The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-03-12
LETTER FROM THE WEST.
Life Among the Indians as Seen by q
Visitor to One of the Government
Reservations In Wisconsin-Their
Domestic Habits and Racial Customs,

Visitor to One of the Government
Reservations In Wisconsin-Thei
Domestic Habits and Racial Customs,
etc, etc.
ODANAH, WIS, March End, 1896,
EDITOR GOLD LEAF:-Thinking Der
haps that your readers would be in.
terested in some account of the Indians
their life and customs as l have seen
it occurred to me to write you a short
letter from this Indian village. Odanah
| is eight miles from Ashland, Wisconsin,
and three miles from Lake Superior. The
Bad river divides the village, while the
White and Kankangan rivers surround
it, making it a delight to the skater's
heart. There are eight hundred Indians
aud two hundred white people, A negro
man was here for a short while but he
got in fight with an Indian and left for
cooler quarters.
1t was my pleasure few weeks ago to
witness an Indian dance. The men
danced in their over shoes and hats; the
squaws chewed gum and nearly all of
them seemed to be dressed alike, wearing
black or some dark color. The queen
(of whiskey) was attired in a black gown
trimmed in red, with slippers to match.
hC ufCu nOuiO give tuc Wpticu SOUIc
terrible hugs, but this seemed to be q
part of the dance. Both men and women
understand dancing They have dance
Indians are pagans while most of them
are Christianized. The pagans hold
medicine dances over their sick friends
and powwows when one dies. These
powwows last all night: Id been almost
wild ever since I've been in Odanah to
attend powwow, SO of course, last Fri
day evening when some friends of ours
(white people, two ladies and three gen.
tlemen) called to see if any of US wanted
to go to the powwow, was not only
ready but delighted at the opportunity.
We reached the house in a few minutes.
and asked a squaw standing at the door
If we could come in. She said "yes," so
we walked in through two rooms, the In
dams sitting on the floor so thick We
could hardly pass. The third room was
reached, where the corpse was and there
likewise all the men and women were fiat
on the floor. The corpse was in one cor
ner of the room in very neat casket.
In the centre of the room was a huge
dish-p with raw dog in it. The meat
was not even skinned for I saw the black
hair on it. l went home and told INV
sister they had the little black dog that
bothered her so much around the back
door, but next morning l found out |
was mistaken, for that same little old
black dog came up. Near thecorpse two
men sat shaking something like tin cans
with handles to them, filled with shot;
and right by them sat man beating a
drum, he singing all the time The most
awful noise came from that mans throat
l have ever heard. Occasionally he would
stop and repeat something in Chippe-
way which thought must be a prayer, as
they would bow their heads, while few
would stand and shake, (like our negros
shouting.)
The man shaking the tin concerns, mo-
toned to me to come and look at the
corpse 1 shook my head. While We
were standing in the door the sad wild
over came by us and picked up the tea
kettle of the stove and drank out of the
spout. We were not in the house over
ten minutes. l wanted to see more but
yet longed to get a breath of fresh air
outside.
The next day at noon the funeral pro-
cession passed here. About two hun
dred Indians were walking behind the
corpse, which was in front on a sleigh.
The husband OF the dead woman (sQuaw)
was driving, two squaws and a pappoose
sitting on the casket. The horses head
was drapcd Or decked off with long pieces
of black and white goods.
Most of the Indians attend the Catho-
lie church and seem to be devout, while
some are Presby An Indian
chief is one of the deacons of the Presby-
terian church here The Sisters of the
Mission School gave an entertainment
on Washington's birthday which was en-
joyabIe, the Indians taking the most
active part. The girls have good voices
and recite well. A quartette sang
Whispering Hope very sweetly.
The Indians show great improvement
every year. Only few months ago sew.
eral families would occupy one house
now you will find them living in larger
houses alone. In few weeks the In
dams will go out to gather sugar from
what they call ''sugar-bush. Then
they camp out. The reservation is
guarded by three policemen, therefore it
is always quiet.
AS general thing the Indians do not
| dress in as gay Qoud) colors as of old
| They prefer sombre cOlors instead. De-
casionalIy you will see man have on 9
red jacket.
The principle horse here for the small
| boy and grown man, is the dog. Some
times you see six lovely dogs pulling {
sleigh well loaded
The natives say this has been re
markably mild winter as it has only beer
800 below zero.
The society (white) people of Odanal
gave Leap Year dance at the boardin,
house last Friday evening. An elegan
supper was served at II O'Clock. AS tn
clock was striking two the musicians be
gan to play "Home, Sweet Home" ant
then good nights were said.
So you see we are not entirely Outsid
the pale of civilizations worldly amuse
ments and innocent pastimes in this fa
away Northwestern country as some o
your more aesthetic readers might sup
| pose. A. j. Nj.
IL l.