The sun., 1919-09-07

VIM lied. Me think me
J. W get civilized me lie
nal cheat. Some day big sleep come.
II. want to % to Happy Hunting
. nrounds, me want to see Great Spirit.
Ma want to see me grandfather. Me
"a think white man go. to heaven
This was a stalwart seminoie's an
,v,r given with all the Difference of
shieftain. TO my attempt at telling
MN something Of civilization and the
white mems religion.
The Seminole brave is the most
u,r,eht man In the world; he is alto
rather moral and he never lies. cheats
m steals, nor ever breaks his word,
rhge his wonderful squaw holds a
rank in her family and community
unriyalled among all the women OF
earth"
This marvellous pronunciamento
issues from the lips Of Mrs. Minnie
4 Moore Wilson Of Kissimmee, Fla, SUI
prsme authority on the once powerful
Seminole nation. who live in the least
known wilderness Of tho world, the
Everglades OF Florida.
The magnificent vest of Mrs. Will
sons colorful costume Is a superb In
dan bead embroidery, every hue and
figure an occult symbol. 1t is valued
al hundreds Of dollars and is tho :
Of an Indian chief in token .Lrs,
Wilson'S research and v,..4..e labors
| In behalf Of his re- - over twenty
years.
On Mrs. Wilson's desk in her apart;
ment at the Hotel Imperial lies the
I gold pen presented to her by Gov
. Cats Of Florida and used by him in
1871 to sign the bill allotting 1oo.oo
acres in the Everglades Of Florida for
the use of the Seminoles.
On the table hard by repose 1.-THE
seminoles Of Florida" 1.-THE Jungle
Life Of the Seminoles" and other works
by Mrs. Wilson's pen on the vanishing
red race who dwell In "the weird
drowned prairies Of Florida"
Women Make own Money.
The Seminole women" pursues
Mrs. Wilson, make their own money
and handle their own money. They
own the children, and pedigrees and
ncestries are traced through the ma
iernal line. The woman is the head
Of the family and Of the camp, and on
marriage the husband forsakes hi,
camp and moves to that Of his wife
immortality never becomes a ground OF
martial unrest because It is unknown
the penalty being death. But should
the couple prove Incompatible. or the
marriage be unhappy for othel
reasons, the wife has the power tC
divorce her husband, appearing before
the camp council with her case ana
naming her husbands punishment.
The Seminole language contains n,
\ oath. nor any word to express dis
respect to the Giver of Life. and fol
this reason a missionary receive.
respectful attention, for the Seminole
reverence does not allow him tc
laugh at His messenger. The Floridf
Indian not only believes in the Grea
Spirit but he believes in Gods Son
who came on earth and lived with the
Indians long time ago to make then
good Indians and to prepare them fol
the big sleep when E-shock- tome
see calls them hence and their spirit.
journey to the Happy Hunting Grounds
OF their fathers over the seven coloret
rainbow of the heavens--the highway
OF the Great Spirit.
'Habitually secretive with the white
man, whom he has learned to distrust
when kindly sincerity has once woI
his confidence he becomes as trustfu
and conhding as a little child, and viii
sI Tor hours at a time recounting hii
national history, myths and customs
Is well as his family and community
news Billee Bowlegs pays an annual
visit to my home, coming from his fai
away Jungle as a representative OF hi
people, and no ambassador from q for
eisn country could show more innate
tenement, more courtesy or a NOR
sentemanly bearing than does thii
uneutored Indian of the Everglades
Manners FauItIess.
We have never detected him watch
ing our movement. at table, or any
Nhere else, yet his manners are fault
less | am shocked in the restaurant!
Oh New York by comparison. He al
ways considers II a part of his visi
relate with exactness the numbe
" births, the marriages and the DEATH
% The tribe, while we in our turn pl.
MN with questions.
Knowing that they leave thei
money their triukets and their gar
msnts In the open wigwam. We aske'
u nm: BIllee, your money. you leav
nm wigwam. you go back. money hi
opus IAN gone).'
indian no take 'em-Indian n
s'su' he replied. We tried to I'M
Oul what the punishment would be Il
Sise OF theft, but he only said again
As DON'T know. Indian no take EN-
Halan no steal
"The siu,n1o g.. "a .sA, -.