Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-08-22
Among the Cherokees
A Visit to the Homes Of the Most Civil.
lied Of the Indians.
Their Religious OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
stiti0ns Fading -CherOkee HOspi-
tality-SOcial Pleasures.

The CherOkee5 are all Protest ants, be-
ing Baptists Presbyterians, Moravians and
Methodists, with few Congregationelists
As yet Cherokee churches are hardly self
supporting, aud there is tendency to
rely on outside help. As it is in the
States, so we find It among the cherokees
the largest number of church attend
ants and protesting Christians are the
women. "We cannot pray Low" said an
early Cherokee; eve have muoh to do;
next summer we must go to war, and we
cannot fight and pray tooi let the women
see 10 it,"
There are many of the old Cherokee
women who date their first religious i'm
pressions back TO the old Cherokee Ma
ton, where the early missionaries labored.
From personal observation, ! doubt il
The States can produce r9rer types Of
Christian womanbood than can be found
in the Cherokee Nation. There are, in
deed, some "mothers in Israel" Re
ligious fervor is most marked in the full
blood.
Gwen your white people could learn a
lesson from them said a Cherokee lady
as she spoke of the religious condition of
the people. Due preparation is always
made for their annual religions Assem-
bIies, which usually take place in the fall
From early times the full blood's oere
monies and dances began at this time OF
the year. early in the spring." said our
friend, "the Indians assemble together in
the vicinity of their religious camoing
ground, aud plant what they call Gods
acre. All through tins spring they care
fully watch this crop, teuding it better
than their own, so thai 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,
MorRviaH, Presbyterian or Noth!ugarian,
IL is the same. Drive there on horseback,
and az Indian PUSHES toward you and
demands your horse. Leave 1t in his
care and you need never think OF it again
until after the religious service, even
should it continue week II will be
cared for, and al your request will again
be placed at your disposal Standing
outside you watch the meeting go on
with increasing interest. You are urged
TO the table 10 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 har-
vested by the men, and the women cook
them for the tables. One after another
the full blood preachers take the stand
and address the multitude, often several
hours being occupied in the service"
SUPERSTITION AND CONJUBING
are fast dying out among even the less
educated people. ala former times"
said Chief Bushyhead, my people used
TO afilot the body, thinking to please the
! Great Spirit. | still beer the scars where
] | was scratched with sharp pointed in.
struments until the blood ran; and then
! / was washed with q decoctIon that
brought to these wounds the most excru-
oiating pains. In the coolest weather |
was made to- plunge into the stream, that
! | might become a great hunter. "But to
| daJ,n continued Chief Bushyhead, hard
ly a superstition of an old custom Ia re-
tanned, for we are becoming educated
| into the manners and beliefs of the
| whites"
| Some of the full-bloods copjure as they
plant, hoping thereby to get better crops.
Hence, on a spring morning, full-bloo d,
while planting, may be heard muttering
/ to himself. What he Gays a. he strikes In
! bis hoe and drops his seed, If translated
would be, "This is for me, this = for the
beasts, this is for my poor neighbor."
| He believes that the Great Spirit will
take heed of his generous allotment add
consequently give him a good crop. The
same hospitality for which all Insisns
we're noted continues to this day among
| the Cherokees. Said Mr.. Stone, the
photographer: 'One night came to a
| cabin in which there was an old Indian,
at least 80 years of age. l asked to camp
beside his FIRE. There was but a single
bed in the room, and he insisted that
should take that. l was young, and did
| not wish to take the bed from the old
man, but he insisted. knew l could say
no n ore without offending, so accepted
| the hospitality, while the old Indian, with
! a look OF satisfactson, rolled himself in a
thin blanket aud lay on the hard floor.
motioned him to take place by my side,
but he shook his head, saying, White man
keep it,"
The felicities of
SOCIAL LIFE AMONG THE oHERoRREs
are much the came as in the States. The
social party presents the same essential
features. The surprise party Is Away
popular. On an evening the hapPy PIo'
| nrietor of a commodious residence In the
village ia liable 10 be visited oy large
company of young men and ladies, who
give HIM surprise party. Though the
hour may be late, and the surprised hos
be even on the point of retiring for the
night, the party is made welcome. Inc
ho1se ia soon blaze OF light, the furui
ture is quickly removed from the mos
snac,ous room, young men and youne
ladies had come in separate com
panies, the girls by themselves and tn.
younc men by themselyes-soon pair of
several of the Young men strike W musi
on the violin, ladies IN every style OF COLO
! az dress take the floor, and ,ue young mel
take their places and the dance begins
II il not the OLD "storm dance,
IN which the Cherokees once engaged
but they dance the same dances as do tn
knights of Terpsiobore in he States
The calls, At the one we attended, "er