The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-07-04
Half Sun Dance
Now in Progress
Continued from page one

blankets and appeared clad in vari-
GUS kinds Of apparel that covered the
body, but not the limbs. Each had a
whistle in his mouth, and at the
outer end of each whistle feather
was appended by a string. All be-
gan blowing their whistles and dis
playing feathers attached to the
wrists. AS they marched they blew
the whistles in medley until they
formed within the arena When the
overture began it was soft and low,
but increased in volume and rythm,
running in waves, the men leading
and the women joining in at inter-
walls, their softer voices blending
beautifully with the mems. After
the second piece of music and at the
beginning of the third, the dancers
began moving forward and back,
blowing their whistles and looking
directly at the emblems on the
centerpiece. Each one moved indie
pendently of the others and rested
when he liked, retiring into the space
next to the stockade and reclining or
standing as he chose
until the dancers have had thoro
treatment and. are satisfied to quit.
They do not eat during the dance,
but fast like other people who have
fast days, sweat like people who go
to the hot springs or the mud bath to
sweat, exercise like those who play
golf or other games for health, fix
their minds on deity like those who
worship their Gods, direct their
thoughts to the divine power while
they dance as do those who manipu-
late the rosary and enthrone mind
over matters like those who say that
all Is mind and there is no matter.
After retiring for long rest and
sleep, the dancer takes bath in the
river, does more or less Of saying,
does his hair up to suit, spends as
much time as he cares to spend in
quiet meditation where he can listen
" Lne songs of the birds and the
voice of nature and finally comes
forth in the sunlight to mingle with
his fellows, to listen to the orators
who tell of the great spirit, the way
Oh iife, the coming, the passing
"hu ioW W COAuuCt tllcluO6ltoS So |
their hearts shall beat strong at sun
rise and their breath come full and |
free at noontide and courage fill their |
hearts so that the moan of the river |
and the signing of the north winds
shall be as music to their spirits and |
the south wind be as whispers of love
from the Giver of all fish and game
and plant life.
Then when the last of the speak
ers has finished and has no more
words, when he has spread out his
arms in benediction, when mind and
matter and spirit have had their
time and the great canopy of the
woodlands spreads its blessings
alike upon all, the matrons attired
-. u.osses gorgeously decorated with
elks teeth and sea shells pass among
'',S-1 and spread the great feast of
meats roasted upon the willows, and
aided by maidens clad in their Sun
day best, bring in one course after
another till they finish off with
delicacies from the cannery, the
= ny and perhaps from the cream
cry and the confectionery. Follow
IN" the feast come the athletic feats
for the young and the cavalry name
uvers of the warriors clad in war
bonnets and fighting array, and as
the evening comes on and throws her
mantle of peace over the world, the
red man sinks to slumber in sylvan
glaaes, where the chirp of the birds
answering their mates, mark the
hours of the night till the eye of the
Great Spirit again CLEANS over the
upon the gray plain and
lights up the tree trunk, the eagle !
and the buffalo head, where they OBJ
served His powers in the sun dance.