Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-09-19

whether our families would not b
anxious about Us ia our absence, eli
The interpreter answered that JUMP
er had thirteen wives, and had six
but that | expected reinforcement
OF three or four more on my return
! TO Florida. s
They were, Of course, perfectly
Mortified at such barbarous Mormon
ism, and seemed almost afraid i,
look at US after this. ny friends wifi,
became especially nervous. and
told the interpreter that / wanted
TO hear her play tune on the piano
She was frightened nearly out Of bel
senses. but dared not refuse the sters
look OF command [ gave her, AND
seating herself at the instrument sh.
commenced. in highly tremulou'
and nervous manner, TO comply
with the mandates frequently caslirl
the most deprecatory glanocs towarc
tho interpreter, As if she expected
every touch of The keys might bt
the last she would be permitted Il
make in this world.
The amiable old lady was also very
considerably exercised at the same
time and kept as far removed from
US as the dimensions of the apar:
ment would permit. Observing her
perturbation | told the interpreter
to inform her that we would like
very much to see her dance. She
replied:
My dear Sir, tell them / have not
danced step for over forty years
| repeated the requst 10 more
peremptory manner, which having
been Interpreted to her she implor.
ingly responded
1t is absolutely impossible. have
entirely forgotten the steps more.
over, have the rheumatism in both
legs, and positively the Indians must
excuse me-
then got up, went out upon the
floor, and beckoned 10 her TO com
mence, authortatively intima.ing to
her, by significant gestures, that
there was no escape, she must dance.
Not daring to hesitate bnger, she
rose up with desperate Impulse,
exclaiming il a responding tone, Oh,
oh My dear Mr.. Interpreter, W hat
shall | do 2 And in slow and meas
FRED cadence commenced an old fash
Toned jig, as an accompaniment to
which l beat time with my tcma-
hawk upon the floor and by encour-
aging approbatory mods when she
quickeued time, and constant threat
ening mandatory pantomime when
it slackened, | gradually induced her
to accelerate her steps, until in q
short time her feet we're moving
with q velocity which | venture to
say they seldom ever did before, ey-
en- when she was a girl.
After she had become quite ex.
hausted by the unusual efforts I had
imposed upon her and which elioited
much applause from us, / allowed
her to resume her seat, and she
seemed sn much wearied that was
sorry | had compelled her to pass
through so cruel an ordeal and the
only excuse l can offer for my indis-
erection is that my uncomfortable
love of fun and my keen apprecia-
ton OF the ludicrous preponderated
for the moment over all other cor
siderations.
| reproached myself for it after
ward. and most penitently entreated
the dear old lady's pardon, but |
doubt if she ever entirely forgave
me, and the only consolation | have
under all the circumstances is, that
possibly the violent exercise of her
double quick minuet may have had
beneficial effect on her rheumatic
malady.
This closed the performance here,
and we returned to our hotel, giving
as our excuse that the night was so
dark we, upon reflection, had deter
mined to come back and stay until
morning. The crowd had not vet
dispersed, and they ontrea.ed US to
give them some specimens of our
dances, which after good deal of
pursuaslon, We with apparent reluc-
lance consented to, and the largest
parlor, designated for the occasion,
was soon filed with the most prom
inent citizens of the place, only leav.
ing sufficient room in the confer for
US to dance.
Having stresked our faces well
with vermilion, and every thing be-
ing CONNIE IL .faut, the last act in our
ludicrous drama opened by our en-
tree through side door. With our
tomahawks raised in the right hand
and scalp locks adorned with little
bells Jingling in the left hand, our
heads thrown back, bodies erect,
knees bent, and taking short, jerking
steps to the cultural music of real
Chippewa scalp dance. Around and
around the circle we moved, fiaunt.
ing our war trophies defiantly over
our heads, with an occasional threat.
ening demonstration to the right and
left with our tomahawks, and all
the time keeping step to the inspir.
ing cadence of the war song, which
at first was in slow, depressed tone
but gradually arose and accelerated
until it became highly animated and
even savsgely loud and furious. The
PRECIPITATION rolled down our cheeks
in streams, and we were beginning
to be somewhat exhausted, but we
determined not to show il and on we
went with -clocity and fervor that
would have forced applause from ev-
en- our illustrious Seminole name-
sakes themselves.
The appreciative spectators looked
on with great satisfaction, and gavc
US frequent cheers, which, however.
were mingled with an occasional
demonstration of fear from those in
the front rank of the circle, especially
when we flourished our tamAhawks
and gave utterance to the shrill war
whoop. Judge nj of whom l
have already spoken, took especial
interest in the spectacle, and occu-
pied prominent position in the
inner circle, and several times in