Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-08-22


it is no unusual thing 20 see
THE oHEKoREE LADY
dressed in silk. Even fashionable we'd
dings take place in the nation, ard the
eVenE Is just as interesting and deeorous
as any similar occasion In Che states; and
the wedding suits are in accordance with
the strictest dictates of modern fashion,
though it was only in 1926 tha5 a Cnero
kee woman, for the first time in the his
tory of her race, put on new spring
bonnet, which history says made a pro
found sensation among her people. We
were informed of a wedding that not
long since took place in one OF the Cher
okee churches. The bride was elegantly
ettired in a handsome silk, slightly shad-
ed. Her maids were dressed in i'm
macuIate white. The groomsmen wore
plain black, with white vests and neck
lies, and the ceremony, performed by the
clergyman, was the same as unites coup
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; boUks paintings and
rare flowers made the room into which I
was ushered a perfect boudior. she is a
kee Chief Oconostota, 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
erat leading prizes in an eastern college.
He has occupied several positions Of
11 tt
goe, in the Greek Nation. Once I asked
this lady to tell me of the home life of
the Cherokee people, and she replied: IL
have girl of 20 in my house who is
graduate of the Female Seminary at
Tahlequah. She paints in oils quite
nicely and plays the piano pretty we'll; is
good singer, and can cuok a good din
ner and keep nice, refined home. She
was born by the roadside while her moth
er was going TO Texas, fleeing
from the northern army. She has
also 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 well performed. The
above is a 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 and re-
fined"
We have introduced, says the Boston
Transcript, the above testimony of Mrs.
o ven, mother of r. L. Owen, the we'll
known Indian Agent, a lady so we'll known,
because we find, while speaking of Chero
kee civilization, disposition on the part
of many TO think the story of their pres
ent condition exaggerated. 1t seems
almost impossible to convince g person
east OF the Mississippi that Cherokee
man IS not a hideous monster in paint,
feathers, breech cloth and blanket, or
that Cherokee woman can be, and often
IS, lady of rare grace and lovely charac-
ter. The only way TO know the people as
they are is to remember that all this peO-
pie now have has been accumulated since
the wal; 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 in 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 a land grabber, lier, or
DrOfOund ipnOramus