whose face graces Card No. 1. Hint: He was bornDecember 5, 1839, in New Rumley, Ohio.
Louis Hart