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About The Conservative (Nebraska City, Neb.) 1898-1902 | View Entire Issue (July 4, 1901)
Conservative * 11 SOME LEGENDS , MYTHS AND FACTS. Hidden , away in the "Geographical and Geological Survey of the Rooky Mountain Region" is a very extensive resume of the The-giha language by James Owen Dorsey. This language is the base of the Omaha and Ponca dialects , and in this work many legends and myths are elaborated ; they are printed first in the Indian , then translated into as good English as possible. There are a num ber in the collection , and they partake of the tone and substance of many Greek myths. Similar to "Grims' Fairy Tales. " One would almost think he had found a new edition of "Grims1 Fairy Tales , " or "Hawthorn's Wonder Book. " The perusal of these myths leads mete to believe that other tribes than the Omahas had legends and myths , and a brief correspondence with Capt. L. H. North , of Monroe reveals the faot that there were like myths among the Pawnees. Mr. North writes me a letter substantiating the article on "Indian Jugglery , " which appeared in THE CONSERVATIVE some weeks ago. He adds that these ceremonies were con ducted only after long fasting and prayer , and were a religious ceremony of great solemnity. He does not know of the ceremony being conducted after 1868. Prior to that time the ceremonies were conducted but once a year by the head men of the tribe. When Oapt. North visited the Pawnees in 1888 , he says the medicine-men were all dead , and the younger generation had lost the art of performing these feats of jug glery. Oapt. North has promised to give me an account of other curious feats which the Pawnees practiced , was to have met the Captain during my recent trip to Columbus , but failed. The work around Columbus goes steadily onward , and we may hope for some startling revelations from that quarter. In excavating for a cellar near the city , a number of relics were found , but I failed to see the parties this time. Evidence of an Ancient City. An extensive burying ground has been found near Columbus , which we hope to investigate during the sum mer. This much comes from stirring up interest. Two years ago , when I first visited Columbus , not a single per son had a single shadow of encourage ment to uphold me in my belief thai Columbus was the site of a vast , ancient , Indian city. Now , as to some scraps legendary evidence which I have gathered around Columbus'during my visits there from time to time , and which should be elaborated , that more may be added , or that any misstatements may be cor rected. Every letter in THE CONSERVATIVE \ , brings me replies from people who know something of what has boon written and so the work goes on ; I thank these people ple for their interest , and hope thus to gather much valuable data. An Early Cornfield. Mr. James E. North informs mo that one mile east of Fullerton there were evidences of a cornfield when he first : ame to this locality in an early day. The Pawnees removed from south of the Platte river in 1856 , to their camp near Genoa , Nebr. There is a Pawnee legend of a time when they used dogs only , as aeasts of burden. The Pawnees told Mr. Frank North that at a remote period they came across the mountains from the south-west , and that after they got into the Arkansas valley , they had a battle with the Sioux , and the tribe was scattered ; that the Arkares were taken prisoners and carried north , where they were found on the North Loup river at a later date. The "Flood Legend. " At a very early period the "Men , " or Pawnees were giants , and carried buf falo in their belts when they came from the hunt. They were so powerful that they grew haughty , and defied the Great Spirit. One turned his back to the Great Spirit , and for this act of dis respect the whole tribe of giants was destroyed by a great flood. This sounds very much like a "flood legend. " Every tribe which lias been studied had a flood legend of some kind. The direction of migration is the same as my first theory respecting the Pawnees , but my study recently leads me to believe that the evidence is in favor of a migration from the south-east , not from a south-west direction. This should be definitely set tled and I am anxious for any truth bearing on it. The fact that the Paw nees numbered "several hundred thous and in 1847" has been contradicted , but no evidence to the contrary has come to my notice. More Hematite. A large piece of hematite similar to the specimen from which the Boca bust is made , has been found on the site of a new village about three miles south of Roca. This serves to prove that hema tite was a commodity with the red-men ; in fact many of the Pawnees were nearly white , and if they were red-men in reality , hematite or some other red paint must have been used. We know that the Indians who went to conquest ( like some so-called civilized ladies ) painted their faces ; the custom is old and hematite gives a beautiful and last ing copper-color to the skin. Mr. R. R. Draper , of Dawson , Nebr. , writes me that a fine specimen of a pipe has been found near there ; we hope for more from that vicinity , as I am quite sure that the Big Nemaha was a route of travel for the Aborigines. Capt. J. H. Culver , , of Milford , has gathered much valuable data about the Pawnees , which he has promised to oon- rribute to the historical collections , and wo will give a summary of it to the readers of THE CONSERVATIVE in time. E. E. BLACKMAN. Roca , Neb. , Juno 20,1901. THE CONSERVA- WOOL GATHERING. TIVE calls the at tention of sheep- owners to the subjoined from the New York Evening Post of June 18th , 1901. The American people all wear woolen goods. A few Americans grow wool. The existing laws were instituted to make wool higher and so , artificially , to increase the profits of the few at the ex pense of all. Those wool-gathering profits are not popular anywhere now. Nobody is satisfied with being wooled under present tariff conditions. "There must be some screw loose in the wool and woolen industry. The present tariff on wool was adopted at the instance , or rather at the furious de mand , of the wool-growers. There was a sudden rise in the prices of wool in consequence , and then a reaction and a decline , and the decline has been per sistent and continuous , although prices of commodities in general have had an upward tendency during the past year. According to the annual review of the wool trade , published by the New York Chamber of Commerce , 'prices have de clined almost to those ruling in 1898. ' The following table shows the decline during the calendar year 1900 : Jan. 1 , Jan. 1 1000. 1001. Cents. Gents. Ohiofleece 85 27 Unwashed half blood 29 23 Unwashed quarter 28 23 % Australian combing 40 85 Cape 25 20 Montevideo 28 24 "The Chamber of Commerce report says that 'extravagant duties on foreign wool do not seem in the long run to benefit our wool-growers. If they were modified or abolished , fluctuations of prices would be less frequent and speculation less rampant. Consumption of the staple would increase , as the use of adulterants would be discouraged. ' The amount of adulterants , shoddy and cotton , used in the production of woolen goods is believed to exceed the entire wool clip of the United States. Mr. Dexter North tells the wool-growers that they have only themselves to blame. They were told when the Ding- ley bill was under consideration that too high a duty would restrict the con sumption of wool and would thus be in jurious to the grower. 'It has operated in precisely that way , ' adds Mr. North. Although Mr. Harding does not know a manufacturer anywhere who wants free wool , he probably knows a great many who would like to have the present du ties cut in half. "
