The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-16
DANCES OF MAINE INDIANS.
As SEEN AT A SWELL WEDDING OF
THE PENOBSCOT TRIBE
How They no the Sake D~npcc-sueh n Scene
May Vet ne Witnessed Again. Ter the R1atd-
ems snd Youths Are Getting Up-to-pate.

Q How They no the Sake Dapce-sueh n scen
MAY NET ne Witnessed Again. Ter ths Maid
=. ems and Yeuths Are Getting Up-to-Date
D Fron the sosfon Epentno Transcrtpt.
INDIAN ISLAND. 0LDTowN, Me-. Jan. 4.-Read
: ore who have heard of the woman's club which
has been organized here among the women o
the Penobscot or Tarratine tribe Of lndianI
may feel that equality has hardly been preserved
In the social development OF our Maine reuskint
when they know about the great wedding festiv
lily which took place on the island, the United
States reservation. on the night of Monday. this
week. The gavel and CushinR's Manual of the
club were laid aside on this occasion for
all tho old implements of ancient times, the
brilliant regalia affected by the head men. tho
wampum (which is still necessary to mako com.
plcto any marriage in the tribc). tho shotted
bulls horn and many other interesting things.
Weddings on the island are not overnumerous
They como not oftener than one In FIVE years, as
an average figure. The marriage ceremony oc-
ours In the island church, according to the rites
OF the Catholic Church. Sunday is tho accepted
day, and this particular wedding took place on
that day, Sunday, Jan. 9.
The bride was Josephine Newell, a protege of
the famous Joe Francis. the old guido and
hunter. and the groom was John Rance. a son
Of the island.
The wedding ceremony in church completed,
'"o pafuO ohu BIoom separated AT once, until
the next night, after tho completion of the
feasting and dances. he would not claim her as
his W squaw. Meanwhile plans went on for n
true Tarratine powwow. led by the old men and
their squaws and continued throughout the
night. The elders, but too glad to engage in ono
OF the fast vanishing ceremonies of the fading
if island G Assembl igi Ra fhe wR Rlae tS E,t Gov a 3 yi%: m TaS
tho people and the tribe assemblies on all inn
portant occasions. was chosen for the scene Of
Imagine q long. low building. windowless ex.
cept for q few small glass panes at one end. and
front: It sits well back from the road, and
throuEh the ample yard dark forms hurry
The Maine winter is at its height, and tho ner.
curry is not lees than TO- below zero. The hurry.
across the open space, and with quick work at
the door are swallowed up in the building in an
show OF Light and dark, as the open door swings
to lot out the glare OF the lamps, and shuts
the retina of the spectators.
Within the hall the scene 10 interesting. The
floor is wholly clear. and is so well worn that It
shines under the lamps that hang from the low
coiling,, A stove makes one corner hot, and does
not relieve the chill in all the others. At one
q sn piano is o on nsf Il. ht FFhe aef Is S a Br niErOw rs sdas eiot Si oh
the piano, and as you look about tho room you
The hall has no chairs. About the four walls
runs n continuous bench. and people are collect
paint and numerous designs in which the ma.
tional emblems Of the United statos-star, eagle,
d drS il q corner Pf near a bass A Dunn mme on Wbni sss
is painted THE Island Band"
The people on tho benches interest you only
neignbors on the main shore. fine men arc
good looking. though not neat in dress. The
under 40 are often dclicateiv plump and fair to
see. Later in life this shapeliness grows into a
While some of the stout young men force the
crowd back SO as to form a ring on tho hall
Cleared T. P PRis ii IS Frank oEt L .nt2 the or. I more p ss%s
erly, Big Thunder. the chief of tho tribe and ono
20 tow YES H1e'f fis ms1; not hf bs as doT WITH iali ass sn Se did Moa nj
be gigantic. He leans on a stout ash stick.
Years inches he S Ss mG been thf t + tribal Ser %1Saiee}y
though now that new lesislatiTe methods
have come in the title il empty. Big Thunder
curiously watching proceedings. and shrugs his
shoulders. He looks the old wardog that he
to SEQ us! Wei, you can stayi We have to let
y yo hs stay! But Blu in d mersy,s n am don't laugh at
Ny friends: he says, "i't Want your atten.
Ihe hsiI quiots instantly. Indian children
Then the old chief, with a pitiful attempt at
B SseP IN haIs fHdsd an" old n1stsr. spe hts Sh TSads rs
welcome is kindly. it is tingcd with the bitter.
II often wonder" he says. "why. when tho
Pilgrims and the other settlers landed in Amer.
- NV SSuiuh hoNo us IL DTOlIeTSs |
o ohd rsP, instead inst rS Of ehsa,ing us With powder
ia sTb GySry q away from us and we are only
Probably e We Of mature ma nis y amGsq in the Sen heiii
sees his meaning. Some of the p~alcface visitors
hut the music Of the island band clears up the
fhero p sno;S and sI after fl Ave rs, strained numbers
there ever was one. He welcomes everybody
and then announces the dances-the native
seconds after Tom Dora stops his somewhat in.
coherent address there is dead silence in the I
men at the roar comes u a strong 1a rattle sfSap at Fl f Gla ,,
one thinks of the rattlesnake. .
The snake dance!, shouts Dora.
One OF the Oldest of the old men, Tom Francis. q
who makes baskets every summer. at Bar Har. t
gait is a very short dogtrot, each stop measur.
ing less than six inches. In his hand he carries '
this, half Allied with buckshot. gives out the =
rattle. the only music Of the Tarratine tribe. =
,e gG soe srq Sy a aeon ! the old ddrG 3siIowg S SlPG tsS once S,m AS As = :
Freaks into the ring and locks his left arm into
until a dozen are in the ring, ali dog.trottins F.,
.bout. while old Tom shakes the rattle with 4
rhe song is wholly indcscribabIe. sung i
These elders are allowed the floor for nearly 9
young fellows dash into tns dance. r aassda.. i
oeking arms, make 9 long line of black, which, Il
u ny olu iOlH. WIN blnuOuSly ABOUT the hall. 4
lodging into the crowd at unexpected spots To- l
tut out some desirable but !indolent buck whose
iancinR abilities are known.
This is the snake dance.
Next comes the short-horn dance. Old Tom q
begins tho music with the shotted bulls horn J
md al once thirty Indians step into the floor 9
md form in groups OF six and eight. threes and .
ours. facing each other ana changing positions
With every other round OF the hall. 0ne-haif of =
zach set is always going backward. The sets =
move about In a circle. and while Tom boats the /
attic and sings another song, the others join in :
weird native chorus. Il
The music runs on something like 90 time, n
md 10 pitched in a minor key. like all Indian
Melody. Tho chorus is plainly familiar, for all =
ing II; though not one Is able to translate the
ew phrases which compose the words. Tom
gueaks out. the monotoIous solo, and with tho T
fifth and sixth beats in every measure the g
horus gives out two notes OF equal length. q
Iven the kccnest musical ear among the visi- o
ors cannot exactly memori the Rrotesuue and Ia
impossible melody. simple though it seems. /
This short-horn dance continues for an hour. j
n the midst OF 10 the bride and groom arrive. n
ho former dressed showily in blue silk with q
earltrimmings and both looking very happy. A
aue Is made through tho crowd and wifi tIa =