The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1905-09-08

i sisted on Quails?
The Spanish journalist speaks con
temptuously Of the Cherokee appare
! in the early days Of the sixteenth cen
tury But we have only his b2re wore
!, for it. History gives us no data wheel
} would enable any one to hold con
troversy with him upon this point
And yet, it is certain that history
gives us no account Of any period ii
the existence Of the Cherokee people
when they could have been properly
characterized as blanket Indians. 2
1t is true, before they had access tc
the products Of the European loom,
they clad themselves mainly in skins.
But if this material used as 4 yesture
be abadge Of barbarism among Indians
why Is it not equally so in London,
l'aris and New York /?
Oh, it will be said, in these centres
Of blazing light and knowledge, these
horid pelts by an application of the
refinements of art, are first carefully
and completely divorced from all the
repulsive associations which connect
them inimagination with the unclean
beast from whose back it was lifted
The fact is, however, there was no art
in Europe or elsewhere that could sur
pass that Of the Cherokees in prepar-
ing this paradoxical material for use
las human apparal. The article
from which they produced their
finest stuff was the skin of the deer.
The matchless elegance Of the stuff
into which the deer skin was wrought
is curiously attested by the fact that
the most elaborate cloth of which the
English loom is capable, is deemed to
be complimented by associating it in
name with the ''Doeskin' of the
Cherokees.
The national costume Of the Chero-
KEGS consisted primarily Of these ar
ticles, the hunting-shirt, leggings and
moccasins. These garments were
brought into form out OF the dressed
skins generally by ythe ingenuity Of the
Cherokee women The hunting-shirt
was simply a blouse SO cut as to cover
the person from the sholders down.
ward to a point near the knees. The
shirt, collar, and cuffs we're given a |
finished appearance by the presence
by a profuse crop Of dangling fringe.
The leggings were simply flights"
first completely covering the loins,
then following the lower extremities
down to the ankles where they were
made to unite with the lapel Of the
moccasin by means Of leathern thongs.
The Characteristic firing was not omit
ed; it was made ohang copiously from
hip to heel. The moccasin has BY
by this time figured so long in the
best forms of Anglo-Saxon society
that it is hardly needful here
to say anything in description of its
aboriginal origin.
A cherokee in full national dress,
presents a figure OF ideal manhood
which was hard to beat even by the
best products Of the training school.
His physique, in such an attitude, has
always been a fascinating subject for
the artist: only it is a pity that gen
ius should ever prove so untrue to
fact as to load down the picture Of
50 grand piece Of humanity with
such derogatory trifes as clubs, toma-
hawks, and feathers
The civil polity Of the Cherokees
was interesting for two reasons. first,
because it utilized to practical pur-
pose the powers of mans moral ma
lure; second, because, with a precis-
on of wisdom riyaling an instinct, it
ltilizes that something which is
Known among statesmen as the "bal-
lnce powers"
The stability of the universe is
simply by balancing the
attractive force Of one orb against
hat Of another. The peace Of the
world is kept unbloken mainly by an
squipoise Of power among thenations.
The trainers Of our federal govern
nent recognized the benefit Of such
! principle: hence they hung it upon
! pivot upon which we're balance
Igainst each other, the executive,
he judiciary, and the legislative.
Accordingly the Cherokees divided their
community into a convenient number Of
antilles which the English tongue has
zen fit to denominate as "clans"
Among the members Of the elan the noble
entimenfs Of brotherhood was cultiyated
0 the highest possible reach. It was up
d this brotheIiy feeling that thecommun-
Iy Of the clan depended mainly for the
lessings Of peace, the safety Of person
nd property. and the administration IF