Mexico weekly ledger., 1879-10-30
Temperance.

Last hOnuay nlSnC There naS au-
other great boom at opera hall. On
no previous occasion was so large q
crowd attracted. The isles between
the seats were packed and the gallery
vas filed to overlooking. 1t is evil
dent the present Executive Commit
tee understands how to vary its en-
tertalnments and make them attrac-
tive. At a previous meeting there
was an exhibition of Ten nights in
a Saloon" and on the occasion of
which we write, there was a musical
treat by a band of converted Chero-
KEGS, composed Of Bet Mixwater, Jack
Silversmith, Sarah Mixw alter, Ella
Mixwater, John Griths, Charlie Lo-
Gust, Joseph Flshenhawk, james
Fishenhawk and Alex Scrapel.
1t Is certainly far better for Indi-
ians to be thus employed, than to be
ranging the prairies, plundering, kill
ing and scalping or celebrating their
atrocities by exciting war Dances
while madened. at the loss Of COM
rades and rendered yet o furious
by the fire water of the whites; but
Notwithstanding this and q great deal
more that might be added, there was
something supremely and overpow-
eringly ridiculous in the spectacle
and music of these quondam savages,
decked out in cast-off calico morning
wrappers, furnished by ph~ilanthropic
eastern missionary societies and sing
ing in their peculiar nasal style to
the accompaniment of an organ in
stead of to that OF their accustomed
noises-extracted by blows from Ter
rapin shells and tom-toms. To all
heather it is a very serious matter
to become christians. All of the lat
ter sort that we have ever seer were
conspicuous for their dignity, hut
from among no other people, not ex-
cepting the sedate and moon-eyed
Cinnamon, could u soiree have been
gotten up of converts more complete
~ straight-haired or sitting more
boltly upright, Dr. more thoroughly
pre-occupied, or looking more intent
ly Oh the floor beneath them than
, these same Cherokees. Since the days
! OF psalm-sing,ng by the Presbyte'
: rians, in the times of Cromwell, there
l has been nothing on this or any otheI
. continent, to equal, much less excel
=, them. The boys present were high
ly amused at their seriousness ant
it was not without energy and perse
s verance that the president kept then
from offending these highly sanctimo
NOUS performers.
Bows ought to be more consider
ate. We know it Is hard to suppress
e natural merriment, but it ought to b
done, especially when christians max
V an exhibition of themselves. The
# fought to consider that they occup
land once owned by the forefalher
of those they were disposed to laug
7. at, and are descended from ancestor
Ii as savage, as devilish and as muc
addicted to slaughter, dancing an
h. fire-water, and even more so tina
the wild men of America, and thu
much of what temperance agitatol
r aim to suppress is legitimately inner
st ted from Saxon progenitors. 1t
err true that to the ordinary observer
Indian don't amount to much witt
out paint, blanket, feathers moee'
u sins and bows and arrows, accomp
MED with q spring and a WHO'D
nevertheless, to make him what
ought to be he must be taught, co
tn verted and civilized. To laugh
eel such or TO place the minnie rifle
Ia. the hands of the wild warrior, to su
~ ply him with cartridges, to teach hi
to step to the fife and the drum or
career on his horse to the note OF &
bugie, is to make him more DANCE
. Gus and beguile him to o certa
he destruction than that which NJ
lie awaits him if he shall remain unco
an verted.an uncivilized.