Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 27, Number 47, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 22 May 1897 — Page 6

u-

INDIANS OF ARIZONA.

MR.

A. OBER AMONG THE MOQUIS AND NAVAJOES.

The Serpent Worshiper* at Home—Snmke Dance Around the Sacred Bock—A Repulsive Ceremony to Propitiate the Kain

God—Way* of a Strange People.

[Special Correspondence.]

HOLBROOK, A. T., May 12.—You wouldn't be inclined to stop over at this station at all if yon came npon it casually without any intimation of what great attractions lay concealed in the desert region to the north of it. But having been "posted" as to the possibilities here I recklessly dropped off the the regular Santa Fe train as it halted a moment and intrusted myself to fate and the natives.

Fate was kind, the natives were trustworthy, and the upshot was that I accomplished the object of my stop over, which was to see the rare and wonderful Moquis in their native haunts. These Indians five just about 100 miles north of here, on their reservation, which, as it is pretty much all desert and cactas, has not been taken away from them by their white brothers. To reach the Moqui pueblo, or village, you must hire a guide with a team for your luggage and strike out northwardly, generally two days of severe traveling through a region which has been neglected by God and man.

OB the way we encounter the rude huts, or "hogans," of the semicivilized Navajoes, who, despite their nomadic and barbaric state of existence, are weavers of the most beautiful blankets made in this country. They are also silversmiths of some skill.

Toward evening of the second day, if you are fortunate, you will reach Ream's canyon, where lives the only white man on the trail and where generally a square meal and awash up can be obtained, fie sure to indulge in both these luxuries, because they are the last you will get until you reach this point again on the way out. Ten miles farther and we arrive at the base of an almost perpendicular mesa, 600 feet high, on the summit of which are the three Moqui villages of Tehua, or Tegua, Sichonivi and tiuulpi. The last is the most pic-

MOQUI MAIDENS.

tnresque and consists of a collection of typical "pueblo" houses of stono and adobe from two to five stories in height, each story on a receding terrace with a platform in front of it The entire mesa is a vast sandstono rock, perhaps threo miles long and from 20 to 200 feet in breadth, as bare of vegetation as the palm of one's hand, and with three small villages cropping out of it like huge excrescences of adobe and of the same general color as the rock upon which they are perched.

Here reside those strange people the Moquis, who were discovered 850 years ago, but who haven't changed an iota of their customs or mode of life since their iirst rcvealment to whito men. All this, I presume, is well known to the average reader, for they have been visited by tourists and scientists, and their dwellings, as well as the mesa upon which thoy stand, have been reproduced in miniature and may be seen in our museum at Washington.

But the real attraction hero, tho function which induces one to visit this Indian mountain city, is the weird and wonderful snake dance which takes place every other year in the month of August It was my misfortune to arrive ahead of the time set for this important ceremonial, but, as the next performance is scheduled for this very year and as I canuot return to witness and describe it. I will avail myself of the vivid description furnished me by a very intelligent friend, who was at the last snake dance, and whose photographs, as well as his word paintings, are herewith for the first time given to the public. Like myself, he was hospitably rewived by the Moquis, who assigned him quarters in oue of the mud houses and permitted him to photograph the proceedings. It is quite difficult to secure good photographs of the dance itself, owing to its takiug place at or near •unset and on the east side of the rock, near the edge of the perpendicular cliffs.

Here stands a big rock of eroded sandstone about 15 feet high and shaped like an hourglass, very near to which are the estufas, or underground council chambers, hewed like cisterns out of the bed rock of the mesa. This sandstone pillar is called the Sacred rock, and around it the snake dance is performed. It was 6 o'clock before the first sign* of the corvnmuy were made mani-j fast by the appearance of some half a doaen women with baskets of the "sacred meal," who came out ef one of the houses. The participants in the danoe wore men only and consisted of 1? members of the "antelope" and 88 of the "snake" fraternity. For three days previously they have fasted and abstained from all int*nxuim with othera, which time tbry *pem in searching for snakes on the plain below the mesa.

They collected at least 100 snakes, most of them vigorous and deadly rattlers, which they deposited in an estufa, ready for the ceremonial.

They have a tradition that their branch of the Moquis is descended from the rattlesnake, who is consequently their "elder brother," and this is the motive for their dance—to propitiate the snakes and cause abundant rain for their crops. They are not snake wor shipers in the generally accepted sense, but they are venerators of his snakeship and never kill one unless under great provocation. The snakes themselves are not deprived of their fangs, but are as deadly poisonous as any to be found, though the high priest administers a decoction to the dancers which is said to neutralize their poison.

Daring the day preceding the dance the snakes are washed and placed at the foot of the "kisi," or altar, of cot tonwood boughs, and at last, just as the sun is sinking, the "antelopes" file in and marwh around the Sacred rock, one of their head men swinging a flat stick at the end of a cord, which produces a noise like the roaring wind and thunder, which it is intended to represent. Then a rattling sound something like the jingling of sleighbells is heard, and in come the snake dancers. The chief priest, "ko-pa-li," a magnificent specimen of an Indian, marches proudly at their head, looking neither to the right nor left, and in his absorption nearly knocking over an intruding white spectator, but without noticing him keeps on to the end of the plaza and around the rock.

All the dancers are nearly nude, but are fantastically painted with white clay on their chins and black stripes on their breasts. On their heads they wear crowns of feathers and in their hands carry snake whips made of eagle feathers, with which they guide the squirming reptiles and cause them to uncoil when they attempted to strike. Then they commence a slow, rotary, swaying motion, accompanied by chant in minor key, at first like the singing winds and gradually ascending, while the priests keep up a continual quivering of their feather snake whips, and the leader swings around his head the great thunder charm. Suddenly at the height of the uproar one of the

dancers springs for the altar and thrusts his hand into the squirming mass of snakes, and is followed by the others until each one of every pair has two or three suakes in each hand and another dangling from his mouth, while bis companion charms them with motions of his snuke whip of eagle feathers. Some dance wildly with snakes protruding from their mouths others snatch up whole handfuls of the wriggling serpents and prance with them about the plaza. They seem to use no caution in seizing the most venomous rattlers, but while tickling them with their eagle feathers suddenly take them by the back of the neck and cram them into mouths or hands.

Finally, as darkness begins to settle around tho mesa, one of *!io dancers darts to the rock and makes a ring of sacred meal, within which the others one after the other drop their snakes, and then at a signal from the chief they all plunge their hands into the hideous mass and drag them out again. Each dancer takes a handful and starts at a run, with the snakes dangling and hissing. for the plain beneath, where, at the foot of the mesa, all the serpents are released and crawl away to their respective dens. Then the Indians run rapidly up the steep cliffs again to a point where they are met by the women of the pueblo, who strip and bathe them and administer a "hell broth" which acts as an emetic. After this, as they have eaten nothing for three days, they fall to upon the viands brought them by the women and gorge themselves like boa constrictors. Their countenances then relax they are all smiles and graciousness once more and receive the congratulations of their friends for having saved the coming crops from drought and their herds from starvation.

This, as briefly told as possible, is the famous snake dance of the Moquis, which will be repeated this summer about mid-August The people who perform it are well worth a transcontinental journey to see in their aerial dwellings of rock and adobe, and the dance can be witnessed in no other part of the world. FRED A. OSKB.

RcmoTtng

Stains.

Of all linen stains those made by peaches are the most obstinate, but these will yield after long soaking in a weak solution of chloride of lime, one feablespoonftil of lime to four quarts of water being the proper proportion. Grass stains can be removed by soaking in cream at tartar water. For wine spots sprinkle first with salt, and after a short time stretch the linen over a bowl and pour boiling water from a tea kettle held at a considerable height so as to let the stream fall with force upon the stain.—Popular Science News.

PRETTY NEW WAISTS

PERCALE, GINGHAM AND GRASS GIVEN LEAD IN OQPULARITY. ...

How Some of the Most Handsome Are

WAISTS AND UNDERWEAR.

ers, as they are for every day and are to be washed often. Ginghams are next in point of usefulness, and when the colors are well chosen they make handsome waists. Some of these are very near like men's shirts. The bosoms are plaited, the yokes the same, and ^he collars made detachable. The cuffs are usually sewed fast. The sleeves and cuffs are cut on the bias. These are very useful waists, as they do not soil quickly, but they are not so dressy as others. The blouse is a favorite for the belted waist and is made of all the materials now in vogue, with more or les3 ornamentation down the front. Some are very much trimmed, and the trimming does not look out of place. A very pretty blouse shirt waist was made of pongee, and also copied in grass linen, which bids fair to be very popular for cool waists all this season too. This had a yoke double pointed in front and with one point in the center of the back. On each point in front was a tiny pocket for watch and oar fare. The blouse portion was laid in loose box plaits, and the front plait was corded and stitched in four rows and fastened with ivory buttons. The edge of the yoke and collar was piped with brown silk. The collar was quite simple. The sleeves were full bishop and had cuffs to match the collar and yoke in the piped edge. This was a very refined model and one that middled aged ladies would find becoming, as well as young ones.

For young ladies there was a very dainty waist of polka dotted surah in old rose with pale blue dots. The sleeves were tight to the top and had upturned cuffs of very pale blue silk. The yoke was closely laid in knife plaits, and the lower part was gathered full in a slight blouse form at the bottom. There was a wide crush belt of pale blue with a fancy side bow, and the stock was made of the same with a smaller but similar bow. There was double ruifle of the same surah, with fancy edge of crocheted blue silk in the form of three leaves. This was sewed to all the edges. This ruffle formed a bertha across the front and extended in the back into bretelles.

Among the novelties which belong to the shirt waist one finds gingham collars and cuffs to match. These contrast with the waist, and the more sharp the oontrast the better. Some are entirely plain, and some are bound with ribbon. These will not wash. One kind has a queer sort of cravat bow, gathered and fastened in the center, the edges bound with ribbon. One pretty white linen choker had slits through which pink taffeta ribbon was passed. The ribbon was twice as wide as the collar and so formed puffs and then tied in a double bow at the front.

There was a chemisette front to wear with an eton or other open jacket worth not only mention, but faithful copying. The front was of very pale pink taffeta laid in three flat box plaits. There was

JACKET,

WRAP

A2TD

TERBE HAUTE SAttJKDAY EVENLNG- MAIXi, MAY 22, 1897:

Hade and Trimmed Gingham Collars and Cnffll to Match —Comfort For a Warm

I D»y.

[Special Correspondence.]

NEW YORK. May 17.—Separate waists will fill a large place in fashion this summer. One would not have believed they could have such dressy effects two years ago, though even then they were quite a vogue. Now they are seen everywhere and are made of everything that one can imagine. There are percale waists by the thousand, these being made rather more plainly than the oth-

WAIJUKO OOW*.

a dog collar of the same. Over the edga of the collar and diagonally down the front there were tabs of fancy insertion bordered by narrow white lace. In front there was a gentleman's necktie of ashen gray grosgrain. This was very dressy, as well as pretty.

The pinafore waists will be worn to quite an extent The upper part of the waist being cot away permits the wearing of a guimpe of very thin material, and this is rery comfortable cm a warm day. There was a black grosgrain dress, the skirt being plain. The whole corMgiwaa laid in side plaits from the

41 i&dkaA.jdl

•boulder to belt There was a fold of directeur green down the left side, with dull gold buttons in breton clusters. The crush belt was made of the same silk. Across the chest was a straggling design of gold braid and green chenille. The guimpe was of white crepe lisse over pink silk muslin, with a lace ruffle at the back of the stock. The sleeves were tight at the bottom, and just above the elbow they were laid in upstanding folds. Other folds, laid in the lame way and stitched along the center of each fold far enough to keep it in position, formed the puff to the sleeve.

A very useful garment for run about and for short railroad trips is the plaid jacket wrap. It has no sleeves, but has got good, roomy pockets.

OLIVE HARPER.

LITERARY NOTES.

Sherlock Holmes Fifty Tears Ago—Authors and Their Methods of Work. [Special Correspondence.]

BOSTON, May 17 —It has remained for one of the bluestockings of the modern Athens to spring the literary sensation of the decade upon an unsuspecting public. Those remarkable detective stories,"The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes," which made the name and fame of A. Conan Doyle, have become familiar to book lovers through out the world. No one has appeared as yet upon the literary horizon to lay a charge of plagiarism at the door of Mr. Doyle, but the Boston bluestocking declares that Sherlock Holmes is not an original creation. In that famous old magazine, Chambers' Edinburgh Jour nal, for 1849, will be found a series of detective stories, "The Recollections of a Police Officer," by X. Y. Z., that breathe the very spirit of our latter day Sherlock Holmes, or rather wo should say the Holmes stories breathe the spirit of 1849.

A private letter from England informs us that the dwelling known as Bock House, where Mr. and Mrs. Budyard Kipling are living, at Torquay, is ideally reposeful and secluded. It was the residence of Sir Thomas Colt until his death a few years ago and is situated between Torquay and Turnmouth, though nearer the former town. It is off the main road and approached by a quiet lano leading toward the sea. From the house are obtained charming views of sea and coast. Here tho novelist will not be troubled with tho unwelcome attentions of excursionists.

The poet Clinton Scollard, who is living at Clinton, Hamilton county, N. Y., is writing the concluding chapters of his second historical novel. His first long essay in fiction is being published in The Chautauquan as a serial.

Boston literary critics pronounce Theodore H. Hittell's "History of California," recently issued, a marvelous pieae of workmanship. As the author of the only real philosophical history of California, Theodore H. Hittell occupies an important place among writers. His life and early training throw much light on the work that is sure to give him permanent reputation. He comes of good Pennsylvania stock and was born in 1880. The family moved west to Ohio, and young Hittell, after a coui'se in several western schools and colleges, entered Yale and was graduated in 1849. In boyhood and youth his favorite authors were Carlyle and Goethe. He was a devourer of books, and when he began the study of the law he carried into it the same wide reading that had marked his college studies. He removed to California in 1855 and has been since identified with journalism and the law.

The veteran poet, Bichard Henry Stoddard, believes that much of his best work is accomplished in theseclusion of his library at home after the hour of midnight. "My poems," said Mr. Stoddard lately, "are all composed in my mind before I place them in writing. I may work out a particular subject in my mind sometimes for weeks and months before I attempt to transfer it into verse on paper."

Thomas Bailey Aldrich, while the editor of The Atlantic Monthly, waa the first to notice Bliss Carman's poems, and he began to print tfiem in that magazine. Since that time Mr. Carman has rapidly won distinction and com manded recognition from the most severe critics here*and in England, yet he seems curiously indifferent to popularity, and persistently refuses all inducements to allow his work to be published in book form. In person Mr. Carman is tall and of athletio build. He is about 80 years old and a most indefatigable worker. His manners are reserved and gentle almost to timidity. He is a Canadian by birth and education, coming from one of the old loyalist families that settled the provinces at the time of the Revolution. While at school and college he was passionately fond of canoeing, snowshoeing and an outdoor wandering life, much of his time both in winter and summer being spent on the rivers and in the woods. He gained the repute of being as expert a canoeist a? an Indian, and today be is pronder of his skill in that art than his literary success. After graduating from the University of New Brunswick Mr. Oarman spent several years in further study at London, Edinburgh and Harvard, devoting himself especially to English and philosophy, but going back every vacation to the wild, roving life of a half woodsman, half dreamer, on his own family streams. The beautiful Evangeline country in Nova Scotia is one of his favorite stamping grounds, and he has written much of the wide marshes and the enormous tides of that peaceful region. ANDREW

The People are Convinced

When they read the testimonials of cures by Hood's Sarsaparilla. They are written by honest men and women, and are plain, straightforward statements of fact. The people have confidence in Hood's Sanaparilla because they know it actually and permanently cures, even when other medicines fail.

Hood's Pills are the only pills to take with Hood's Sarsaparilla. Easy and yet efficient.

JVom th» Courier-Herald, Saginaw, Mich. That we know not what a day may bring forth is an old adage and a true one. To-day our skies are bright and sunny we have health, strength and activity. We reckon confidently on the future and lay our plans accordingly, but when that to-morrow comes we may be stricken suddenly down by the hand of disease, and lie on a bed of suffering and sorrow.

Every day we see illustrations of this feet among the friends in our own circle. To-day they are well and strong and are pursuing their daily labors to-morrow the afflicting hand of disease or death has brought them down to helpless illness or thegrave. Among the many ills that afflict humanity, and one that baffles the highest medical skill of the

Ieaves

iresent day, none is more feared and none the victim more helpless or hopeless of ultimate relief than that known as paralysis.

Sometimes it creeps gradually over the victinij perceptibly closing its ever tightening coils from day to day and again it comes like a lightning flash, and the once strong man or woman is more helpless than a child. Such was the case with Mrs. Ruth Wolcott. the wife of Rev. H. B. Wolcott, an esteemed minister of the gospel, living on their handsome farm a few miles from the thriving little town of Blanchard, Isabella County, Michigan.

While attending to her daily duties the hand of that dread disease, paralysis, waa laid heavily upon her, and when she waa alone at her fireside.

In conversation with a Courier-Herald representative, who had heard of her severe case and cure, she spoke as follows: "The stroke came on one aay shortly after dinner, The men had just gone out on the farm to work in the fields, and I was ironing. All at once I felt a flash over my brain like an electric shock and something that seemed like a bead of perspiration seemed to run down my left lower limb into ray shoe. I sat down for a moment and then, feeling better, resumed my ironing. Again, in a few minutes, there came another flash over my head, and again there was the peculiar sensation of something running down my side. Then knew that something serious was about to happen and I made haste to reach a bed, where I fell, under the influence of paralysis. After I had laid there for a few minutes my husband came in and, not seeing me where had been working, he looked for me and found me lying helpless.

My speech was not affected, and I told him what was the matter. A doctor was at once sent for to the village of Blanchard, a few miles awav, and he came out to the form in about three hours, but he could not afford me any relief. This was three years o—in April, 1892—that I suffered from this stroke of paralysis. It affected my loft side and rendered me helpless. For a year following this I had skilled medical attendance, using among other things an electric battery, but it all did me no good.

At this time I read in a paper about Dr. Williams' Pink Pills, and they were also recommended to me by some of my friends, who had heard of the many cures that they had effected in cases like mine. After I had been taking them for about two weeks I began to feel better and have continued to steadily improve. The paralysis was so bad that I could not walk around the house, but had to be lifted about. My left arm was also entirely helpless. I am now able to walk around and get out to call on my friends and neighbors, and am so well that I can get around very well. I used twenty boxes ot Pink Pills."

As Mrs. Wolcott concluded the recital of bar trouble the representative of The Courier

mm. wr-zm®. ft-?5 7^^ \y

STRICKEN DOWN BY PARALYSIS

ALONE AT THE TIME AND UNABLE TO MOVE For a Year a Woman Seeks Relief Without Success, but It Finally

Comes at Last.

Another Case of Nerve Exhaustion Cited, Which was Cured in a Similar Way by a Nerve Food.

The 1897 BEN-HUB BICYCLES embody more new and genuine improvements! In construction than any other bicycles now before the public. Never before havef such excellent values been offered lor the money. Oar new line, consisting of eight saperb models at $60, $75 and $126 for single machines, and $150 for tandems, with! the various options offered, is such that the most exacting purchaser can be entirely suited.

CENTRAL CYCLE MFQ. CO.,

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...

Herald could readily believe the many re ports of wonderful cures effected by the wonderful and popular remedial agent. Although Mrs. Wolcott is sixty-two years of age, and has suffered an affliction that might readily prostrate a younger person, she looked well and hearty, and gave evidence of strength and activity unusual for her age.

Inquiry at the two drug stores in the village near by brought forth the information that the case of Mrs. Wolcott was well known throughout that section, and was considered a remarkable cure. Both druggists reported that there was a steady demand for Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People.

From the Republican, Harbor Springs, Mich. One of the leading citizens of Northern Michigan is Mr. George W. Childs, who has made nimself famous as a success

Ail hotel

manager at the popular summer resort, Bay View. When Air. Childs first arrived at Bay View, some years ago, the resort business of Northern Michigan was still in its infancy. With the little money he had he purchased the Bay View House, but running a hotel in this part of the country at that time was rather up-hill business and he had to work night and day to make both ends meet. "When I came to Bay View I was a strong, robust man, bnt close confinement to my duties as manager of the hotel and the amount of hard labor I was compelled to do. soon told on me and Twas taken to my bed.

I immediately bepan doctoring but the physicians consulted aid me no good, and I

§ills.out

iud many hard-earned dollars in doctor

My nervous system was completely played out, I suffered severe pains in the nead and had no appetite. Finally I told my wife that 1 had determined to sell out and leave the country, thinking that a change of climate might be beneficial. But in tne midst of my sufferings, like the sunshine that breaks through a dark cloud, a messenger came from heaven, so to speak. While I wns perusing my morning paper I chanced to glance at an article speaking of Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People. I saw that they were said to cure exactly what seemed to ail me—shattered nerves and sick headaches. "1 told my wife about my discovery but she said it would only be another useless expenditure. I, however, thought 'nothing ventured, nothing gained,' and determined to have a box, as they cost only 50 cents. By the time I had taken half the box I felt much relieved, ami then I knew that I had struck a remedy much better than a physician and certainly a good deal cheaper. "After I had used the whole box I was able to leave my bod. I persevered in taking them and when the fourth box was gone I was as you see me now—a perfectly well man. To Dr. Williams' Pink Pills I owe my life and 1 wish I could sing their praises throughout the land that all might know the life-giving power of these little pellets. Certainly suffering humanity has had no better friend than Dr. Williams' Pink Pills."

Dr. Williams' Pink Pills contain, in a condensed form, all the elements necessary to give new life ana richness to the blood and restore shattered nerves. They are an unfailing specific for such diseases as locomotor ataxia, partial paralvsis, St. Vitus' dance, sciatica, neuralgia, rheumatism, after effect of la

P"

heart.

wmimfiniddtliiUlrtir 1 i-''Wr miTifti^ftrtiliniiiiiiVii wi. J-- .a»^- •-.«

nervout headache, the ifrippe, palpitation of the

mle ami sallow complexions, all forma female. Pink Pills are sold by ail dealers, or will be sent post paid on receipt of price, 60 cents a box, or six boxes for $2.60 (they are never sold in bulk or by the 100), by addressing Dr. W/i Hams' Medicine Company, Schenectady, N.Y

of weakness either in male or

A

BETTER THAN EVER

39

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