The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-01-01
A MOHAWK MAIDEN
WHO MAS ronsAKES TIE FORESTS
OF her Fathers People, to Carve out a
Career Upon the Stage Among the Pale
Fsess-Ohat with MiaS GoWandA Mo-
hawk, Of the CarrOllS' Company

AANAt Va $50 Ht@%AN~eN NS---Ae-TS'
The fact has already been mentioned in
the IHEELLIsEScRR that among the mem.
beers Of the CAROLS Company, who are to
appear at the Wheeling Opera House for
a brief season, commencing with q matinee
to-day, in tho comedy, "WhoBe Can it
BeP was q Mohawk IudiRn maid, Miss
Gowanda Mohawk, Of the Seneca tribe Of
that nation. Last evening, by the cour.
tesy Of Mr.. Carroll the elder, reporter
had the pleasure Of meeting AiSs Mohawk
and chatting with her for a short time.
Though prepared by the favorable sLten-
ten the young lady has attracted upon
the stage elsewhere to SEQ in her refined
young lady, the visitor must confess his
surprise at meeting ono gifted with so
many womanly grSces Of mind and per-
sou, and possessGd Of SO many OF the ac-
complishments which fit one OF her sex to
shine in society.
A tall, dark girl, with raven tresses sim.
ply confined about q shapely and well
poised head, keen black eyes, dark count
enanCe and very expressive teaturesi
2 cd tGlker, evidently thinker as well
such is Miss Mohawk, Her voice ID
peculiarly musical, and her bearing un'
usually iull Of grace even for one whose
profession COmpels the culture Of grace ol
person, The reporter expressed his sur
pFiEe at finding her 90 tall, whereas the
majority Of the New York Indians he had
seen we're uuder the average sizs.
"Ah," said che, you have, seen the
Oneidas; the Mohawks are all tall, Ny
father, q medicine man Of the senecas
stood six feet and Q quarter, and my
mother, also an Indian, was nearly a
tall. The Mohawk WAS Red Jackets nl
ton, YOU know, and he was famous FOL
his physical stature as well "a for higher
qualities" &,
In further conversation Miss Mohawk
saId she was born on the reservation neal
Gowauda, N. Y, in 1864, and lived there
about ten years under the care OF an old
Indian s0uaw, Then she removed TO In
diana, where her father owns q farm, and
completed in 9 seminary at Plaindeld the
education begun inthe Government school
on tho reservation. Her talk about Life
on the reservation Is both interesting and
instructive. She says nearly all the Mo
hawks 20 To church, though some cling "a
their pagan ways. The council Ere and
the war dance and other peculiar custom,
are maintained, though they have LOST
their original significance. Tho RquawE
excel as housewives, taking pride In theil
wiiely and matronly virtues and accom-
plishments. Good common schools are
maintained at Government expense
and the people appreciate education
They ara as class industrious, either en-
gagged In farming or In the mechanic arts
though OF course there are those who are
not 90 well disposed
Something Was said about horses, and
Miss Mohawk was asked, "Do you
rideP"
"Do rider You should SEQ mo ride
| am paasionstely fond Of horses. Some
day hope to have q play written for me-
with refined Indian role aud hoBo III
It." And her eyes sparkled. She ConLlnu'
ed: ~ am IN admirer Of horse racing
jumping, running and hunting, and !
don't suppose / shall ever grow out Of IT.
! can shoot, fish, rln-4 used 10 pEGel
In foot racing whom | was small. Ga the
reservation are fine race tracks, but all
the fast horses arc runners
Added 10 these Accomplishments, the
young lady plsYs on the plano, guitar and
banjo, sings we'll, her voice being o pure,
rich OontrGlto Of rsr0 beauty, and 10 Gaid
to have real genius as All actreSs.
"How did you come to adopt the stage
a. profession, and when did you make
your fiFst appearance she was asked.
"sinCe my early childhood loved tho
theslse pRssieBatelY. suppose I was
born in me, but where II came from ]
really can't say. My mother never ssw d
theatre and my father certainly was not
stageatrusk, Louise Fomeroy Is connected
by marriage with our family, and | tlfst
appeared with her. This 10 my second
Gaasnn the play / am in now 10 aycrJ
funny comedy"
HHaye the Indians much humot in
their composition2" M
"some Of thom; they are all livelyand
fond OF outdoor fun"
Miss Mohawk has not much patience
with the Buffalo Bill style Of Indian play,
and thinks It gives an unjust idea Of the
Indian character, which is doubtless ttuo.
Mr.. Carroll jocularly proposed that she
put on her Indian costume and ride
around town, but she promptly replied,
mo, thank you; no circus procession for
me.n
The reporter departed si!er an, interest.
ing--to him, at least-ohat Of an hour, ex-
pressing his hope that he would some
day see Miss Mohawk in her ideal Indian
role. She Is in no hurry, she says, but
means TO work her way up gradually and
fairly earn the position in her chosen pro.
teeslon which she Covets.. She Is Ger.
tainly the only Indian actress deserving
Of the name.