The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1895-12-12
THE MAYA WOMEN.
THEY ARE INTELLIGENT, SWEET TEN
PEREp AND BEAUTIFUL.

THEY ARE INTELLIGENT, SWEET TEN
PERED AND BEAUTIFUL.
IN tho Olden Times These Wives Of the
First Owners Of America Were the
Mothers Of Courageous Race. and They
Never looked Into . Mirror.
An unfamiliar word, but as old as the
Alls almost, is this word Maya. Among
the Brahmans il means illusion and is
the name Of the earth, the material
world, which, according to the Brah-
manical doctrine, is nonexistent IAN
illusion Maya Dew was the name Of
the beautiful mother Of Buddha Maya
in the feminine energy of Brahma and
the mother of all the gods, even Of
Brahma himself. Any Greek dictionary
informs us that Maya is the good moth
er Of all gods and men In Japan the
goddess Maya is still worshiped The
beautiful Indian poem "Ramayana"
tells Us about great navigator named
Maya, who in ages long gone by took
forci5le possession Of the countries at
the south of the HinGoostanee peninsula
and settled there.
The Maya people Of America were in
olden times great nation. occupying
the territory comprised between the 18TH
mus Of Tehuantepec and that Of Da-
rien. We know that they were naviga-
tors, their boats being depicted in very
ancient books and paintings. In 1902,
when Columbus came to America for
tho fourth time, he met ON the high
teas large boat, in which were men,
women and children. It also had car
60 Of merchandise, consisting Of weap-
ons, tools, products Of the earth and
ready made garments. The travellers
called themselves Mayas. They were in
the habit Of travelling to Cuba and other
islands to trade with their inhabitants.
The Alayas were neatly clothed in white
cotton raiment They were self possessed
md courteous. Fifteen years later their
land, today called Yucatan, was invad-
ed by the Spaniards, but it cost the
white lnen IS years Of warfare to get
control Of that country, for every Maya
fought like hero. They were sons of
fearless mothers.
In reading the works left by the
Spanish chroniclers-priests who ac-
companied the soldiers-we learn that
the Maya women were very good look.
ing, as many are at the present day
that they we're charitable, sweet tenn
pered, industrious, modest and so free
from vanity that they never consulted
the mirror, although their husbands
did In physique these women were
large and beautifully shaped
Their complexion was light brown,
and their silky black hair very album
dant. Father Cogolludo, a Spanish priest,
wrote, "These women are more beauti-
full and better tempered than those of
Spain" They always dressed them
selves, as they do at the present time,
in flowing white garments, and in their
happier days were greatly addicted to
the use of perfumes and flowers. They
were industrious, devoted wives and
fond mothers, but exacted great defer
ence from their children. Their ideas of
-nodesty We're SO strict that they did not
permit their daughters to look boldly
into the face of man, and if girl
showed awant of shyness the indignant
matron would pinch her arms. After
the Spaniards were in possession of the
land they subjected these women to in
dignities and cruelty. Among many
other things it is recorded that in one
village they found two young women of
remarkable beauty, one bride, the 9th
er a maiden, and they hanged both, so
that tLere should be no trouble about
them. Many young mothers were hung
from tees and their infants suspended
from their feet. Those who escaped
death were enslaved with their hus-
bandn and children.
Long ago, as far back as our studies
enable us to know anything about that
nation, the Maya women seem to have
enjoyed the same privileges as the men,
to have had equal power in politics and
equal authority.
Today, when business is to be trans
acted, the wife takes the active part, her
husband nodding his head afiirmatively.
! Il is not that she desires to domineer.
bot because be looks mp to her, relying
On her Judgment She complies with
admirable moderation and modesty. She
IL eloquent and forcefu1 without being
loquacious,. and she never scolds. When
her husband gets himself into trouble.
abe pleads for him, being q more able
reasoner than he IL II he gets intoxicat-
ed, she guides him home. II he strikes
her, she says, lie does not know what
he is doing," regarding him with an
gehc 1orbearance, SO that domestic
brawls are quite unknown. It Il her
pleasure to give him the best Of what
they nave, keeping for herself the
worst.
This woman's home has matched
roof and earthen floor. She has no pref
ty objects around her. Hammocks serve
as ses.ts by day as well as beds by night.
There is one low chair or stool on which
she sits while her busy fingers make the
garments Of the family. In one corner
stands bench and grinding stones Her
hands grind all the corn used in that
humble abode. The fire is built ON the
uO.H UclWccu tIIOO StOuCo, OA WhlCh
rests the clay pot or the disk for baking
tortillas Outside at the back Of the hut
there is long dugout, serving as a
washtub, resting on trestles. There she
stands for some hours every day, her
small feet bare, soapsuds up to her ell
bows, yet her hands are small and pref
ty, her voice is sweet and low, her Lam
guage never rude, and if you approach
ner hut she welcomes you with such per-