The Search light. (Bainbridge, Ga.) 18??-1903, September 28, 1901, Image 6

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The Search-Light. BaTnBIU DGE, SEl’T. 28, fiiiJlT AN INDIAN CEREMONY THE “MEDICINE SWEAT” THAT MAK!lo THE RED MAN CLEAN. 'll la III. TnrUI.N Bath, So lo Sufi:,. and It I. to Him a lilt*. Doth ’Phjs- lml n-.id Spiritual — Making Modi cine to the Great Spirit. Pew, If any, of the writers on tli<> habits, folklore and history of the American Indian have devoted any tfnc* to the red wnn’s Turkish bath, ft* Institution homemade, to be sure, but o recognized necessity In every camp and a feature of the dally life of the Indian. On the contrary, com mentators have conveyed the impres sion thut habits of cleanliness are for eign to the Indian and that he lias an Inborn aversion to water except for culinary purposes. II,v the avidity and frequency with which the Indian Indulges In his home made Turkish bath he proves the fal lacy of this belief and shows that he. ns well as his white brother, can live up to the precept “Cleanliness Is next to godliness," only In the practice the Indian puts cleanliness llrst. The term Turkish bnlh Is unknown to the Indian. lie calls that method of ablution a "medicine sweat.” It Is to him a rite both physical nnd spiritual, for he cleanses his person and then “makes medicine" to Ills Or eat Spirit. That the rite Is religiously observed was shown by a hand of Brule Sioux Indians, who made a Journey across the continent to the east nnd went Into encampment In, to them, u strange laud. On their arrival, even before they raised their tepee poles, they erected a ‘‘medicine sweat" tent. The framework of this tent Is of hoop poles so trained ‘ thut It Is about nlue feet tn diameter, four feet high. Hat topped und almost circular In form. Just within the frninework there Is a bedding of straw ubuut two feet wide, nnd lu the center of the tent there Is a whole In the ground about three feet In diameter ami three feet deep. There aiv no steam vents or pipes, no marble slabs, no rubbers and no sheets. When the Indian Is ready for h!s “medicine sweat" a mimlsT of stones or rocks are heated lo almost white heat und dumped into the hole lu the ground. Then the red men. L’l) or 25 of them. In o cost nine even seautler than Adam’s after the fall, range themselves upon tin* straw. They sit mummy fashion, their chins on their knees nnd their arms around their shins, packed so close together that even if they would they could not move. When they are all ready, blankets, skins nnd canvas are thrown over the framework until the tent Is almost air tight, two or three buckets of water are passed in and thrown upon the hot stones nnd the “medicine sweat" be gins. The moment the steam begins to rise the Indians begin n chant, which Is kepi up without Interruption until the sweat 1s over, racked together, enveloped In steam so thick that none can see his neighbor, the Indiana sit. singing and perspiring for an hour or more. Not tin Indlun moves, lie neither can nor wants to. At n signal front the chief or the medicine mun a section of the tent Is torn nw.ay, and with a heave anil a 'whoop nil the bucks make pellmell for the water. A run nnd a Jump, und lu they go. It Is Just as much sport for the oldest warrior as for the hoy Who has not yet won his war bounet. Once more on land, the Indian, having (>010 formed a duty be owes to himself and Ills uelghbor, la ready to "make medi cine." This Is always done after the- “medicine sweat”—iu fuel it Is part and pa reel of the ceremony, for it is regarded as n ceremony. The Indlau, clenu In person and at this moment before his communion with the God of bis fathers, supposed to be equally cieau of mind and guile less of souL now proceeds to the blgb- «at point of land iu the vicinity of the camp, thus getting as near to th« Great Spirit as It Is possible to do while on earth. On the way he gat lien up a little toll, a stray leaf, some old tobacco quids, a dead fly or bug or two—In fact anything which may be deemed refuse, for he is about to convey to the Great Spirit that he has cleansed hie persou and that all things andean have gone from him. These thing* that he has gathered be placet tn a piece of white doth, which in turn is fastened to the end of a long ■tick. The other eud of the atick le thrust Into the ground at the top of the hill or kuoU. and the good Indian has made medicine. Two days seldom pass without the repetition of this cere mony. It never varies. The scene may change, the Indian may wander to sew lauds or be driven to them, hot where be le there also la hla “medicine sweat" tent and there be “makes medicine."— New York Times. “Why. oh. why.” ws»... » the woman, picking up the watch at her feet and bolding It to h*r nr, “doesn't some* body invent a watch that you can drop yrlthent lit stopping?”-New York Sun. CUPID’S ODD PRANKS. 1 Legal Advertisements, r J 1. Hum Conlraflor and Builder. WHY SOME WOMEN FELL IN LOVE W/1TH THEIR HUSBANDS. Peculiar Reason* Tbnl at Times tn- U'/cnce file Fnlr Sc* In Matters of tl.c iti-nrf—The Woman Who Won anj V. c.Ideal a Woman IJsJer. If then* la one question more than r.notl.iT to which It id (lililcult to get or g:,c u satisfactory answer It is surely this: "Why did you rail tn love with yu.r husband?" In ID cases out of 2D woman would probably confess candid ly l;,.it she did not know or else she would declare conclusively that she did because she did, und thut ought to 1 eud the matter. 1 In the rare cases where the lady con descends to declare her reason the an swers are both Interesting and In- ‘ structlve. ! “Whatever made you marry the pr!s- | oner?" a Loudon magistrate asked a woman whose face bore "striking" evi dence of Iter husband's affection. "IJe- cause lie punched all the other fellows’ heads,” she answered, "and nobody else dared make love to me.” Anottier good lady confessed that she fell lu love with her husband because be was the "only man who ever dared to snub her." While other men were stumbling over each other to pay her court and attention, he always treated her with absolute Indifference and even rudeness. The consequence was that she de termined to bring him to her foot and his knees. She succeeded, but lost her heart I11 the attempt. “I fell In love with my husband,” one lady recently declared, “because he was the only man about whom no one tvus ever heard to say an unkind word. Even the'women, although lie paid them no special attention, were agreed that he was "a darling;’ and. al though he was plain, almost to ugli ness. and old enough almost to he my father, I loved him and determined to marry him long before he hud uuy such thought of me.” Not long ago a Yorkshire lady ol wealth and beauty shocked her friends by marrying a poor cripple. It had come to Iter ears that be bad long lov ed her In silence and hud counted each day happy If he only caught a distant glimpse of her. She discovered that he was a devoted son and brother and a mutt of unusual gifts ami cnltury tor his humble position, und, moved by one of those sudden, generous Im pulses to which some women are lia ble. she Nought an interview with him, told him that she hud learned his se cret nnd offered him her band and for tune. This may appear u strange and Improbable thing, but thousands know thut It Is literally true. Another lady whose marriage result ed from a similar Impulse gives this explanation of It. Among the friends of her family was nn old bachelor with u reputation for crustiness who had known her from a child and had often nursed her in early days. To her he had always been gentle and kind, and slit* had loved him "In a way” as long ns she couhl remember. One day she said, "Why have yon never married. Mr. —f “Slurry, my dear? Why. no one would ever marry a grumpy old man like me!" "Of course they would!" she answer ed Indignantly. “Why, 1 would marry you myself!” “Thuuk you. my dear!" came the un expected nuswer. "Then we’tl consider the matter ended.” In spite of her surprise and misgiv ings the girl loyally kept her promise, nnd 3he has never bad reason to regret her “moment's Indiscretion.” A lady frleud of the writer married her husbund for the very illogical rea son that he was an avowed wonmu hater. He made no secret of bis aver sion to the fair spx and declared It so constantly that, us she says. “1 vowed 1 would convert him nnd make him change bis uilnd, at least so rar ns one of my sex was concerned." He was not difficult to convert’, for within 12 months be had forsworn bis creed so far as to couduct one of the "hated sex" to the altar, and now he declares that he “loves them all.”—TH*Blts. CO NTY TAX LEVY FOR 1901 j j GeoiutIA—Decatur County: j It appearing to the board of county eoumiisf-ioners for roads and revenues of Decatur county. Georgia, from an j inspection of the tax digest of said I county for the year 1901, that it j will be necessary in order to meet the j current expenses of said county for the | year 1901. and to pay for the coustruc- ; tion of a new court house suitable and adequate for the business of the county, j that a levy of of five dollars and fifty I (1 cents on each out? thousand dollars worth of property he made. It is there- ' fore ordered by the board t' at there he ] ievi* d against all the propei i.y in ‘lie county of Decatur for the year 1901, a I tax of’five dollars and* fifty 0 cents tor each one tbou-ard dollars worth of pro perty held t.r owned in said county, for the following purposes to wit: 1. To pay the legal indebtedness of the county, due or to become due during the, year, or past due - - - $ 0.00 2. To build or repair court houses, jails, bridges or ferries, or otner public improvements according to contract (including tne amount to be expended during said year for a new court house; - - 3.58 3. To pay sheriffs’, jailers.’or other cunty officers’ fees, that they m iy he entitled to, out of the county ... - ,50 4. To pay coroners ell fees that may Ire due them by the county for holding inquests - - 0.00 5. To pay the expenses of the county for bailiffs at courts, non resident witnesses in criminal cases, fuel,servant hire, station ery, and the like .10 0. To pay jurors per diem compen sation - - - - - .60 7. To pay charges incurved in sup porting the poor of the county and as otherwise prescribed by by the code - - - - .30 8. To pay for educational purposes, to be levied only in strict com pliance with law - - - 0.U0 1). To pay any other lawful charge against the county. - .50 $5.50 It is further ordered that a copy of this order he published at the court house door and a copy of the same be fur nished to the tax collect jr as required by law. Witness the honorable board of eoun- t commissioners for roads and revenues i r Decatur county, Georgia, this Sept. 0 1901. II A. Litle. Joe H. Gilpin. Chairman. Clerk. Tk» How* of Brton. Many valleys described in guide books as “whispering v&lley*” are fa vorite resorts for tourists In all parts of the world. I Vw, however, exceed In wonder a valley at Stauxtlel.I In Es sex. England. The rector or this par- lab In giving a careful account of bis own experiences states that his house stands on a hill 28.8 feet above sea level, rising In rear to 300 feet, while in front the ground slopes away to s stream 100 feet below snd again rises 180 feet on the opposite side. From the rectory the bells of 14 or 18 vll- lags* may be d-lstlnguUUed. while screes the valley footsteps sad voices In conversational tone may bo beard at half s mil*. BO AD NOTICE. (JEOItUlA—Decatur Countv: Whereas, The petition of C. B. Jle- Nmr, J. B. Butler, W. A. Carr. J. D. McNair, et. ah. has been duly tiled with this hoard, petition for the establish ment of n certain road, described ns fol lows: Commencing at the seventeen mile post on the Attapulgus and Cav alry public road and running in a north east direction to r at the residence of S. D. Jones, and thence in a northerly direction until it crosses Little Swamp Creek, and thence in a northeast direc tion until it intersects the road at Big Swamp creek. Said road will be about one ai d one-hnlf miles in length, and will pass over the lands of S. G W. Mc Nair’s e-tate, J. B. Butler. Wight Bros. Jennie Kelley. S. D. Jones. W right Mc Nair J D. McNair. W. 0. Jones, B, K. T. Harrison, B. 0 Harrison and W. E. Bvrd. And whereas. Said petition has been duly referred to the road c uumissionei's of Bell’s district, in which said road is situate, and they have made their re port to this board, that said public road wi.l be of public utility, and have mark ed out the same according to law ; This is to cite ar.d admonish all persons that if no good cause be shownto the contrary before this boaid on the first Monday in October. 1901. an order will be grantea opening up and establishing said road as a public road in said county Witness the honorable board of county commissioners ot roads and revenues of De eatur county, this the 2nd. day of September, 1901. Joe H. Gilpin. Clerk. DwnIU foya. Meeks—My wife prefers eoffe* fur breakfast and I prefer tea. Weeks—Then I suppose yos bare both? Meeks—Oh, no. Ws 00m promlss. Week*—In whot wsy? “wwwl— on ROAD NOTICE. Georgia—Decatur County: Applicat ion having been made to the Board of County Commissioners of Bonds and Kevenues of Decatur county for the alteration of : be Lambert Ferry road to- wit: Where it now crosses the east or igins! land liue of lot No. 389 in the 20th district by running said road along said east line inside on lot No. 389 and on the east line of 888 in said district inside on said lot and to the sou’ll east comer on said lot 388 and from thence along the south line of said lot 38S inside of said lot until it intersects the said Lambert Ferry road again at what is known as "Colored Taberascle church,” and the three road commissioners, appointed by this Board as required by law to exam ine into the public utility of $ai 1 altera tion. having reported iu favor of said al teration ana the discoi tii>”auce of the said part of the old road tor which said alteration is to be substituted; This is to not.ifiy 111 persons concerned that unless good cause to the otoiitmry be shown to ibis Board k# such alteration being allowed au ordqr wi.l be granted directing and allowing said alteration on the first Monday in September and discontinuance of the said part of the old road f .r which said alteration is sub stituted. Under the hands and seals of th- Hon- nrtbta Board of County Commissioners of D&catur county. This 96th day of July. par Joe H. Gilpen, Clerk. BAINlili ID GK, GA. Bids Submitted on All Kinds of . BRICK: or : WOOD : WORK. 12 A tf ALBERT GRICE, Tonsoral Artist, COLQUITT, - GEORGIA. Best Work. Satisfaction Guaranteed Digests what you eat. It artificially digests the food and aids Mature in strengthening and recon structing the exhausted digestive or gans. It is the latest discovered digest* aut and tonic. No other preparation can approach it in efficiency. It in* stantly relieves and permanently cures Dyspepsia, Indigestion, Heartburn, Flatulence, Sour Stomach, Nausea. Sick Headache,Gastralgia,Cramps,and all other results of imperf»etdigestion. Prepared by E. C. DeWltt * '... ^fii-ago. Situated °n Dickinson’s B a » Ideal Resort f or uj. Recreation Finest mineral waters it, fresh and salt. Trim trams. A hotel will, eq ipments. A weeks*, 5 eeea may restore your hea , save a doctor’s bill. KATES, §1. PEP, Da, Address *• W. Dev Pan 'ace,, NOTICE. Get your work done at the „ liable stand of A. GUY, Boot and ShoeMak On Water Street. m BUSINESS Can be properly run without be Advertised, And no advertising pays better than newspaper advertising. The news paper goes into the homes of the people and is read through. If bar gains are offered, they make a note of it. THE SEARCH-EIGHT a first-class advertising mediu As it is read by the people very generally in this county and by many in adjoining comities. PUT AN AD. I And work up your business to payin point. Job Work Our book and job office is busy turn ing ont first-class job work all the time, and we propose to give satis faction at reasonable prices. If yon need anything in the job printing line, write to us or see us before placing your order. It will pay you. RXSFXCTTTTZ*!.? TEE SEARCH-LIGHT.