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About The Loup City northwestern. (Loup City, Neb.) 189?-1917 | View Entire Issue (May 2, 1902)
"jRefigioas Festi-Oal Among the FsKjmos. The Eakimo Easter i-. a religious festival, held in honor of the return of the sun to the north, and many gods, both greater and lesser divini ties, take part in it, being represented by a person disguised iu suitable cos tumes and wearing grotesque masks. For weeks before the festival dedi cated to the sun god, everybody is busily engaged in making masks. The tEskimns are born artists, and vie with each other as to who shall pro duce the most, grotesque faces. Some of the faces are exceedingly elabo rate, having attached to them small thz •r&ttig *furr wooden images of seals, hears, wal ruses, reindeer and other animals which are expected to be killed dur ing the approaching summer. Frequently little boats are hung upon the masks, every such append age having a special symbolic mean ing. The material used is nearly al ways driftwood, of which plentiful supplies are cast up by the sea along the shores of the Arctic Alaska. The largest and most complicated masks represent the most powerful divinities, especially the sun god, who is himself a diet} of attributes ex tremely formidable. It is his festival, and even the finger masks, which are held in the hands of the performers during the mystic rites, are made in his likeness. In order to realize the significance of the masks worn by the Eskimos at their Easter festival, one must under stand the belief which those people entertain regarding the quasi-super natural character of ail animate things. Their notion is that every living thing possesses a ghost of semi human form and features, which en joys more or less freedom of move ment. That is to say, the ghost of a walrus may. under certain conditions, TZl leave the body of the animal for a time, and may appear in Its semi human aspect to the eyes of men. The idea is expressed by some of the ceremonial masks, which have double faces, a wooden muzzle being fastened with pegs in such a way as to be removable, to show a human like face beneath. The same effect Is obtained by small hinged doors, which open outward disclosing the human-like face, which represents the ghost. The bladders of marine mammals 'huger ii&sEtf. MtPRF&EimiTG- THE QUIT GW. PMKMHMME/BB—M—B^jinSlCTi11 MMf rW/T CiMBflffHayrftMM are carefully removed and preserved, and at the time of the Easter, festival are inflated and hung up in the cere monial house. It is supposed that the ghosts of the slain animals continue to inhabit these bladders, which, later on. are-taken to a hole in the fee, opened, and thrust into the water under the Ice, so that the ghosts may return to their proper element. Thus liberated, the ghosts swim far out to sea and become reincarnated, so that the animals they represent tnay he killed and eaten again. Tho religion of the Eskimo, like that of the other sem'-savages, has much of witchcraft mixed up with it. An expert in magical arts is believed to have power to steal a persons ghost, so that the unfortunate thus deprived of his shade will pine away and die. Naturally, a misfortune of this kind is greatly dreaded. The finest collection of Eskimo masks in existence is owned by the National Museum, where the writer was permitted to take the accompany ing pictures. One Of the most not able specimens represents the head, neck and beak of a sandhill crane, nearly three feet In length. It is quite a unique curiosity in its way, the top of the bird's head being dug out so as to hold a small lamp, while two holes in front serve as eyes for the light to shine through. The light, it may be imagined, proceeds from the ghost of the crane resident within. Another curiosity is a finger mask representing a twinkling star—a carv ed face fringed with long feathers. Then there is a little mask, cleverly sculptured, designed in the likeness of a seal head. From the mouth of the seal projects a slender rod. turned up ward. with several small flat wooden ing their faros in a little box at the front end of the wagon. The senator saw a vacant space near the pay sta tion. He worked his way toward it, dropped into a seat, put his ticket in the box. and began reading a bulky document. Before he had read ten lines a lady asked aim if he would ‘‘Please be so kind.” and he dropped her fare in the box. This occurred again and again as people got into the herdic. Finally an o'd negro ‘‘mammy,’ with a basketful of washing sent up a quarter. The senator poked it out to the driver and was given a slip of tickets in return. He tore off one, dropped it in the box and handed the rest to ‘‘mammy.’’ It is contrary to herdic etiquette to buy tickets for a colored woman. She always wants “change." and the senator soon be came aware of his breach of custom by the tearful protests of “mammy.” “What am 1 to do?” asked tne Bos tonian. “I dunno an' I don’t care.” she said. “I wants twenty cents; I don't wrani no tickets.” Finally the senator fished a quarter out of his pocket, handed it to the old woman, who still had the tickets, 37/Zcffi: OFJL GOD A WLLOWITTG COTUC TKQ rTJSrVT 1'HIAUZd) ^ it\ disks fastened along its length at regular intervals. These disks are I bubbles rising from the mouth of I the seal, which is imagined to be un der water. Many such symbolic de vices are most ingenious, the rays of j the sun. for example, being indicated by feathers. All through Mexico and Central America, in ancient times, the faces of the dead were covered with masks of clay or metal, some of them of beaten copper, and only half a dozen years ago dozeus of skeletons wear ing copper masks were dug out of a group of burial mounds near Chilli cothe, O. In a prehistoric grave in Peru a silver mask was found on tho head of a mummy, and in this case, as well as in all others of the kind, a species of deification of the defunct was probably intended. The Aleutian islanders bury their dead with grotesque wooden masks over their faces, and the natives of the Prince William Sound region follow a like custom, their mortuary masks, for some unexplained reason, having usually one eye open and the other indicated by a slit merely, so as to give the expression of a comical wink. Some of the masks used in ceremoni als by the Indians of Vancouver is land roll their eyes and snap their jaws in a manner at once lifelike and grewsomo. But, in their way. the Eskimo masks here described are quite the moat re markable in the world. They are and jumped out of the herdie. Sh<\ W1J1 a smile of joy, tucked the tick ets and money in her pocket. WOES OF AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER His 'letinn Are Sometimes Not (irate ful for IIU Efforts. If the average amateur photographer would not attempt to make portraits! It is had enough to be misrepresented in an out-of-doors group, but when the snapshot man turns his attention to heads, and poses them near the camera it is too much. One of these mental tortures did this the other day. He cajoled a much photographed neighbor to allow him to practice upon her for the full face. His must have been an excellent lens, for nothing escaped it. It seemed to have X-ray qualities. It brought defects out of that poor woman's face of which she had never dreamed. There were big freckles which she had not seen since she was a child, wrinkles which made her 20 years older than she really was, savage Hues about hei mouth, ani her hair was turned into broomcorn. “There. I think that is a pretty good portrait,” said the amateur, as he turned over the result of his efforts tc the victim. “That is a good likeness.’ It was a likeness, too. There was the same strong resemblance which the caricaturist puts into his sketches and also the same hideous unlikeness. 2^£jJ<aC BE Id SUPPOSED TO LOOK ON Kid RETUJHT TO THE JLR VTEB A LOHGmnTER'di AHdENCE.. mm—.waii■ ————hit-—i~ni i mlulmmuju^^_ painted red, white and black, and some are as much as four feet high, while most of them are decorated with feathers, in addition to the curious images of animals, etc., attached to them with strings and pegs. Occa sional specimens are excellent por traits of individuals, the likenesses being so good as to be recognizable. SENATOR LODGE AS A CONDUCTOR. Not a huccMi Hli Experience with an Olil Negro “Mammy.’• Senator Ixtdge climbed into one of those ancient vehicles that run on some of the capital's streets and are called herdlcs by the natives. The wayfarers who use this brand of con veyance. says the Washington sorres spondent of the New York World, en ter through a rear door and act as conductors for the owners bv dvnosit with not even the humorous excuse foi it. It was all blank ugliness. No one will know the blow it was to the woman to receive that awful thing as her picture. Her friends only half guessed it when she timidly asked if they thought it looked very much like her. She had really believed the statement, sometimes wrongfully made, that the camera cannot lie. The camera Is an unconscionable hypocrite. —New York Times. tll» Imputation Was Hurt. The prosecuting attorney of Natrona county. Wyoming, has entered suit against F5 citizens of Casper, that state, fo. damages, aggregating $100. 000. The citizens circulated and signed a petition ask‘ng that he employ an assistant in » /mrder trial, and he al leges that, his , ersonal reputation was thereby damaged !n t.ha sum nrimoH I LORI DA BOASTS OF UNIQUE TOWN (Vher* th« Iiihnliltitnt« Pax No Tam ami Have No Vot«n. The existence of a singular town la Drought to notice by the Introduction ay Senator Mallory of Florida of a bill o provide public schools, one for white, the other for colored children n the town of Warrington. Fla. At the close of the civil war the business of the navy yard at Pensacola was considerable, and the number of employes was large. Many of the per sons woikiug in the ward “squatted” ipon the unoccupied land comprised within the limits of the naval reserva tion, and obtain permission from the Department to build homes thereon. The number of home builders in treased even after the temporary ac tivity of the navy yard was succeeded by the lethargy that came over the aavy and lasted for nearly twenty pears. In time, the group of houses issumed proportions of a town; then ,t took p name, and became Warring ton. The postofflce department rec bgnized the rights, gave it a postoffice, which later it made a money-order bfflce, and now the town has some 300 louses, six churches, several stores, ind a population of more than 1,500 persons. The commander of the Pensacola navy yard rules the town; the inhabi ants pay no taxes, and have no votes, l'he place is kept in order by the cap :ain of the yard, and “policed” as the rest of the naval reservation is. The bureau of yards and docks Installed ind maintains the electric lights and he sewer system, though very few of ;he inhabitants are employed by the government. By rar a greater part of bose who thus enjoy the nation's care ire engaged in tishing or in farming for a living. N THE AWFUL GRASP OF LEPROSY There Are 37S Cases In the Country and Only 73 Are Isolated. What is credited with being the most loathsome disease affecting mankind leprosy—has not a few victims in the l/nited States, there being 278 all told. Only 72 of the afflicted ones are iso lated. although the disease is conta gious and deadly once it fastens itself upon a victim. The number of lepers in ihe country was ascertained by a national medical commission sent out for the purpose. The cases they tound distributed by states as follows: Alabama, 1; California, 24; Florida, 24; Georgia. 1; Illinois. 5; Iowa. 1; Louisiana, 155; Maryland, 1; Massa •husetts, 2; Minnesota, 20; Mississippi, j; Missouri. 5; Montana, 1; Nevada, 1; New York, 7; North Dakota, 16; Oregon, 1; Pennsylvania, 1; South Da kota. 1; Texas, 3; Wisconsin, 2. Of these 176 are males and 102 fe males; 145 American born, 120 foreign born, and the remainder uncertain. The commissioners say that the foregoing figures do not represent the total number of lepers in the country, because the loathsome character of the disease causes persons affected to conceal It as long as possible. They also say that it is most frequently con tracted by inhaling dust where lepers have been living. The commission recommends the es tablishment of a retreat for lepers and expresses the opinion that It should be in the arid southwest or In a similar region further north, or an island In the Gulf of Mexico or the Pacilic coast. .. DIDN’T CLAIM TO BE ENTICING. Uvod Story retiring on the Ariatocrmcy of rhila<tel|ihlu. “The story of an Englishman who asked what a Philadelphia Biddle was recalls a recent experience of my own,” said a New York woman. "1 had only been in Philadelphia a short time when an acquaintance in vited me to accompany her to a lawn party on the grounds of the Metho dist Old Ladies' home. We had been walking around for some time look ing at the different booths, and. rath er tired, wo wfere directing our steps to a seat near at hand, when my arm was hastily grasped and an eager voice said to me: "‘Are you a Tyson?’ “In my amazement at the queer question and wondering if the reputa tion of my enticin' ways had preced ed me, 1 answered hurriedly: "‘No, 1 think not. I’m sure not.’ “My friend, who was convulsed with laughter, said to the questioner in a decided tone: “ ‘No. she is not.’ "As I turned to her she explained that Tyson was a well-known Phila delphia name, and evidently I resem bled one of the bearers of it.” (alltlloti'l Not (aljlIlOtllHMt* Most people believe that the inven tor of the guillotine perished by means of his own intention. As a matter ol fact. Dr. Joseph Ignatius Guillotin. a medical member of the Tlers-Etat. who had adopted an English instru ment (the Halifax Maiden) as a means of making the death penalty equal for all, died peacefully in Paris in 1S14, at the age of 76. says the London News. The common blunder was probably caused by an entry in the Annual Reg ister on thin day (February 28). in 17*14, to the effect that J. B. V. Guillo tine, M. I)., of Lyons, was executed lately: “It is an extraordinary thing that he should die by an instrument of his own invention. He died with great reluctance, and declared that when be produced his instrument to the world it was from motives of hu manity alone.” This alleged motive was founded on fact, but the date of his death and its manner were as imaginary as the initials affix OF COURSE THIS WAS IN IRELAND Experience of « I.arty visitor to • l.ltfle l»etftl'le Tiwn. I recently beard u good story In the west of Ireland It concerns the rising little seaside town of Lahinch, a placo which has recently developed tremen dously through the tourist and g,.|f booms. A few years ago the public baths, like most other institullons la the village, were very primitive. They were situated in a little cottage, which was just above the hi"h-water mark. Shower baths w'ere a specialty, and they were to be bad in a room which had a bathtub placed In the middle of the floor. On pulling a string a perfect deluge of bracing sea water came through the celling. A lady visitor once stood ready in the tub and gave the dread signal. But instead of the usual avalanche of green water there came from aloft the gruff voice of the fisherman-proprie tor of the baths. "If ve il move a taste more to the wesht, ma’am," said the voice, “ye’ll get the full benefit of the shower." looking up. she, to her horror, descried the old fisherman standing by an nperature in the ceil ing and holding a barrel of Eea w’ater ready for the douche! Whether the lady moved to the west and received the shower or not, the chronicler docs not relate. But Lahinch has made giant strides since.—T. P. O’Connor, In Igjndon M. A. P Young Croker’s Fancy Dogs. Richard Croker, Jr., has entered Cornell law school and has taken with him to Ithaca six dogs of the English hull species, said to be worth $16,000. They are the finest animals of the ca nine species ever seen in Tompkins county, and their arrival created quite a sensation when they were led through the streets. Wherever you go carry the oil of ivimlness in the can of courtesy. Money is "cold cash.” Not even a good circulation can make it warm. Nebraska Headquarters, Millard Ho tel, Omaha. Newly Furnished Through out. Central location. American Plan. $2 and l'p Per Day; European Plan, $1 and Up. The Lincoln. Opp. Depots, Lincoln, $2 and Up Per Day. Miss Brandon Once an Actress. Miss Braddon has published over sixty novels since 1862. Previous to trying literature, however. Miss Brad don appeared on the stage. There Is some doubt in the matter, but “An Old Player” has declared that the fu ture novelist made her debut at the Brighton Theater Royal in 1857, and that during the five following months she Impersonated as many as fifty eight distinct characters. Her stage name was Mary Leyton, and, though now known as Miss M. E. Braddon, she is really Mrs. Maxwell and a widow. Literal Illustrations. In Dolly Madison's prayer-book, which one of her godchildren gave me, are several quaint wood engravings, relates Victor Smith. The frontis piece is entitled "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done.” This book was published in 1844, not so long ago, yet this picture represents Christ kneeling upon the grassy ground in prayer, with what resembles a large silver goblet in front of Him. The “Smart Set” Still Wheels. Among the guests present at a recent meeting of the Torrington (Conn.) Wheel Club were the governor, chief justice, road commissioner and a con gressman of the state. H. S. Earle, of Michigan, president of the L. A. W., and Abbott Bassett, of Boston, secre tary of the 1^ A. W., together with the mayor, postmaster and all the local dignitaries. A philosopher is a man without feel ings and without regard for the feel ings of others. It’s often the woman that doesn’t know her own mind who is willing to speak it. __ I The most fashionable thing in heav en is realism in religion on earth. If You Suffer From Rheumatism try a bottle of MATT J JOHNSON'S OOS8. Guarantee goes with it. Effects of a big feast are almost as had as effects of a big drunk. Mother Gray'* Mnrcet Powders for Children Hueceesfully used by Mother Gray, nurse in the Children’6 Home in New York. Cures I-’e-eruhnesG, Bad Htomach, Teething Dis orders, move and regulate the Bowels and Destroy Worms. Over 80,000 testimonials. At all druggists, 35c. Sample FREE. Ad dress Allen S. Olmsted. LeHoy. N. Y. Blaming others is the way some peo ple have of praising themselves. To Cure n Cold in Oi.o day. Take Laxative Bromo Quinine Tablets. All druggists refund money if it fails to cure. 135c. Unprofessional people give advice, but professional people sell it. Pain—Hamlin's Wizard Oil. Use the last on Ihe find, and you will neither have one nor the other. It's a wise man who can be silent on any subject. YEI.lOW t l.orilts akk ux.siohtt.y. Keep them v.’hitn with Ked Dross Ball Blue. All grocers sell large a oz. package, 5 couts. When the king plays poker his red face won't pass for a royal flush. Superior quality and extra quantity must win. This is why Defiance Starch is taking the place of all others. Music, strangely enough, has to be rare to be well done. "ALL WRIOHT-FOR MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY" SfS EYES AND EYELIGS Prlco 20 Cantm. AII Orugglmtm. , WRIGHT'S INDIAN VEGETABLE PILL CtA, New Yarik '•^;^::;Thbmp*on,« Eya Watar Cane Seed For prices, write SMITH REFINING CO.. GROWERS. 9 Council Bluffs, la. State quantity desired. Pommel Slickers Keep the rider perfectly dry. Vo water C;»n leak In ou the eaddle, t eat extra wide and long In the aklrt. Kxtru protection at »houl t der oiui'i. \\ Hrrniitei! wm ter proof. If your, ’ / dewier d*«»n t / hare them write . for catalogue to f II. 11. HtWYIJIl k SO*, Sole M f r« —jKant 4 aiabridge, liwT Ease, Durability. 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I ^ll Havana Filler I ‘FLORODORA'BANDS are I of same value as tags from | 'STAR: 'HORSE shoe: n ‘spearhead: 'standard navy: I OLD PEACH & HONEY" I and U. T." Tobacco : --I 111! I