The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-07-19
With tha Znni Indians

AbA nAlU AhA1 1IuIuuSs
Last summer when Mr.. Gushing went
East with the Zunis, he married d
young lady at Washington, to whom he
had long been engaged, and brought
her back a bride to live in an Indian
hoyel.
He was compelled to Join tho tribe in
| order to pursue his researches, for the
Zunis are a secretive people, and their
religion and traditions are as secret as
Masonry. After joining them the lead
ing men of the tribe endeavored to per-
suade him to marry one of the dusky
maidenS who sit around half naked in
the sun, mold pottery and weave blank
cts. And he came near losing his influ-
ence with the Indians, and even stood
in danger of his life because of his re-
fusal TO do SO. Twice were women Sc
lected for him, but he risked penalty of
; rejecting them, and would have Jared
badly but for the protection of the native
governor, who had adopted him into his
family and given him a bed of sheep-skins
in his r.lde home.
Gushing told the Indians of his en-
gagement to young lady in Washing
ton, and of his intention to marry her
to live with them, and although their
preference would have been for him to
take wife from tho tribe their gallant
~ overcame their prejudice, and they
received the pale face, brown-eyed
bride with respectful and cordial well
come.
Mrs. Gushing was the daughter of the
| late Mr.. Magill, who was for many
| years connected with the venerable
| banking house of Lewis johnson & Co,
| of Washington, and was one of the
bellies of the capital. Her devotion to
! her husband runs parallel to his devo-
/ ton TO science, for there are few girls
would leave beautiful home at Wash
| ineton for mud hut in an Indian pueb-
10, even for the men they loved.
| A man or a woman who does not love
luxury fails to reach or realize the priv
! ileges and possibilities of existence; but
he or she who cannot dispense with lux
ury and enjoy roughing it is worthless
weakling unfit for the tasks and the tri-
nmphs that this great world offers. Mr.
Cushing belongs to that ancient frater-
nifty, the badge of which is always ap-
parent, even under the barbaric cos
tune of the Zuni-the honorable order
Of gentleman and in his rude surround
! ings and primitive accommodations ev-
| cry sign ne gives detects this order to
which he belongs and Of which in Wash
iugton or in Zuni he will always be an
ornament.
Mrs Gushing does not enjoy life in
Luni as her husband does. She does not
and cannot share his fascination for the
work in which he is engaged. She
hates the dirty women and the naked
children, and despises their filthy ways,
but she has made her mud hut q pret-
ty little paradise, and has developed
| the possibilities of comfort even in
Zuni.
The clay walls of her rude house are
hung with blankets woven by the Iunis
! and Navajo Indians, and compare in
brilliancy of color, texture, and design
with the far-famed Gobelin Tapestries.
The ceilings of undressed trunks of trees
are covered with bright figured cretons
and Japanese silks. The mud floor is
strewn with sheep skins, tanned by the
Indians, that are softer to the slippered
foot than the rugs of Oriental magnif-
cence, and ornaments selected with re-
fined taste or framed with clever hands
after the models of decorative art are
hung here and fastened there, and
StfeWn everywhere. Inc OuSnlilg resi-
dence is a mud hut without, but within s
=. bower of beauty,
She has her sister, Miss Magill, with
her, who likes the Iunis better thar
Mrs Cushing. and is talking of adopt
ing their peculiar dress and joining thei1
| tribe.
Il would do it, said Miss Magill; 81
woald be so funny and romantic, but
don't like 10 cut my hair.
pr Gushing, brother of Frank. ant
his wife are there as visitors, and Mr.
Metcalf, the well-known artist of Bos
ton.-Zet,s5 (M. NJ Cor. Chicago I''te'
| i)geN2