The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-10-15

began in earnest to paint the Cherokee
language on paper" Fro the cries of
wild beasts, from the talen of the mock
ing bird, from the voices his children
and companions, he kneWt feelings and
passions were conveyed from one intelli-
gent being to another. The thought then
occurred to him to try and ascertain all the
sounds in the Cherokee language.
HOW HE INVENTED HIS ALPHABET.
When he thought he had distinguished
all the different sounds in his language he
attempted to use pictorial signs-images OF
birds and beasts-to convey these signs to
others, or to mark them in his own mind.
In this and several other methods he failed
In his attempts to perfect his great under
taking but he was not in the least discour-
aged. He at length bit upon the idea Of
dividing the words into parts, or syllsbles,
and he had proceeded in this direction but
a short time when, to his great satisfaction,
he had the written language of his country.
After completing his alphabet he found
much difficulty in getting his people to
learn it. Nor could he succeed until he
came out to this country and taught few
persons here, one OF whom wrote letter
back to one of Se-quoyah's friends IN the
old nation, who read it 70 his neighbors.
When the usefulness the Cherokee al
phabet became fully acknowledged, it
spread throughout the n ton in manner
unprecedented. Reading and writing in
the Cherokee language soon became com
mon, for within few months after its in
PRODUCTION there were Cberokees in vari-
Gus parts Of the nation who could use the
talking leaf"
1t is worthy Of remark that fits use was
at first confined to tbs more obscure indi-
viduals Of the Cherokees, nor did the more
intelligent class consider It Of any impor-
tsnee until their senses gave evidence Of
the existence and utility Of this remark
able invention, and they saw Cherokees
read and write in their own language.
CHEROKEE PUBLICATIONS
The number Of characters in Se-quo-yah's
alphabet is eighty-fve. The arrangement,
Ike that Of all other slpbabets with which
l am acquainted, IL entirely without sys
tern, ard appear 20 have been placed IN
the order il which they presented them
selves % the inventor when re was put
ting the finishing strokes 70 his work, by
en- bodyinz MS 80 an 81 sounds, after finish
ing the number sufficient for writing al
the words Of the Cherokee lsnguage. TIE
figures used were the Arabic, or the same
that we use.
Ia order 20 increass the utility Of Sc
ouo-yah's great invention. the Cherokes
legislature appropriated a sum of money
% have type sad a printing press con
structed The Advocate, a Newspaper
printed IN both the Cberokee and EozlIss
language, was established, and : stu -
operation. About so copies Of this paper
are circulated aud rad By hundreds q
full bloods wno cannot Rad English ~ all
On the same press have been printed IN ira
Cherokee language the New Testament.
hymn book and many tracts Containing
portions OF the Hoy Sc-fDiurss-
These publications are read WIKI inter
est and n many places weekly meetings
are held 70 read The Advocate ana cen
viueed that tnere IS 70 sxaggsr&tsca n tie
assertion that there Is Eos tEA blood
Cherokes Indian Of hsseea yszsz 81 Rxs WAC
cannot read and write ais own language.
That the mass e = people witAozs school.
CT books should 81 1autrsl Assistance. Ec1
without sxtraueouz frnp alss 81 I'd. acquire
The arts of reading zna Wfirlng-ssa that
n Characters 1hsiiy erlgiHsl-sz. ee!ssve.
a phenonenon uzexzzpssd IN tie EsTie'
histoFy.--Izai&n Territory Ger. FSrt Worth