Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-07-02

than the rule, where they were treat
ed with fairness. In a way they were
intensely religious, but the Great
Spirit seems to have been a myth OF
the white man. The Indian had no
conception Of a single, all powerful be-
ing. omniscient and ever-present. But
he invested all objects both animate
and inanimate. with certain spiritual
powers. some with power for good and
others with power for evil. He be-
lieved there was soul not only IN
man and animals around him. but In
every bush and tree and flower. The
glow from n sunset. the call OF bird.
the fall OF an acorn. the eddy In
stream. all meant something to him In
n spiritual way: and he believed that
certain birds and animals possessed
powers even beyond man himself. II
Is said that the Happy Hunting
Grounds" the home of departed spir-
its. Is another poetic invention OF the
white man, as the Indian regarded
hunting and fishing as the hardest
kind OF manual labor. and his Idea OF
future place where he would be
supremely happy. was where he would
have nothing to do but eat. play
games. sing and dance.
Many of the tribes were made up
of different clans of those who were
closely related by blood. and the to-
TEN of the clans was some animal to
which they looked for protection. and
from which in some cases. they be-
licved they were descended. From
living so close to nature. 1t is not
strange that birds. trees and animals
entered largely into their religion and
folklore. The Indian trend of thought
was poetic. and expressed itself In
terms abounding in metaphors and
figures Of speech.
Many Indian legends. like that OF
Hiawatha, have been immortalized
and taken a permanent place In the
worlds literature. The Indian langu-
age was rhythmical and flowing.
sical rhythm of many of their words
were sound pictures of the things
they represented. Some of the old
Indian legends and traditions strongly
resemble those recorded in Holy Writ.
Especially Is this true Of the story OF
Joseph and the feeding Of the Children
of Israel in the wilderness. Other le-
gends suggest the mythology OF the
Greeks and Romans. The cardinal
virtue Of the Indian was to conceal
ones emotions, to bear pain and show
no sign. From earliest childhood they
were taught to have contempt for
suffering, and to endure torture with
out the quivcr Of muscle. GninrS
Of chance were enjoyed not only for
the hope of gain. but that gave the
loser an opportunity to show his for
titudc II nc happened to lose every
thing he possessed.
Among some tribes theft was so un-
usual that no punishment for that
crime was provided for in their laws.
If an Indian made promise, he kept
that promise to the letter, no matter
what the consequences were to HIM
self. Instances are on record, where
an Indian. under sentence Of death.
has been allowed to visit his people.
with only his promise that he would
return at the time appointed for the
execution. and there Is no record OF
one who failed to keep his word. No
individual Indian owned land; he was
at liberty to cultivate what he dcsir-
ed but it did not belong to him. and
when he ceased to plant 1t, anyone
else had the same right to use 1t.
About the only Hrtfcfss that an m
dian owned were his weapons. the
few household implements and tents
belonging to the wife. A curious fact
in their domestic relations was that a
mans children belonged to the moth
cr's clan. and they inherited from
their unclcs on their mothers side
instead OF from their father. The In
ulan nad BoOd ucal ol tne tHedtTcdi
in his makeup. and was n postmaster
in the art when 1t came to imposing
ceremonials and occasions calling for
solemnity and impressive ritual. The
dress Of most tribes consisted Of
hunting shirt and leggins of deerskin.
Some sort of n robe or blanket was
universally used either for warmth or
dignity. Given n greasy blanket. and
the warrior could drape II about his
person togafashion, in n way that
would have made n Roman senator
green with envy.-C. A. d. in Green
vile News.