The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-17
Written for Ojbway Tribe Of Indians and Presented
By HARRIET P. LYNCH.
on the Shores Of Lake Huron.


''There Is no good Indian but dead
one, is a fallaciou statement made long
ngo by certain individuals for their own
advantage, says Mr.. F. r, Burton. OF
Yonkers. N. y, and he should know for
he has made his homo for some time now
with an Ojlbway tribe on the Canadian
shores OF Lake Huron. In fact he is
nm Indian himself. as nearly as a white.
man can be one, since he has been adopt-
ed into the tribe and rechristened with
an Indian name. sIgnifylng the-man-who-
stands before. which means to tho ini-
tlated. that the first time the Indians saw
him he was leading an orchestra
And by the way. at tho time OF his
ndoption, he but narrowly escaped nay
ing to remain a white man all his life
on account OF his red hair. but this OBJ
lection was finally overruled by the fact
OF his having brown eyes, and his ardent
wish for tribal honors. Being now full
Nedged Ojihway. what he says OF his
tribe may be accepted without auesuon,
They are q fine set OF men as their large
well-built figures and open,- manly faces
attest, truthful and honest, but with an
unfortunate learning to that Vice OF all
Indian vices, gambling. But their main
interest for Mr. Burton and others lies
Y
ed Indian tribe that possesses anything
that can be called music. They have no
written music. but there arc found among
them songs of great sweetness ana pathos
handed down orally from times immemo.
rial preserved by them, probably. because
they have always lived ~ peaos MI . ,r.,
white neghbors, no matter now great
their aggressions. Though they have nov
transmitted to posterity the War-ilKe
deeds of a king Philip, nor Pontiac. ney
have given to us what are Infinitely more
valuable. the legends OF their amt'en ~
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT melodies OF cradle,
bridal and death SONGS. ..,ha ~
THESE gifts have made them tribe OF
special interest to the White man
PLAYED HIAWATHA.
About six years ago MohtIeaI !S'' I1h
these indians and become very 1onn o,
them, took some of them with nm on
trim to Boston. Miss I.ongfel!oW, VINO
was OF course, much interested IN any
thing connected with the OjlbWays, m
yited the whole party out 70 her i peat
I'd with her hospitality and wishing 20
make some return It was suggested by
their friend that they act some part VI
Eiawatha for her, He arranged the pay
Ind Miss Longfellow was invited OUT ,he
next summer to see the performance. she
md q party of some sixty friends accept
I'd the Invitation and spent three very
pleasant weeks with the Indians n their
yillage of Desbarets. on Lake Huron. !!
The play was acted In the open air. and
IN Il We're included some OF their interest,"
imp songs, dances and religious ceremo-
MES ie II then occurred to Mr.. Burton. a
Composer Of no small note. to write q
musical version of Hiawatha. With this
In view, he went and lived among them,
studying their melodies and trying by
Becoming q fellow tribesman to UNDER
stand the true inwardness of the Indian
Roul. 49,.
AS a result he has written the beautiful
cantata Of Iliawatha, which embodies
unsteady as far as is possible the Indian
spirit and Includes intact the delicious
sAslodies found In their songs, such as tlls