Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-08-22

of a queen, and her guests are % decor
Gus a. her white sisters in the S ates.
AZ oasy bearing, modest demeanor, and
polite manner are three leading
characteristics of the Cherokee lady at
the social party. When good fortune
permits, the Cherokee builds for him
self a handsome home, and his good wife
furnishes it with rare good taste. The
walls are handsomely pspered, expen
sive haper often being used. Looking
glasses and pictures, in slegant frames,
and plaques, painted in oil, or made of
hammered brass, are hung upon the walls.
Expens We carpets cover the floor, and
books and papers seem TO have no sec.
ondary place.
While ali are well and prettily dressed,
il is no unusual thing to see
THE oHEEoREE LADY
dressed in silk. Even fashionable we'd
diugs take place in the nation, and the
event is just as interesting and decorous
as airy similar occasion in She states; and
the wedding suits are in accordance with
the strictest dictates of modern fashion,
though it was only in 1926 that a Chero
kee woman, for the first time in the his
tory of her race, put on new spring
bonnet, which history says made pro
found sensation among her people. We
were informed of a wedding that not
long since took place ia one of the Cher
okee churches. The bride was elegantly
attired in a handsome silk, slightly sh.d-
ed. Her maids were dressed in i'm
maculate white. The groomsmen wore
plain black, with waite vests and neck
lies, and the ceremony, performed by the
al. . he
les in the States.
The last Cherokee home that | visited
in the Cherokee nation was that OF re
fined and cultivated lady. Her house was
elegantly furnished; books paintings aud
rare flowers made the room into which /
was ushered a perfect boudior. She is a
direct descendant of the ancient Chero-
kee Chief 0conostota, who was received
before the throne of King George. This
lady is thoroughly posted on the history
and traditions of her people, and spoke
with the greatest pride of their progress.
She has educated her children with the
greatest care, and one of these took sew
eral heading prizes in an eastern college.
He has occupied several positions Of
trust, and is now Indian agent at Musco
zoe, in the Greek Nation. Once | asked
this lady TO tell me of the home life of
the Cherokee people, and she replied: 81
have girl of 20 in my house who is a
graduate of the Female Seminary at
Tahlequah. She paints in oils quite
nicely and plays the piano pretty well is
a good singer, and can cJok good din
ner and keep nice, refined home. She
was born by the roadside while her moth
err was going to Texas, fleeing
from the northern army. she mas
also a sister, educated and refined.
Their mother is one of the most lovely
characters in the world; has endured with
charming patience every hardship moi
dent TO war and poverty; has labored
long and patiently to help her husband
in providing for large family. To-day
they are blessed with home and plenty,
secured by duty wei! performed. The
above is q sample of hundreds Of homes
here. As IN the states, We have every
grade of people, from the lowest and
ignorant TO the most cultured aud re-
fined"
We have introduced, says the Boston
Transcript, the above testimony of Mrs.
Oven, mother of K. l.. Owen, the veil
known Indian Agent, lady so we'll known,
because we find, while speaking of Chero-
kee civilization, deposition on the part
of many to think the story of their pres
emit condition exaggerated. 1t ,seems
almost impossible to convince a person
east OF the Mississippi that Cherokee
man Is not hideous monster in paint,
feathers, breech cloth and blanket, or
that a Cherokee woman can be, aud often
is, lady of rare grace and lovely charac.
ter. The only way to know the people as
they are ia to remember that all this peo-
pie now have has been accumulated since
the waI to visit them in their homes as
| did, converse with them by their ever
pleasant fresides, visit their schools
which are over a hundred in number, see
the scholars in their two seminaries pur
suing intelligently mathematics, Latin
and Greek; visit their orphans home,
prison, and insane asylum; visit their
| council house and have explained TO you
the admirable way iii which they conduct
their national affairs. See these things,
and then you will know that the man who
writes that the only good Indian Is dead
one is either land grabber, liar, or q
profound ignofamus.