Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-09-14

then the wild wall of the women's tones.
and then the deep bass of the mems
voices. All the way up the entire two
miles of the way they sang these strange
songs. and from the time the procession
started until it reached the cross, two
hours elapsed. so slowly, so solemnly, did
they make their pious pilgrimage
Once arrived ut their destination. the
Indians knelt about the altar. and then
Jesuit father from MlckinaC. assisted
by the other priests. celebrated mass Mt
the hOWer-covered altar standing at the
foot of the great cross which crowned
the hill. For two long hours the serv-s
Ice continued. and SO perfect was the de-
votion of those people that not one sound
was beard except the voice of the priest
as he lntOned the service, or the call of
the birds as they flew from tree to tree.
1T was a sight worthy the brush of
the most gifted artist-the green slope of
the hill with the evergreen avenue up
which the procession had wended: the
tall wooden cross with its sacred signifi-
canoe; the primitive altar. with its
t1ower-drapery. the thousands of kneel-
ing. dark-skinned people, their wild faces
sHftened with the mysterious light of de-
votion and worship; the many priests, in
their solemn garb. the trees of the sur
gathered to guard the r ties, and over all,
the blue sky and the solemn hush Of a
perfect August day.
May Never be Seen a gain
Finally the mass was over and the
spell was broken. The people scattered
about the hill, and luncheon baskets were
brought forth and their contents spread
upon the grass. While the Indians ate.
their simple luncheons the eornet band@
gave sacred concert. Not again. until
fifty years shall have rolled around, will
there be opportunity to view a scene like
that strange celebration; indeed, perhaps
not then, for fifty years make many
changes, and the beautiful simplicity and
devotion of the people, and the wild beau
ty of the islands. may have departed by
that time.
There was no crowd of curious sight
seers to spoil the sOlemnty of it, Be
sides ourselves there were but a mere
handful of people, VINO mad come by
chance at that time to the island, and a
woman who writes fer some Of the maya
zines and who came in search of copy
for Il story. On our way TO the island
Mary Hartwell Catherw0od was a fell
low passenger. but instead of stopping at
Manitowaning she wenL on 10 Killarney.
and thus missed this most impressive
scene The boat which took us back to
Mackinac brought her to Manitowaning
and 1t may be that the forthcoming sea
son will see some stories from her pen.
telling Of the delights of that primitive
spot.
Indian Nomenclature.
1T is strange concluded Miss
Stcarns. how the old religion of the
Indian interWeaYeS itself even into the
nomenclature of the island. and indeed.
throughout the trip the name of Manitou
seemed eyer-preSent Our destination
was Manitowaning, on Great Mani
toulin island. we stopped Mt the Manitou
house, We sailed On Manitou lake, and
our voyage home from Mackinac was
made on the Manitou 'Manitowaning'
means the cave Of the spirit and il
was 50 called because no line was ever
found that could fathom the water Just
before that spot. And the charm Of the
old Indian life still fingers, recalled by
the poctical names they bestowed, and
the white people VINO have succeeded
them have kept much Of the Old Simplic-
lty, Life there seems to be matter Of
'swect-do-nothing and it's place to
dream away ones days in perfect quiet
udr and peace. But i'm spite If its $50
latiou. its distance from the world. the
lapse of time between mails. for Won get
your letters anywhere from five to ten
days after they were mailed--in spite Of
this ! found in that little town of 900
Inhabitants a library Of over n thousand
volumes well selected and up to date.
The Canadian government has a delight
ful scheme Of duplicating any sum Of
money which a community raises for Ii.
brary purposes. and the result Is TINT
even the most remote little towns have
libraries. In Manit0Waning an old Eng
Ashman and his daughter have charge Of
the library. They keep it open three
nights in the week. furnish heat and
light. and receive for their services the
magnificent sum Of $40 year.