Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-08-22
Among The Cherokees.
A Visit to the Homes of the Most Civil
lied of the Indians.
Their Religious 0bservances-Sup
stitiOns Fading-CherOkee Hospi-
tality-SOcial Pleasures.

Mothodists, with a few Congreg ationaIists.
A. yes Cherokee churches are hardly saH
supporting, and there is a 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 how" said an
early Cherokee; "we have muoh to do;
next summer We must go to war, and we
cannot fight and pray too; lei the women
see to 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 if
the States can produce rarer types Of
| Christian womanhood 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 Cherokee lady
as she spoke of the religious condition of
the people. Due preparation Is al~ays
made for their annual religious assem-
blies, which usually take place in the fall.
From early times the full blood's oere-
the year. "Early in the spring." said our
friend. "the Indians assemble together in
the vicinity of their religious cam Ding
ground, and plant what they call Gods
acre. All through this spring they care
fully watch this crop, tending il better
| than their own, so that when the annual
| assembling of the people comes there
may be enough food for ALL When the
fol, OF
which abundant food is placed. No one
is sighted, none are overlooked. Baptist,
MoraviaB, Presbyterian or Nothingarian,
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 continue a week. It wilt be
cared for, and at your request will again
be placed at your disposal. Standing
outside you watch the meeting go on
with Increasing interest. You are urged
| 10 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
| III 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 fu'l-biood preachers take the stand
and address the multitude, often several
hours being occupied in the SERVICE"
SUPERSTITION AND ooNJURING
are fast dying out among even the less
educated people. sin former times"
said Chief Bashynead, 'my people used
Great pirit. [ still bear the scars where
| I NIT oh taH in
struments until the blood ran; and then
I was washed with a decoct1on that
brought TO these wounds the most excru-
ciating pains. In the coolest weather
was made to plunge into the stream, that
[ might become a great hunter. "But to-
day" continued Chief Bushyhead, "hard-
~ a superstition of an old custom is re-
tanned, for we are becoming educated
into the manners and beliefs of the
whites.''
Some of the full-bloods conjure as they
plant, hoping thereby to get better crops.
Hence, on spring morning, full blood,
while planting, may be heard muttering
to himself. What he Gays as he strikes in
lis hoe and drops his seed, if translated
would be, This is for me, this is for the
beasts, this Is for my poor neighbor."
He believes that the Great Spirit will
take heed of his generous allotment and
consequently give him good crop. The
same hospitality for which all Indians
we're noted continues to this day among
the Cherokees. Said Mr.. Stone, the
photographer: 'One night l came to
cabin III which there was an old Indian,
at least 80 years of age. | asked to camp
beside bis fire. There was but q single
bed in the room, and he insisted that |
should take that. I was young, and did
not wish to take the bed from the old
man, but he insisted. knew I could say
no more without offending, so accepted
the hospitality, while the old Indian, with
a look of satisfaction, rolled himself in
thin blanket and 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 CHEROKEE
are much the same as in the States. The
social party presents the same essentia!
features. The surprise party is always
popular. On an evening the happy pro-
prietor of commodious residence in the
village is liable to be visited by a large
com pany of young men and ladies, who
give him surprise party. Though the
hour may be late, and the surprised host
be even on the point of retiring for the
night, the party is made welcome. The
house is soon blaze of light, the furni
ture is quickly removed from the most
spacious room, young men and young
ledies-who had come in separate com
panies, the girls by themselves and the
young men by themselves-soonp pair off ;
several of the young men strike up music
on the violin, dies in every style of color
of dress take the floor, and the young men
take their places and the dance begins.
! It is not the old "storm Dance"
in which the Cherokees once engaged,
but they dance the same dances as do the
knights of Terpsichore in the States.
| The calls, at the one We attended, were
not made by the musicians, but were
given by the dancers themselves. In the
| iptermission between the dances the
young ladies played on the piano, and
added to the interest of the evening by
| the exercise of their sweet vocal powers.
| The party was kept up to a late hour;
| indeed, it was after 10 O'Clock when I
| left the house. but guests were still ar
irving, and my guide told me that the
dance would not be at its height at mid
night. As I left the house / found many
spectators to the festive scene stood
in tie yard catching what Gimp
ses they could of the joyous
ness within. One by one they went
onto the piazza to look through the win
dows and doors, and then moved away to
! give place to others. The Cherokee host,
ess presides at the party with sll the grace
| of q queen, and her guests are as decor
Gus as her white sisters in the States.
An easy bearing, modest deme amor, and