New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-17

ocean without much trouble, and it is not without
significance that the latter ferred over on the
backs of two swans
The highest reach of BiackioOt mythology was
TO conceive the sun as the Supreme Deity and the
treator Of all things. Underlying the story OF
Scarface the effort is plain TO inculcate this solar
religion and TO give "A reason for il that would
affect the Imagination When the hero has re-
ccived the consent to bis marriage for wilch ne
sought, suddenly the sun exclaimed IL wise and
listen. | am the only chief. Everything Is mine.
! made the earth, the mountains. pralres. rivers
and forests. | made the people and al IN" AMI
mails This is why | say alone an the chief
can never die. True, the winter makes me ola ana
weak. but every summer | grow young again.
And in another tale an old man about to venture
on a dangerous Journey is represented as ut"Ilng
this prayer Hear now, sun Listen. Above
People. Listen. Underwater People. Now Non
have taken pity Now YOU have given Us food.
We are going TO those strange ones who walk
through the water with dry moccaslns. Protect
MS among those 10 he feared peonle. Let MS sur
vive. Man, and chilli, give us long lie,
give us long life" Here the order Of appeal to
the various powers, beginning with the sun. Is
a strong reminder cf that memorable adluratlon
Of Aoampmnon Father Xous. from Ida ruling. no
best greatest and Sun, that all things secst ana
all things nearest and Rivers and Earth. and ye
Dwcrrs below who punish mon, whosoevcr swear
eth falsely" The main difference is that the
Greek began with the sky which the Blackfoot
never thought of deity, for II was to him
simply tho covering OF the suns lodge This
view Of the matter is oxemplfcd by another tale
In Mr. Grinnclrs collection. the motive of which Is
a theft of certain articles of magic value from TN"
sun The thief attempts to run away, but, OF
course can never escape. because there is no way
of getting ont Of the suns dwelling place. And
this illustrates anew the theme that " the rae" Is
not to the swift" which the Lur people IN AFRICA
dwell upon in tho fable of the hare that tired 10
run away from the earth, hut found II always
under his feet and died from WEAKNESS ana cha
grin. Another curious feature OF the story oil
Scarface which brings it into relation with tradl-
lions that are universal. lies in tho riddles winch
the sun PROFOUND, TO lis young human acouaint-
ancc II is TO be imagined that if the story were
perfect there would here he found the familiar
contest over knotty questions. like those in which
Wooden INDUCED with his foes the ictnn. rs II j.,
the sun merely makes an exhibition of his wisdom
by askino and answering all the problems himself
just as the Greeks reduced their nature worship
to a thoroughly humanized form, 50 In" ihckf"et
have converted their sun god into a willy old man
Sometimes the solar aspect OF Old Nan l. c"-f'
sometimes It is obscure But there Is hardly taic
told of either character which NAV not easily De-
applied 10 the other Only Of the stories need
he alluded 10 here, namely, that in which GA
Man foils his enemies by changing himself into a
tree. Now. this metamorphosis is familiar enough
10 classic lore as some common names OF fowcrS'
like hyaclnth and narcissus, show: but there Is
notable element in the Indian story. One of the
most frichtfnl passages in Dantcs Inferno II IN"
description of the grove, every tree OF whrn Wa-
a sentient human being in torment. Dani" e n
fcssedly got his inspiration from Virgil. The a.
tonishns thing is that the Indian talo-tcller ha~
thought ont the very same conception OF ire
with capacity for suffering pain. OF COURSE WIN
him il is merely grotcsqur incident nut "a"
Thought is there and il should lend cmphasl, - |
the fact that both Virgil and Dante stand Away |
in the closest intimacy with popular tradition. h"-
trayinr n kaowcdce Of things which belong to d."
widest life as we'll as Of those which belong t.
culture and refinement.
II is useless to add examples The book Is ricn |
in suggestions that tax the widest reading, BON !
in formal literature and folklore. The stories Ar"
followed by a series Of thoughtful essays on the |
history, the daily life dress social organization,
hunting practices war, religion, medicine pipes |
and methods of healing of the Blackfcet. tho con
Guiding paper being a statement of the progress
which the tribe has made toward civilization IN |
the last few wears The lesson of il All Is th1i !
there is good material in tho Redman, and that nc
ia learning more or less rapidly how TO put il 10 |
good use.