Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1889-09-20
THE CHEROKEES.
DOMESTIC LIFE AMONG CIVIL
IZED INDIAN NATION.
Their Religious ODservances-Supe
stitions Dying Out-Cherokee Hos
pitaiity-FheirS Social Pleasures
Fashionable Indian Weddings.

vians and Methodists, with a few Con
gregationalists. AS yet Cherokee churche
are hardly self-supporting, and there is
tendency to rely on outside help.
There are many of the old CherokeJ
women who date their first religious i'm
pressions back to the old Cherokee Ma
ton, where the early missionaries labored
Due preparation is always made fol-
their annual religious assemblies, which
usually take place in the fall. From
early times the full-blood's ceremonies
and dances began at this time of the
year. ''Early in the spring." said our
friend, ''the Indians assemble to-
gether in the vicinity of their
religious camping ground, and
plant what they call Gods acre. All
through the spring they carefully watch
this crop, tending it better than their
own, so that when the annual assembling
of the people comes there may be enough
food for ALL When the feast opens long
tables are set up, upon which abundant
food is placed. No one is sighted none
are overlooked. Baptist, Moravian,
PresbyttLan, or Nottingham, it is the
same. Drive there on horseback, and an
Indian rushes toward you, and demands
your horse. Leave it in his care and you
need never think of it again, until after
the religious service, even should it con
tinue a week. 1t will be cared for, and
at your request will again be placed at
your disposal. Standing outside, y Il
watch the meeting go ON with increasing
interest. You are urged to the table to
eat of the good cheer, for the food that
grows on Gods acre is free to all. The
corn is cut and brought in loads and laid
before the horses Of the hundred guests;
the vegetables are harvested by the men,
and the women cook them for the tables
One after another of the full-blood preach
ers take the stand and address the multi
tude, often several hours being occupied
in the service"
The same hospitality for which all In
dians were noted continues to this day
among the Cherokees. 1t was an old Gus
tom for the Indian host to place his guest |
at the table and himself remain away
while the guest partook or his abundant |
meal. | was invited out to partake of an
Indian tea while | was in the Nation. |
The house was built of logs and was one |
of the oldest in the village. The parlor,
for it might well be called one, was pret-
tily furnished. The hewn log walls had
been overhung with paper, good rag
carpet was on the floor and cabinet
organ occupied a corner of the ROOM
There was bed with the whitest of COW
erings, and sewing machine sat by
table on which there was an array of al
buns and articles of ornamentatiou. A
fire of four-foot logs, burning in the fire
place, gave cheerful appearance to the
room. Like many houses in the Chero-
kee Nation, in order to get to an adjoin
ing room it was necessary to go outside
to do so. Our hostess invited us to the
table, which was abundantly spread
Eggs, sausage, pork, and beefsteak are
5he Cherokee bill of fare. Corn cake,
biscuit, bread, pumpkin sauce, with pie
md various kinds of cake, are usually
On the table, You are sure
IF a good cup of coffee.
Dur hostess, the daughter of the family,
showed us our seats at the table. The
nan of the house came not into the house
1t all. The elder lady took her seat in
he corner of the room and carried on
lively conversation, and the hostess, hav-
ng poured the coffee and passed the
God, took a seat behind my friend and =,
myself, and none OF the family came to
he table while we were eating. But the
ca party was a pleasant one, and when
t was over once more myself and my d,
riend adjourned to the parlor, while
he family ate their own supper. Then
me after another of the family came in,
he pipes were lighted, and story and
music occupied the hour.
The felicities Of social life among the
yherokees are much the same as in the ,
states. The social party presents the same !
ssential features. The surprise party is
lways popular. On any evening the
lappy proprietor of commodious resi-
Ience in the village is liable to be visited
W large company Of young men and S
aides, who give him surprise party /
'hough the hour may be late, and the 7
urprised host be even ON the point of re- q
iring for the night, the party is made wei il