The Washington herald., 1921-03-22

NO, tnere Is no suggestion of ORR
entail draperies or clinging garments
about Miss Fitzgerald-rather the
fresh. free spirit of ut-of doors
just as she appears in her natty
riding costume out on the Montana
plains.
AUTHORITY ON RITUAL
OF HER ADoPTERs.
Yes. This devotee of the great
outdoors Is an authority on the
ancient tribal rit6al of the Black
feet, the possessor of occult secrets
never before revealed to a white
woman. She writes and talks
learnedly on the myths of the Sun
God, the symbolism of the Sun
Dance. She is versed in all the
sacred rites Of the Medicine Lodge,
the weird ceremonial for which an
nually hundreds of Blackfeet ride
over wind-swept prairies to Brown
ing
Miss Fitzgerald can also tell you
of the connection between the
Indian myths and rites, and the
religious conceptions of other
faiths. both Oriental and Occiden-
tai She has made a deep study
Of comparative religions with espe-
cial reference to the beliefs of the
Indians of North America, and finds
a unity in the fundamentals of all
religions that she ascribes to the
existence Of a common source in
divine, all-pervading truth"
And yet she is typical practical
minded, sensible" American
woman. Her keen. Intelligent face
reveals an undercurrent of good
common sense that balances the ro-
mantle and mystic strain in her
makeup which have led her into
these esoteric paths.
ALSO INDUCES
IN STUNT FLYING.
Not only is Miss Fitzgerald fond
of riding and all outdoor sports. but
she held the record last summer
I'm Montana for altitude and stunt
flying. Her last flight, at Butte,
was 5000 feet above sea level.
Miss Fitzgerald is now lecturing
for the Theosophical Society. of
which she is a member. In June
she goes abroad to fill a lecture
engagement in England. Scotland
and Wales. and probably in Ireland.
for the British section OF the So
ciety. She plans to stop for a short
rest at the Theosophical resort at
Geneva. and will then, Journey to
Paris for the world congress of
Theosophists scheduled for Septem-
ber.
DEPoREs LACK OF
INTEREST IN INDIAN.
Since her adoption by the Black
feet, Miss Fitzgerald has taken a
sympathetic interest in the "First
Americans" learning their tribal
lcre, and striving to interpret their
mystic beliefs in the light of Theo-
sophical teachings.
Miss Fitzgerald deplores the fact
that the white people of the United
states have failed to make the |
proper contact with sthe abor:gines,
and that the wealth of Indian lore |
is being lost 20 posterity,
1T seems strange that in this day
of the revival IF community drama |
and pageahtry, so roetical and |
beautiful spectacle as the sun
dance. replete with historical lore,
magnificently spectacular in all OF
Its gorgeous detail, should pass un-
noticed" observed Miss Fitzgerald. |
There is indeed on the part of
mistaken government officials. who |
have little knowledge Of, and NO !
sympathy with the Indians, a move
ment TO discourage native cere- |
monials. and Substitute for them |
the tawdry and commonplace co1n-
try fair, she continued II
SCORES TREND U. s,
KNOWLEDGE TAKES. |
II have attended these fairs with !
their depressing exhibits of pump
Kin and rutabagas; their horse races |
and vile 'buI!-Cogging' (wherei, |
human lives are rot inf-equantly |
lost). their brutal 'broncho- busting
and all the other features that make !
up the typical Western stampede
or roundup, or country fair.
Undoubtedly the Indians should
be encouraged IN agricultural pur-
suits, cattle-raising and such other
practical means of making live
lihood as our civilization has i'm
posed upon them, hut it is to he re =
gretted that in the process is be-
ing destroyed that beautiful. devel-
opment Of the ages, which springsl
from within and expresses at once |
the religion. tradition, poetry and |
artistic achievement of the race"
Miss Fitzgerald is the author of |
several books in which she has en-
deavored to interpret the genius of
the Indian people. Trails Through |
Western Woods THE White
Culver" "A History of Montana"
The Dream Maker" and Little |
Mother America"
T. w n