Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-29


Tho American Folk Lore Society began is
third annual meeting this morning in the CO.
lumbar University building. There was q
good attendance Of members, n largo number
OF whom wero ladies.
In calling the society 20 order Prof. Otis c.
Mason Of this city, the president. made brief
address, in which he spoke Of the wido field
offered for the searchers Of folk lore in this
city, where the aborigines Of the country made
occasional visits The negro population also
furnished materials, and hero also we're coll
iecsed representatives of foreign nations
WELCOMED Br PRESIDENT wEt1axa.
President Yelling OF Columbian University
was then introduced and delivered an address
Of welcome. extending to the members Of
the society a hcspitable greeting ON be-
Eaf OF the trustees OF Columbian Uniyer-
slty lie thought that it WINS a
matter OF congratulation that science WINS
entering all domains and that In the course of
TINS evolution science had taken hold of folk
lore and what had hitherto been roleea.ed 20
the nursery was being subjected 10 the
scrutiny OF science The folk lore tales which
come Heating down on the wings Of tradition
are capable OF being interpreted by reason.
and II is possible 10 read IN them the rejection
OF customs aud modes OF life which have long
since persisted. There is no age. the speaker
said, that did not give valuable contributions
TO the history OF mankind. To those associated
Tor such work and study it was but natural
that he should welcome them to the Columbian
eAiNersity, which Is dedicated TO science.
MAJ. ,. W. PowEILs ApDKEss
Maj. J. W. Powell who is a delegate 10 the
society for the Archaeological Society OF this
city, was then introduced and delivered an adj
dress OF welcome on behalf OF the society
which he represented. He spoke of the
athetenuatlon OF science and the army
OF workers in the different fields
scattered all over the world Tho atteupts he
said, tc erect temples Of philosophy and 10
construct universal philosophy had all failed
The only way, lie thought, TO construct such N
philosophy was through tho efforts Of many
WORKERS lie spoke OF the interest in the
study 81 anthropoiogy IN its various branches
and referred especially to the interest taken
In archaeology, IN the study OF the institutions
oil men, both past and present in the Ian
SuSges OF mankind Of people of the highest and
OF sociology and finally in tho high
est branch. The study Of philos-
ophy, which is the origin and meaning
OF things, the phenomenon of the universe.
his lstter, he SAID had given rise 10 the study
OF folk lore, the study of the ideas OF tho
iowly-what they thought Of the phenomenon
OF the universe. What the great men of the
ages thought of the universe had been thor
oughly studied, aud now the folk lore societies
by their researches were interpreting the
|
THREE METHODS OF EXPLAINING THE UNKNOWN.
He referred to the three methods followed Of
explaining the unknown. In savagery the un-
known is attributed to the animals while in
the nett stage, called barbarism, mankind has
persoEined the powers and phenomenon Of
nature, and the unknown was attributed 10
the dolngs OF those peisonified beings. Civil
lzed people. however, credited 70 the unknown
me agency OF spirits These three methods exist
to-day Tor all these grades of civilization are
IN existence. The operation and ieyelopment
OF these methods is ascertained by the labors
OF the folk lore societies. In conclusion Major
foweil extended u cordial welcome 10 the mem
bcrs TO this city.
President Mason said that the Ladies' Anthro-
biological Society Of this city also united in
welcoming the society 20 this CITY,
1t was announced that Dr. Darlington Bolton of
New York had been chosen TO act as treasurer
IN place OF DR. John IL. Hinton of New York,
who was detained at nome. Notices were given
by the local secretary, Mr.. Walter Hough, and
by the secretary, William Wells Newell Of CAM
bridge, Mass.
ME-. FRANK cUsHrSo's PArrR-
The attention Of the society was then given
to the reading of the papers The first pape.
read was by Mr.. Frank ii. Gushing, entitled
Story of the Unborn Men or Villages OF the
Under World; Zuni Folk Tale" which
proved to be highly entertaining account Of
He said the Zunis, as all other primitive peo-
pie, have asked the question where man comes
| from as well as where man goes TO. In this
tale the answer to this first question was at
tempted. 1t was very effectively told story
OF the residents Of the world that
is the vestibule OF this world when Il was
claimed the people had bodies like those in the
earth, and yet they had not similar bodies. for
such as they had were soft like unripe grain.
So they did not eat solid food, but only gulped
hat N
cooking food. as birds live in air and fish in
water. The adventures of two brothers who
visited this region by descending n deep pool
were related, and the Advertisements of the Wis
itors when they found that their arrows only
! went through these people without harmiue
| them and their clubs fell upon them as upon
| the air. But where the visitors used punches
| OF dry plume grass as weapons the strange
people fell down IN great numbers. The NOR
| tai enemies ofthese people were flocks OF Jaws,
and when jay lighted upon one death fol-
lowed at once.
The reading Of the paper was supplemented
by an Interpretation of its meaning Mr.
| Gushing said that the coming of a man from A
| world Of shadowy substances and being himself
mere MIN or vapor was directly connected
with the Zuni idea of the creation
Of the world, which they thought was born for
the mist According 10 the Zuni there are
ocean, then comes the earth and then the
under earth which Is also an ocean supported
in clouds
THE AFTERNOON PRoGRAN
The paper was very generally discussed By
the members. and upon the conclusion of the
discussion the society adjourned until o o'clock
The papers on the program for the afternoon
| and evening sessions as follows:
2P.M.
Alcee Fortier-A few Louisiana folklore
stories
Stewart Culin-A leaf from q Chinese a.
manac.
Alice Fletcher--Folk tales of the Nimipu or
Nez Perces Indians.
n. NJ.
The place Of folk lore in anthropoloev. n
discussion led by the president of the society.
Folk life in and about the national capital
by the local secretary.
(Lantorn illustrations)
MEMBERS ELECTED TODAY.
At the meeting Of the council shis morning
the following members were elected: Mru.
Julia L. Goodfellow, Rev. Sheldon jackson.
Thomas w. Smile, Paul Brockett. a. II.
Kaufman, George Rockford stetson-
William Dinwiddie, Z. Francis Ricrs'
Perry ID. Pierce, Eustace b. Rogers. u. SN.:
James c. Pilling, Frederick Webb Hodge. Mer.
win Marie Shell, Mrs. Ellen Thompson and
VIM. b. Taylor Of this city and Warren X.
Maorahaad of Yania