The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-07-09
CEREMONY is UNIQUE
Many Picturesque Sites for
Dances Along the
Illinois
BARBECUE IS SIDE ISSUE
In Recent Years Custom of
Dancing Has Been Aban-
doned
sreclal 10 The wnrld-

specl,l to Tho World
TAllLEQUAH. July s.-For tho
first time In many moons the chant
ana piercing whoops Of Indian
stomp dancers were heard here
Tuesday night.
After all tho various cntertaln-
monts had been disposed OF and
whom tho moon began TO cast its
Hight over the treetops OF the en-
circllng hills. big fire was built
In wide street opposite the court
house square and soon the dance
was on. Old-timcrs were reminded
Of the bygone years when such
dances were OF more frequent oc-
currenco than now, aud when moro
ceremony was observed At the
regularly established grounds whore
tho dances were held at intervals
especial caro- was observed In hav-
ing all things In preparation. All
grass was removed ana the chosen
spot was as smooth and bare aa a
floor. In the cent r q tall pole was
erected and the fire was kindled on
n certain spot. the flames being
kindlcd with fire brought from
fireplace wherein the Goals were
never allowed TO become oxtin-
gulshed throughout the years. Ac-
cording to tradition tho sacred
fire" had been kept alive through
out years unknown. Although
wh'n the Cherokee delegates rep
resenting the eastern and westrn
hranchs OF their original nation
met in convention In the summer of
1889 10 formulate an act OF union.
II was stated that the ancient coun-
ell fire had been extlnguished in
tho east. there are those who are
OF tho belief that the ancient cere-
mon'al dance fire was never ex-
tinRulshcd and that the fires kim
died az dancos in Indian territory
were surviyorsSas II were of the
olden fires which once burned
brightly along tho Cooasa river.
cleaned along the slopes OF the
Alleghenica or blazed beneath the
shadows OF storied Lookout noun
tain. Anyway, tho fires which
lighted up tho darkness or night in
the Flint, Tahlequah or other dis
tricts OF the Cherokee nation In the
west were by many looked upon as
Hncred and as having peculiar sig
ultiCanCe.
one Of tho famous dancing places
I'm this section Is some miles east OF
Tahlcquah, beyond the Illinois river
and In tho midst OF picturesque
mountain region.
Each summer when new corn
md watormelons were coming Into
use the dance was held. People in
wagons and on horseback journeyed
mllQs In order 10 witness the dane
tyl 30 thaNntp
OF the most enthusiastic dancers
was n man who had attained more
than so years OF age. His home
was far west OF the hills wherein
tho dance was held but that was no
deterrent IlitChlng 4 sedate old
pony into tho shafts OF light
buggy. tho aged man, with a
feather in the band OF his hat.
would set forth and after hours OF
travel over the rugged trails arrive
al his destination. II hts appear
ance had been taken as criterion
almost any observer would have
pronounced him too old and stiff
ana feeble 20 take any part in tho
rapid movements OF the dance.
However tho old mans muscles
seemed made Of steel and he was
almost tlrclegB Tho longer the
dance continued the more enthused
he became, ana at length his
whoops rang out even as they had
done In his early days, before tho
old age spirit had .trcaked his hair
with gray and traced deep wrinkles
la his face.
During a number OF years past
the stomp dances have TO a large
extent fallen into neglect, but oc-
casIonal!y souo man Ia found who
SEEKS 10 keep alive some Uf tine age
old customs and ceremonies, and
wherever such men are found there
ls likely 20 DO held at some spot
during tho summer or fall season
a big dance with all the attributes
OF tho early days. While the
dancers perform their steps and
chart ana whoop Mt stated inter-
walls, there is 20 be heard tho beat
ng OF the small tom tom, while
there IS clacking OF terrapin
shells. Sometimes handful OF
salt lis thrown into the fire, all these
because of suuc ancient usage, tho
meaning of rhich Is lost to practI-
,auy an who attend. Some OF the
songs are sa'' 10 have been In use
before Christopher Columbus ven-
tured out upon the broad bosom or
the unknown nd uncharted Al
lanNc,
Harbccued meat always TO be
had when there is a big stomp"
dance. In early times the flesh OF
tho Ger was used but now a steer
is slain and when cooked to nice
brown turn the feast is r,1dy. In
nastily-eot',u-Lp dances for the
ediflcatlon of fourth OF July
crowd much Of the usual ceremony
IS dispensed with.