New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-19
THE SEl[INOLES.
Il Reriual of the Plea for
Their Welfare.

THE sENINoLEs OF FLORIDA. BY
Minnie Moore Wilson. illustrated.
Emo. %. as Moffat. Yard & GO.
This is a new edition OF a fervid plea
for the seminOles. which was first pub
lished sixteen years ago. The author has
enlarged the original book and added the
Illustrations. with the assistance OF
Messrs. C. B. Reynolds and z. w. His
ted. In response 20 the demand for it
which seems 10 come mistakenly from
every hand" Mr.. Edward s. Martin
provides 'rOrewOrd." In which he mod
erately observes that mot much appar-
emily can be done for this housekeeping
remnant Of the Florida abOrigines. but It
is help and a protection 90 them that
their continuing presence in Florida and
the conditions OF their life there should
be known 20 the rest OF the Americans.
and especially 20 those who go to Florida
or are concerned with the development
OF that state" II is. indeed. not difficult
TO surmise that this new edition az this
particular moment is due TO the progress
Of that very development.
The history OF the SeminOles Of the
Everglades Is not one 20 which white
America can look back with pride or
cause for Reorganization. II is part.
and a dark and bloody part. of the Cen
fury Of DishOnOr. Mrs. Moore Wilson
tells the story from first 20 last with
burning Indignation. and with vivid con-
trasts Of black and white. or. 20 be exact.
Of red and white. She is a truly feminine
partisan. Her sketches Of the life and
manners and customs and virtues Of the
SeminOles OF to-day are full Of color and
interest. 10 is rather unexpected, by the
way. TO learn from her that while it Is
OF and can last but a few years longer
IL has in reality shown a marked in
crease in numbers during the last ten
years" In 1880. by actual count, they
numbered POS: to-day q. e., appar-
emily. az the time Of the first publication
OF this book. 1886. they number nearly
COO" The author gives no later stats
tics In this edition. which appears 10
have been but slightly revised.
One doubts if the SeminOles' use Of the
word JGh-TeV. for God. evidently the He
brew JehOrGh or TGhUeh, points OF neces-
sity, via Mexico. Yucatan and the Aztecs,
across Asia 10 ancient Palestine and
Egypt, as the author suggests. Is il not
far more likely, as a matter OF fact. that
the word was introduced into the Ind
ians' vocabulary by some religious run
away negro slave? And. speaking Of the
negro and his connection with the Semi
nOles. II may not be without interest to
quote the following:
character holding . position unparal-
leled In Uncle Sans domain is Hannah
the negro slave. belonging to Tallahassee
family. She. Is full FLOODED nel,ress with
thick lips, broad fiat nose and kinky hair
which Is tied in little plaits with the
pTOveTbial string OF the Southern negro.
Hannah n the last Vestige Of Seminole
slaveTy-the one great SUBJECT Of warfare
seventy-hve years ago between the Semi
noles and the Southern planters. and upon
which. truly speaking. was based the
seven Years War Hannah does the
work Of the family. and. though she is
kindly treated. yet a certain contempt is
felt for her. for Hannah is an esfG InsfG
ga negrOl. and 20 the naughty Seminole
negro Is the lowest Of human creatures.
Tallahassee is dead. but we are not
told what has become OF Hannah. who
thus tardily has fame thrust upon her.
The author pleads throughout for pro-
lection Of the Seminole in his last foot
hold on the soil OF his fathers. and for
his gradual Introduction "a our civiIiza
ton which alone can save him from ulti-
mate extinction. But his preference Is
for being let alone"