Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1901-11-01

savage taste. different only I'm degree
from what is sometimes witnessed
among highly civilized people. says a
writer I'm the Washington Times. But
the fact Is that. I'm preference to the
latter custom. for instance. every paint
mark on an Indians face has a sort OF
heraldic meaning. implying not only
the honors won by the brave In person,
but representing also the claims OF his
family and race TO distinction. In other
words. what is shown among more
cultured communities by coats of arms,
orders. aud decorations, is depicted by
the Indian on his face by means OF
pigments.
Scientists are now engaged. among
other novel Investigations concerning
the North American Indian, I'm COM
piling a record OF the armorial, or.
rather, facial, bearings OF certain cele-
brated chiefs, and II is said to be fas-
chatting work. One renowned war
rior, for instance, will have his Lip
painted a copper red. This is found
to indicate that his tribe was once In
possession of huge mines Of copper.
Another individual viii have his fore
head adorned with a painting OF a GER
tain fish, thus implying that he or his
people are renowned for prowess I'm
catching fish. The same distinguished
person sometimes wears disk OF pearl
In addition 10 his paint mask. This.
by Its shimmering radiance and its
form, implies that he IL descended
from the moon, in the sense that the
goddess OF night is one OF his ances-
I. tors.
The fact that the Indian has no con-
ception OF perspective seriously handi-
caps the success or his efforts Mt pic
torial art. Indeed. tho Indian Inner
merely aims to show the most charac-
teristic portion OF the object he at
tempts to depict. unless he lie n man
OF great attainment In which case he
divides or dissects the subject OF his
picture and represents the whole by
its parts, the latter being arranged en-
tirely irrespective OF the natural Sc
quence.
The features OF the Indian are some
times incorporated into the represent
tation OF the animal which forms his
heraldic Gearing. Should the beaver
for example, be the object TO be de-
plcted, II is not attempted, but only its
distinctive and typical parts, as, for In
stance, it's peculiar tail. which is paint
ed In crisscross lines extending from
the chin to the nose, as though stand
Ing upright. The chin itself docs SER
vice as the beavers body.
The arbitrary methods of the Indian
artist render IL difficult, If not impos-
slble, for any but an expert to inter
pref the meaning of the pictorial rep
resentatIOns Thus. an animals ears
are invariably depicted above the eyes
on the human object, the ears of the
beaver being just above the eyebrows
On the cheeks are painted the paws In
a position as though they were raised
TO the mouth I'm the manner conven-
tional In Indian carvings.
The dogiish painted In red on the face
designated the members of an entire
tribe. On the forehead OF the members
of this tribe is painted the long, thin
snout, the gills are represented 10y two
curved lines below the eyes, while the
| tail Is shown as cut In two and hang.
ing from each nostril. Only one OF
two parts of an animal painted on an
Indians face Indicates that lie is OF
inferior position; the entire symbol, nc
matter in what form presented, Is sig
nificant OF lofty station and high hon
Ors.
The facial heraldry OF the Indian
may be said TO unique, not alone IN
the method Of representation employ.
ed, but In the subject selected. The
latter includes fish. flesh and fowl OF
all descriptions-dog salmon, devilnsh,
starfish, woodpeckers, ravens, eagles,
bears, wolves. frogs. are comprised I'm
the aEmorial gallery.
Every object presented has It's own
particular significance, and one OF the
most peculiar phases of face painting
relates to the employment OF forms
other than animal-tools, implements
OF the chase or OF war. denoting the
occupation Of the individual or his
tribe.