The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-03
FALLING STARS" PEOPLE.
THE LITTLEABENAKII INDIAN TRIBE
. IN WdRREN COUNTY.

Their Ues or Dyes - Decorations or Their
Grnvcs-FaiiinE star n Wrli-Itnown Model.
Falling Star is tho translated Indian name of
a young woman who left the country life of
northern New York to seek employment In
New York city. She intended only to sell her
wares, Indian baskets, birch-bark canoes. bead.
embroidered moccasins, belts and the like, but
although disappointed to find that her goods,
made with much patient labor, had been
brought to n poor market. she soon discovered
that the city WAS a much better place to earn a
livelihood than she had counted upon. II wns
not long after herSnrrlval that she was intro.
duced to art schools rs n model. and so we'll re.
celved was she that for q year hor engagements
wero crowded. and to paint an Indian maiden
became q fad.
Ono reason why artists are so ready to seize
the opportunity of posing and painting an In.
dian woman is that the Indian of North Amer.
lea is becoming scarcer every day, and this Is
especially truo of tho Indians of New York
State. Moreover, not nil are good subjects like
Failing Star. for carelcssncss in living is likely
to lead TO other than IL figure which is desirable
for the canvas. Not moro than fifty years ago
Indians were TO be met with in numbers about
the shores OF lakes George. Champlain, Otscgo
and others near the central part of the State, as
well as all through the Adirondack region.
known as tho Great Northern Wilderness. They
were great hunters and were not given to fight.
ing the white people TO such an extent as those
who made tho Great American Desert their
home. Their pugnacity was only displayed in
brawls In the camp.
One reason for the depopulation of their num.
bers seems to be the fact that civilization has
weakened their constitution. Instead of gain-
ing exercise in the hunt when meat for dinner Ia
needed, tho Indian Of to-day goes to the butcher
stall. Few at present own horses, and their
mode OF living is so changed that they resemble
n Gagged lion which was strong when IL roamed
the forest in search of food. Inactivity has
made them weak. The men exhibit a frame
large and healthy in appearance. but it is not
backed by strength, for the grand structure of
their bodies has been inherited while the
muscle, which must be acquired by the indl.
vidual, is lacking.
Not infrequentlv the summer tourist comes
across n lone tribe in some out of the way place.
The summer boTrder at Caldwell, Oh Lake
George, always finds it an interesting diversion
to drive out to the Indian encampment near
there. 1t was located for years not far from the
Fort William Henry Hotel, and was one of the
largest settlements in the State, excepting the
State reservations. The Indians occupy tents.
~leantos, and small huts, made of boards
which have been put together in almost any
manner so long as shelter is provided. Nearly
every lHlhlIS mas lS uOB, usually OF n strange
mongrel breed, and capable of guarding
the contents of the hut. For a livelihood they
make baskets and bows and arrows, harmless
toys for children, and in looks hardly resemble
the savage heroes in Cooper's tales. In fact. to
secure a typical and fuil-blooded Indian at this
late day for u picture is a rarity.
Falling Stars home is among the foothills of
the A.dirondacks. She lives in q village called
Luzerne, in Warren county. which is about
twenty-five miles to the north of Saratoga.
There are not many inhabitants. and conse-
qucntly the Abenakl Indians who live there are
well known. They form a respectable part of
the community, rarely quarrclling or engaging
in any disturbing scenes. The Abenaki tribe
has a smaller tribal colony at LuZcrnc than any
other settlement in the state. for its members
gradually died and most of those who remain
are old. There is not The usual group of frolick-
ing, children, which one naturally expects to
names will be found only in history. One
youth, scan:ily clad, was picked out as a de-
prominently in books. He had ali the appear,
ance OF being the offspring or one of Cooper's
braves. He was asked TO shoot II dime from
Oft n stick with the bullscye as IA reward of
| merit. The little fellow proved 10 expert. He
handled his bow well, and at a distance OF
mark. il. second and third time he let the ar.
row slip. but each time, although the shot was
Game, and faith was lost in tho eagle eye" Of the
redskin. The small present, then went as a
f"y yh. and hnm not It. as IA a token 4kSn Of q 9 fEit, in archery:
crn shore of the Hudson: which at this place,
although broad and as wide rs at Troy. is very
floods can a good sized log float there. To reach
their place one follows the river road from Had
ley station, on the Adirondack Railroad. across
the iron bridge, and for u mile up the eastern
bank. The. settlement consists Of two . djoin-
tents a mile DOWN the river and formed a colony
of good size, but pet rattlcsnakcs killed two
of their number. consumption carried OF Others.
| and when finally the family UNA rnlnral tn
about n dozen members, they decided that they
could best be housed like other persons. They
selection of so beautiful a spot. The view from
the door Is as fine as that before the cottages of
front upon Lake Luzcrne on the plateau above.
The occupation of those who live at Falling
star home is continuous from early morning
they retire. The men do the heavier work
about the shop, and also in the part of the man
%ufacturc they do only what u strong man can
perform: In this the men seem to have de-
parted from the earlier tradition of Inc races,
the work, relying on the ncn to wage warfare
and secure animal meat for dinner.
The men are skilful in the Use Of tho knife
and carve fancy chairs, card.playing boards,
canes, small canoes, boxes. and bows of wood.
Al these things are hcwn with an ADJ from
house for use as the supply demands. II is
hard work, for the wood is Of the toughest Kind.
When making Il bow the wood Is braced in an
knife, a civilized invention, as ar" most tools
| which lntS tllIlOS. IncN NlIlllE lItSt'
bows until they are ready to exhibit them for
sale. as the woods employed lose their snap in a
short time. They dye the bows II variety of
colors, and the bright, clean sticks are pretty
to look upon. Most of this work is done in the
open air.
1t is the custom of the women at Falling Stars
home to sit outdoors while they make their fancy
articles TO sell: 4 passer by II summer time VIII
seated Oh the piazza and engaged, in convcrsa-
zion TO relieve the mGnoIony. They seldom
Withdraw when a stranger accosts them on
stopping to examine their wares. In answering
questions they talk in a modest tone. with n
modulating voice not unpleasant. They enjoy
the visits Of tourists and appear surprised that
any one takes interest in their work.
They have their secrets in regard to the
preparation of their dyes and manner of bend
Ing the woods and shavings they use. These
details of their work have been handed down
In the family and they are regarded as their
own secret processes. the losing OF which they
believe will involve n competition which would
result disastrously to thCm. They even go SO
far as to assert that they can tell tho name Of
the Indian tribe which turned out amy certain