Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-01

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ray. whether he really believed this
story himself or not. but 1T goes to show
how intensely fantastical the Indian
people are.
Il know but little of the language OF
my people. Only a few words are
familiar to me. l wish that had mas
tered more of il. Il Is very euphoniou.
and I often think I will buy a lexicon.
and commence to study it,
The old Chickasaw customs are dying
out rapidly that il is difficult for the
present generation to speak OF them
with any degree Of surety. I rernembe!
my mother telling me of the big cry that
she used to attend. All of the members
Of the tribe gathered together to mourn
their dead.
Il frequently have some Of the old H.
dian dishes at my own table. 'Pashtoffa'
is one of my favorites. To prepare this
ordinary hominy, grits are ground fine
with mortar until all of the husk Is re-
moved. Then this meal is boiled until IL
Is soft. Meat is added and the flavor Is
really delicious. Another of the dishes
is 'tatfuloa,' In making this corn Is
cooked in the same way as in the other
and eaten with dried beef. The flavor il
different for We mix the ashes of bea,s
hulls in with the corn. This gives the
dish a slightly sweetish-sour taste that j
find very pleasant
Mrs. Murray has all of the best Indian
facial characteristics-high cheek bones
and hair possessing that shiny CLINT thai
flashes upon that of our ahorigines. Her
eyes are keen and deeply set.
Il show in many OF my actions the
presence Of my Indian blood" she con-
tinued. Mr.. Murray laughs at me. for
when I attempt to show any one the
height of an object do 1t in Indian
fashion. Instead of holding my hand
parallel with the floor at the distance
and by the tips Of my fingers indicate the
limit of the objects height. This Is a
true Indian characteristic.
II love the outdoors. but in Washington
I do not have the opportunity to be out
as much as 1 should like. At home I
used to tramp out in the woods all Of
the time. 1 have never lived In a tent
but know should like to.
II am indeed proud of my Indian blood
and of the fact that / am one of the true
Americans. 1 think the Indians are the
noblest race Of humanity and are at the
same time the least understood. They
are so sympathetic and kind hearted and
SO true to friends once they have made
friendships. I have heard 1t told how the
old Chickasaw chiefs made journeys back
to the Mississippi region time and time
again just to see the old home. think
/ have that characteristic developed in
me. l love the old things. Last month
the school where 1 attended at Bloom
field burned down. / actually felt per-
sonal loss.
ut was at the Bloomfield Seminary that
I prepared myself for teaching. I spent
four years there with the children. 1 md
Indian children very docile ana tender
hearted. also especially clever with their
hands. They draw and paint Beautifully
MY own children are quick with their
pencils. They would rather illustrate a
story than write one out. and they, do
very well. too. l am always amused at
the details they draw into the story"
Mrs. Murray has five boys. The older
, ones have her coloring. but the younger
, ones are perfect blends. Mr.. Murray Is
Of Scotch descent. His wife says that
; he is as proud Of his ancestry as she Is
: Of hers.
, In her home in Washington Mrs Muir
ray has an Indian curio Of great intrinsic
value-a crude stone pipe found IN the
, Wichita mountains beside the skeleton OF
the Indian Sequoyah. No one knew until
a few years ago just how TINS famous
old Cherokee chief met his death. The
, skeleton was Identified by q silver medal
that Sequoyah is known to have worn;
The pipe which Mrs. Murray owns and
, q long-handied frying pan were the only
objects found with the great chiei: whose
statue Is now being made for the No
tfonal Capitals Hall OF Fame.
~
Across the Potomac. in Virginia. are
. rnany scions of the most aristocritic fam
lilies who pride themselves upon their de-
scent from Pocahontas the brave daugh-
, ter Of Powhatan. who saved the life or
; Capt John Smith and afterward married
John Rolfe. one Of his band. Among
those who claim to- have descended from
this union are the Bolings. Fleminss.
> Murrays, Guys. Robertsons. Whites and
, Elbridges, ,also that branch of the Ran
dolphs from which descended John Ran
J dolph of Roanoke. who was very proud
of his direct descent from the IND an
, princess" Some of his marked traits
were attributed to his aboriginal blood.
{ The late Episcopal Bishop OF virginia
DR.. Francis NJ. Whittle. also claimed de-
scent from Powhatan and Pocahontas
, Blood of the American aborigine
5 courses in the veins, also. OF Porforio
2 Diaz, the former President of Mexico;
His wonderful strength of body and OF
will is generally attributed to that
strain Of blood. The former United states
= senator from Kansas, Charles curtis.
was very proud of the fact that he was