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About The Chemawa American (Chemawa, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (April 15, 1931)
Page 3 The CHEMAWA AMERICAN TOTEMISM (Continued from page 1) v F rom the Q uiver of H enry T heodore T uckerman ) Who would not feel urged to high achievement, if he knew that every beauty his canvas displayed, or every perfect note he breathed, or every true inspiration of his lyre, would find an instant response in a thousand breasts? The tastes, affections, and sentiments, are more ab solutely man than his talent or acquirements. And yet it is by and through the latter that we are apt to estimate character, of which there are at best but frag mentary evidences. Towhat end is society, popular education, churches, and all the machinery of culture, if no living truth is elicited which fertilizes as well as enlightens? Shake speare undoubtedly owed his marvelous insight into the human soul to his profound sympathy with man. although there are other connections no doubt. That out of this came in part zoolatry, idolatry, and poly theism is demonstrable. In Australia totemism was at one time almost uni versal and even now the idea is still held by certain nal ive tribes. In North America it prevails principally among the Indians on the northwest coast as far south as the United States frontier. It has a large following in parts of South America. In Africa it prevails in Senagambia, among the Bakalhi on the equator and elsewhere. There are numerous totem worshipers in Bengal and it is very popular in parts of Siberia. With regard to ancient nations totemism may be considered as certain for the Egyptians, and highly probable for the Semites, Greeks and Latins. Prof. Sayce finds totemism among the ancient Babylonians, but he has not been able to produce conclusive evidence of what he esteemed a fact. Thus do we find that after all our Indian people do not have such a monopoly on totemism as many of us may have granted them. It certainly seems that Solomon was right: “There is nothing new under the sun. ’ ’ A FINE ADDRESS Religion itself is but a state of the affections. I once met a beautiful peasant woman in the valley of the Arno, and asked the number of her children. “I have three here and two in Paradise,” she calmly replied, with a tone and manner of touching and grave sim plicity. There are influences which environ humanity too subtle for the dissecting knife of reason. In our bet ter moments we are clearly conscious of their presence, and if there is any barrier to their blessed agency, it is a formalized intellect. Enthusiasm, too, is the very life of gifted spirits. Let us recognize the beauty and power of true en thusiasm; and whatever we may do to enlighten our selves and others, guard against checking or chilling a single earnest sentiment. For what is the human mind, however enriched with acquisitions or strength ened by exercise, unaccompanied by an ardent and sen sitive heart? While the mere intellectual man speculates, and the mere man ot acquisition cites authority, the man of feeling acts, realizes, puts forth his complete energies. His earnest and strong heart will not let his mind rest; he is urged on by an inward impulse to embody his thought. He must have results. And nature yields to the magician, acknowledging him as her child. The statue comes forth from the marble, the speaking figure stands out from the canvas, the electric chain is struck in the bosom of his fellows. They receive his ideas, respond to his appeal, and reciprocate his love. During the luncheon hour last Monday noon Supt. Lipps was the speaker of the day as a guest of the Salem Chamber of Commerce. He was invited to address those present on the Navajo Indians, and the title of his discourse was, ‘ ‘The Navajo Indians—Their Native Arts and Crafts.” It is doubtful if one hunted the country over if he could find anyone, anywhere, better informed on this wonderful Indian tribe, for Supt. Lipps is himself the author of a remarkable book on the Navajos. When Supt. Lipps undertakes to talk on any subject it is recognized at once that he is a master of that subject. There was a large attendance at the Cham ber of Commerce luncheon on Monday and many prominent people from various parts of the state were in attendance to hear Supt. Lipps in his most able talk on the Navajos and their art. He had with him a number of fine specimens of rugs, the product of Navajo art and industry, and these creations helped to emphasize the speaker’s utterances both in the way of art and utility. In every sense the talk was of far more than ordinary interest, both from the standpoint of educational merit and for the interest it awakened and sustained. Supt. Lipps was accompanied by Mrs. Lipps, and also the orchestra members—the latter pro viding music for the luncheon. Really, it was a Che- mawa day at Salem. ESCORTS Sat., Apr. 18—to Salem Sun., Apr. 19,—McBride Winona Hawley Miss Cruise Miss Cruise Mr. Carl Turner Mrs. Herlits Mr. Fisher Miss Judd Mr. T. Turner
